In today’s world, many of us struggle with a sense of emptiness that we can’t quite seem to shake. We are connected, yet we feel disconnected. We scroll through endless posts on social media, chase career milestones, collect material possessions, and seek validation from others, yet something still seems to be missing. As time passes, this feeling turns into a persistent void—a gnawing emptiness that modern society has not managed to fill, no matter how much we achieve or accumulate.
In his book, The Sickness Unto Death, Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard addressed this very sense of despair. He believed that the true cause of our emptiness, the profound void within us, could only be filled by one thing: a relationship with God. Kierkegaard’s exploration of despair and the human struggle for meaning offers us valuable insights into why this existential void exists and how it can be remedied, even today.
The Modern Void and the Struggle for Fulfillment
In The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaard describes despair as the result of a disconnection from one’s true self and ultimately from God. This despair isn’t necessarily obvious or dramatic—sometimes, it’s just a quiet, unshakeable feeling that something is missing. For Kierkegaard, this emptiness is what he called “the sickness unto death,” a despair so deep that it doesn’t lead to literal death but to an inability to truly live.
This despair arises because, according to Kierkegaard, we are designed to be more than what our everyday lives often demand of us. We try to find fulfilment in achievements, relationships, and material possessions, and while these things may bring temporary satisfaction, they don’t fill the deeper need that lies within us. The result is a sense of longing and incompleteness—a void that cannot be filled with the superficial distractions of modern life.
In our society today, we see this void everywhere. We’ve been conditioned to think that happiness comes from having more—more things, more followers, more likes, more money. But despite reaching these milestones, the emptiness persists. There is a sense of something greater that we’re missing, something beyond what we can see or touch, something that speaks to the deeper questions of who we are and why we’re here.
Kierkegaard’s Diagnosis: The "God-Shaped Hole"
Kierkegaard believed that an innate need for something transcendent is at the core of our being. He described this need as a “God-shaped hole”—a part of ourselves that can only be fulfilled by connecting with the divine. Without this connection, we experience a sense of spiritual emptiness and despair. In Kierkegaard’s view, true fulfilment is only possible when we establish a relationship with God, the ultimate source of meaning and purpose.
The “God-shaped hole” is not just a clever metaphor; it’s Kierkegaard’s way of saying that human beings are inherently spiritual creatures. We’re not just physical beings driven by biological needs; we are also souls yearning for something deeper—something eternal. When we neglect this spiritual dimension, we end up trying to fill the void with temporary pleasures and pursuits. But these can only ever serve as temporary distractions from the deeper longing that we feel.
Kierkegaard understood that this emptiness is a natural part of the human experience. It’s not something to be ashamed of, nor is it something that can be filled by accumulating more material wealth or worldly accomplishments. Instead, it’s an invitation to embark on a spiritual journey—a journey toward understanding our true selves and our relationship with God.
Why the Void Still Exists Today
Kierkegaard’s message resonates powerfully with today’s world because we live in a time when the focus on material success, social media, and instant gratification has never been more intense. In many ways, our modern lives have become an exercise in avoiding stillness, avoiding reflection, and avoiding the deeper questions that truly matter.
Think about it: how often do we allow ourselves to sit in silence, to be alone with our thoughts, to ask ourselves if we are truly happy, or if there’s something more we’re missing? The fast-paced nature of modern life often keeps us from such reflections, and the result is a culture that is disconnected from its own sense of meaning.
This is exactly what Kierkegaard warned against. He recognised that when we focus solely on external markers of success, we lose sight of what truly matters—the relationship with our inner self and our relationship with God. Without this foundation, we end up feeling empty, no matter how much we achieve or how successful we appear to be.
Filling the Void: Kierkegaard’s Prescription
Kierkegaard’s prescription for filling this existential void was clear: we must return to a relationship with God. For Kierkegaard, faith was not about adhering to dogma or going through the motions of religious rituals—it was about a personal, authentic relationship with the divine. He believed that faith required a “leap,” an act of courage that involves trusting in something greater than oneself.
This leap of faith is not necessarily easy, and Kierkegaard knew this. He often spoke about the difficulties and uncertainties that come with faith. But he also believed that it was through these difficulties that we could find real fulfilment. To have faith means to acknowledge that we are not in control of everything and that there is a higher power guiding us. This recognition can be deeply freeing, allowing us to let go of the constant striving for perfection and success that often leads us into despair.
For Kierkegaard, faith is the antidote to despair because it provides us with a sense of purpose that goes beyond our individual achievements and circumstances. When we connect with something greater than ourselves, we begin to see our lives in a new light. We begin to understand that we are part of something bigger, something meaningful, and this realisation can bring us a sense of peace that no worldly success can provide.
Practical Steps Toward Filling the Void
- Acknowledge the Emptiness: The first step in Kierkegaard’s path to fulfilment is acknowledging the emptiness that we feel. Instead of ignoring or trying to cover up the void, we must confront it. This means being honest with ourselves about what we’re missing and recognising that material success alone cannot fill that gap.
- Seek Silence and Reflection: In a world filled with noise and distractions, finding time for silence and reflection is crucial. Set aside time each day to be alone with your thoughts, away from screens and distractions. This space for reflection allows you to connect with your deeper self and begin the journey toward understanding what you truly need.
- Take the Leap of Faith: Kierkegaard spoke of the “leap of faith” as a necessary step toward finding true fulfilment. This leap involves trusting in something beyond yourself—whether it’s God, a higher purpose, or the belief that there is more to life than what meets the eye. It means being willing to step into the unknown and embrace the mysteries of existence.
- Connect with the Divine: Whether through prayer, meditation, or simply contemplating the beauty of the world around us, connecting with the divine can help fill the void that we feel. This connection doesn’t have to be tied to a specific religion; it’s about nurturing a sense of wonder and recognising that there is something greater than ourselves.
- Live Authentically: Kierkegaard believed that living in alignment with one’s true self was essential for overcoming despair. This means letting go of societal expectations and embracing who you truly are. It means making choices that reflect your values, rather than what others expect of you, and finding ways to live authentically in a world that often pressures us to conform.
- Serve a Higher Purpose: One of the ways we can connect with something greater than ourselves is by serving a higher purpose. Whether it’s through helping others, volunteering, or dedicating yourself to a cause that is meaningful to you, serving a higher purpose can help bring a sense of fulfilment that goes beyond individual success.
From Despair to Fulfillment
Kierkegaard’s exploration of despair and the human condition in The Sickness Unto Death speaks directly to the challenges we face today. The emptiness that so many of us feel is not a new phenomenon; it’s part of the human struggle to find meaning in a world that often feels indifferent.
Kierkegaard’s answer to this struggle is faith—not a blind adherence to dogma, but a personal, authentic relationship with the divine. He believed that this connection is what ultimately fills the “God-shaped hole” within us and allows us to move from despair to fulfilment. In a world that often encourages us to look outward for validation and success, Kierkegaard reminds us to look inward—to reflect on our true selves and to seek a relationship with something greater.
The journey from despair to hope is not an easy one, but it is a journey worth taking. By embracing silence, taking the leap of faith, connecting with the divine, and living authentically, we can begin to fill the void that so many of us feel today. We can find a sense of purpose that goes beyond our individual accomplishments and discover a deeper, more enduring form of fulfilment—one that brings true peace and joy to our lives.