Emmy's Existential Zone
Emmy van Deurzen's existential videos are about living, loving and learning how to be in the world in a better way. Her videos show you how to build a wiser life by making small daily changes and facing your challenges with existential courage.
Emmy is an internationally renowned philosopher and psychologist who has worked as an existential therapist since 1973. Her 20+ books have been translated into over 25 languages. She has founded and co-founded numerous organizations and training institutes and lectures worldwide. She has been a professor with four universities and a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, Darwin College. She is the president of the Existential Movement.
Her forthcoming book with Penguin is called Beginning to Live: The Art of Existential Freedom.
You can join her special membership group, the inner circle, to benefit from readings from her books and to take part in weekly live discussion sessions. https://www.youtube.com/@ExistentialZone/membership
Reading from Nietzsche about Amor Fati.
If you are young and troubled and insecure, find your confidence.
Solving your problems is an essential part of life and you are fully equipped to do so.
Moments
Make room for peace in your life by cultivating inner peace.
Second reading from Nietzsche, taken from Everyday Mysteries.
Your failures and faults do not define you.
Bringing Wisdom to the World, Rome conference, 24 May 2025
Gather up your strength to become what you can be.
Reflections from my Rome conference ‘Wisdom in Practice’
The pain you see in the world, is also your pain and your fear.
Reading on Nietzsche's madman for our chat on 25 May
Release your tension, for life cannot be hard work all the time
Reading on Kierkegaard's recipe for becoming true to yourself.
Your fear will diminish by taking a chance on life, striking out on new adventures.
Ridicule is always destructive. We all need to know we are respected for who and how we are.
Stand up for your values and principles, despite pressure to conform to the crowd.
Learning from life
Kierkegaard's views on despair: inner circle reading for the live session on 11 May 2025.
Perfectionism is a trap: ease up on yourself
Make more of the privileges you have been given but are taking for granted.
Being purposeful and focused will help you in your uphill struggles in life.
Other people's opinions about you don't matter if you take responsibility for your own life
Kierkegaard on Anxiety, reading from Everyday Mysteries
Finding Perspective is easier when you go on a hike
Reading from Everyday Mysteries about Kierkegaard's stages of life and living with paradox
Using the power of paradox in your life
Inner Circle Announcement.
Reading from Everyday Mysteries, chapter on Kierkegaard, pp 9-10
When I Die