fei75766_ch11_345-376.indd 353  02/06/20 12:38 PM
Chapter 11    May: Existential Psychology353
When wedonotcourageously confront ournonbeing bycontemplating death, 
wenevertheless willexperience nonbeing inother forms, including addiction toalco-
holorother drugs, promiscuous sexual activity, andother compulsive behaviors. Our
nonbeing canalsobeexpressed asblind conformity tosociety’s expectations oras
generalized hostility thatpervades ourrelations toothers.
Thefearofdeath ornonbeing often provokes ustolivedefensively andto
receive lessfrom lifethanifwewould confront theissue ofournonexistence. AsMay
(1991) said,“weareafraid ofnonbeing andsoweshrivel upourbeing” (p.202). We
fleefrom making active choices; thatis,wemake choices without considering who
weareandwhat wewant. Wemaytrytoavoid thedread ofnonbeing bydimming our
self-awareness anddenying ourindividuality, butsuchchoices leave uswithfeelings 
ofdespair andemptiness. Thus, weescape thedread ofnonbeing attheexpense ofa
constricted existence. Ahealthier alternative istofacetheinevitability ofdeath andto
realize thatnonbeing isaninseparable partofbeing.Eigenwelt
Mitwelt Umwelt
FIGURE 11.1  Healthy People Live Simultaneously in Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt.Final PDF to printer