THE FUSE

Existential theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich (1952) spoke of our "ultimate concerns," those things that most truly and passionately matter to and motivate us, providing our lives with a profound sense of commitment, meaning, and purpose. Ultimate concerns influence our values, choices, and actions, though we sometimes refuse to admit to or deny having them, even to ourselves. Ultimate concerns, when consciously acknowledged and courageously confirmed, can imbue existence with a newfound sense of meaning, purpose, significance, and direction. This is why exploring and clarifying our ultimate concerns is not only appropriate but an essential task in psychotherapy.