5 ms·
> If nothing is meaningful, you have depression I almost certainly do have depression then. Not the kind where I am suicidal, or lack the ability to get out o
by erigin 8y ago
> If nothing is meaningful, you have depression
I almost certainly do have depression then. Not the kind where I am suicidal, or lack the ability to get out of bed... but rather, the kind where I would rather not exist because I do not enjoy life.
I struggle very much with meaning, obviously. That's part of this existential crisis... Nothing is meaningful. We are all going to die and I ask what will it mean then? What will some service or app that I made mean when I am dead?
Has anyone yet lived for some purpose, some greater meaning? It appears not, and I am not special.
- resource0x 8y agoEndless meaningless life would be even more unbearable. I think 2 of your grievances basically cancel out :)
- Regardsyjc 8y agoImagine tomorrow was your last day. Would you have any regrets? I personally ask myself that whenever I'm not happy and it usually straightens me out. It's not an easy path but if you want to find meaning in your life, it's a good question to ask. Most people find meaning through the things they care about which tends to be a small circle of friends and family. Coming to terms with your death is one thing but coming to terms with the death of everyone you love is another. In that sense I prefer the idea of make the best out of the limited time you have because it is limited. Once time is limited, your own and that of others, maybe you can find a way to use the little time you have meaningfully. Think about how you want to die. Do you want to die alone or would you like to die surrounded by people whose lives you made a positive impact on? How do you feel about dying alone and if no one cared whether you lived or died? If you think that no one would care whether you lived or died, you are depressed and should seek help.
- sjg007 8y agoWell look around at the world and find some problems to work on that, if you contribute to, will ease the suffering of others. Or before that find something to work on that will ease your suffering. With something like a cancer diagnosis of you or a family member you find yourself focusing on the present. The here and now. That helps ease the existential rumination on life. You could think deeply about something (say existentialism) and write an essay about it. Articulate it. Then you've suddenly provided some meaning. But do things for your own edification rather than for someone else. If you don't know what you want or try to figure it out, other people will define it for you.
- modbait 8y agoOne answer is that even though there may be no ultimate, cosmic meaning, your life can be meaningful in the short term. Today, even. It is possible to make the days of others a bit brighter, and that can be very gratifying.