Climate is fucked, animals continue to go extinct even more, our money will be worth nothing the coming years… What motivation do I even have to care to keep going? The world is ran and basically owned by corrupt rich people, there’s poverty, war, etc. It makes me sick to my stomach the way to world is. So I ask, why bother anymore?
@yuunikki please schedule an appointment with a therapist because you are demonstrating signs of depression in your post/comment history. The internet is not qualified to be your therapist.
Legitimately the best advice in this thread. Speaking from experience.
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I felt the same way, a therapist couldn’t help me either, since I was just looking at the world realistically… It helped me to consume less news and to concentrate on my immediate environment, where I actually mean my actions can change something. For me it’s mainly family, but of course it can also be a hobby or voluntary work, for example.
This is exactly the advice in Voltaire’s Candide. Cultivate your own garden, OP.
I did not know. I just read the story in the Wikipedia article, sounds really interesting. I also realized that compared to the time when this is set, our time is really relaxed. If you live in the western world and ignore climate change…
Talk to therapists and find a hobby. Do whatever you want. If you think something is meaningless but you like doing it. Do it. Try to live a life that bothers others the least. Help others if they ask for help.
The internet is not qualified to be your therapist.
proceeds to diagnose internet stranger with depression
Identifying signs of depression is not the same as diagnosis because it includes the causes. I don’t care about OP enough to find out what is causing them to be depressed.
Hey with questions like this even the therapists need therapists.
I have been following the advice of Waymond in everything everywhere all at once: be kind
I think that’s our main job while everything doesn’t make sense.
Indeed, be the change you want to see in the world.
That aside, life does become more bearable when you build up your skillet, make more money, and are able to mesh into the bullshit with a bit more ease, which in turn helps to afford more fun which helps tune out the bullshit. Unfortunately, the assholes have made the game about money, so the sooner one comes to grips with that and starts playing into it a bit, life becomes a little more manageable. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Did you mean skillet or skillset? Either way I’m on board with building it up
Lol skillset, but I’m down for building up skillets
The point is your gained wisdom through experience. That’s what the old people always tried to tell us.
Are you going to solve any of those problems? No. Are you going to be able to join some organization or movement that solves them? Probably no. Will you be able to affect any change that the world will take notice of? Probably not.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a part of it. Not everything that has value makes meaningful changes on the world. There was a French artist, Marcel Duchamps, who once exhibited a urinal. This was clearly not an attempt to move art in any direction, or change public perception, he was kinda just being an asshole. But it had that effect anyway. People still get pissy about it, in the form of, “Is it art?” conversations. Is it? Doesn’t matter. It was a low effort one-off idea that has lasted for decades.
Life isn’t actually a race to see how much you can achieve. And if it was that, then it wouldn’t be measured by money. It wouldn’t be measured by “legacy,” the way we use that word for rich people and sports stars. If it really was a contest, then it would be based on how much good you can manage in the face of constant depressive onslaught.
The world has never seemed like it has a point to most people. But they try their best, and they make meaningful impact on the lives of others, often without intention or even knowledge of having done so .
One of my most influential people has no idea that he did anything. He’s around somewhere, although I haven’t seen him for 20 years. All he did was treat me like a person when I was a dumb teenager (not to say all teenagers are dumb, but I was). It really wasn’t much. But I hadn’t been treated that way before, so to me it’s influential because it was something he did that he didn’t have to do.
That guy is not going to be lying on his deathbed thinking, “At least I was a good influence on scared of planes.” For all I know, he doesn’t remember me. Doesn’t matter. He spread some good into the world. That’s your job. That’s your point.
Just be a better you tomorrow than you are today, as many days as you can manage. Know that no one does that every day. And you’ll live a meaningful life that maybe has influence. Your legacy is you.
All very well said.
OP I would read the above comment a couple times and anytime you’re feeling down. Especially the part about just being a positive influence on those around you, that’s all most of us can hope for. Be the light in the darkness, as they say.
In addition to these methods of finding some peace within, I’d also say that the world is not as bad as it sometimes seems. It’s difficult because “bad news” generates more outrage and clicks. And as you said the world is indeed run by money, so we get it shoved in our faces a lot. But there is always good too. By my estimate, I’d say about 2/3 of people just want to live a life of peace and fellowship with their neighbors, friends, and family. The other third kinda suck. But hey, they scream the loudest and seek out positions where they can abuse power, so we end up hearing about them and being influenced by them more.
The world has problems, no doubt. Climate change is real and it’s going to affect our lives for a number of generations, but it probably won’t be the end of humanity. We’ll adapt, and with any luck the technology that is being worked on today will save us from the worst of it. Species going extinct is sad, but it’s also a normal part of evolution and has happened for millions of years without our help. Our ignorance and negligence has exacerbated the problem and is directly responsible for the extinction of many species, I get it, that sucks. But we’ve also rescued many from the brink of extinction. Most folks aren’t evil, we’re just a little dumb, and greedy.
War, poverty, corruption, again big setbacks to humanity, but, whether it makes you feel any better or not, these things are consistent throughout all of human history. Remember, 1/3 of people kinda suck. However there’s an argument to be made that none of these issues are as bad today as they have been in the past. I think of all of the above as our room for improvement as a species, something to be hopeful for.
It’s important to be mindful of our shortcomings, but don’t beat yourself up by focusing on them all the time. Instead, consider all the good that we’ve accomplished. Medicine, civil rights, scientific discoveries, technology, art in its many forms, advancements for the disabled, we’re coming up on robotic limbs and hands controlled by your mind, that is simply incredible. In nearly every way the quality of life today vastly exceeds what it did even just 150 years ago, and the average person today lives better than kings of yesterday. Air conditioning? Cold, clean drinking water? A hot shower??! If I were shoved back in time and couldn’t ever take a hot shower… well I’d be very very upset.
TLDR; Yea, sometimes we suck pretty hard. But there are people doing good in the world every single day, and we have come a long way already from our worst habits and living conditions. It’s entirely fair to be optimistic about and fight for the future you want to see.
Well said. I would also add that for me, stopping my consumption of news has dramatically increased my happiness. The news outlets only spread negative fear mongering bs. Most of it you can’t change. I stopped consuming negative media and its helped a ton.
While I see the world with same problematic lenses I draw a different conclusion.
If nothing matters why not remove buts from life!
Travel the world. Eat things that are not healthy. Take a simple job because no point chasing the future. Help out other people. Test all the hobbies you want but afraid of.
The world is fucked but it doesn’t mean your life have to be fucked.
When I’m in that pit, most good advice isn’t helpfull.
What is helpful is to acknowledge that the pendulum of this cold and indifferent universe swings both ways.
When you’re deep in the shit, and you see all the walls crumbling down, and you feel how fleeting all the good things are, just remember that the bad things are just as fickle and fleeting.
The world has been ending since it began. It’s important to pay attention, notice, and do your part when the opportunity presents itself. It’s equally important to remember that none of the apocalyptic events in human history has ended humanity yet. When you can’t stop ruminating on the lowest points of your life, remember that you’ve been through all of that, and you’re still here.
Life is a struggle, and a beautiful mess. Nobody is ever “done” with the hard parts, but we’re never “done” with the good parts either.
Take a deep breath and remember that you’ll never get dealt a good hand if you cash out, and you’re never playing alone.
very well said Mr. Poopy Butthole.
While climate is new, corruption among ruling classes is a story as old as civilization.
Was living ever motivated?
Well, one of the differences between now and then is the access to bad information.
If you were living in a village and a village far away from you was all killed off, maybe you’d hear about it eventually.
Today, you’d be able to see photos the same day.
So online access is overstimulating your “wow this is screwed” circuitry in ways you wouldn’t have experienced decades, centuries, millennia ago.
Maybe a bit of a break from online news would be helpful.
The world has always sucked and had issues. But you were just way less likely to be constantly aware of it.
If anything, the past few years show some incredible promise for things changing in terms of corruption among ruling classes, even if the climate is long term going to completely screw us.
But humanity was never going to last forever, and whether or not you are part of the last hurrah for the species shouldn’t necessarily detract from your experience in the here and now of it.
Find your own meaning and path on a relative basis, and be less caught up in existential dread, especially given there’s little benefit to absorbing yourself in the latter.
Because you’re human and that’s what we do. There has been and always will be problems that exist beyond our control. What has made humanity unique is its ability to overcome or adapt to conflict.
You’re having what’s called an Existential Crisis where you question what the point of any of it is at all. Be it during the crisis we’re currently enduring or be it in a time of great peace and splendor, there very likely is no point to any of this.
Don’t allow the world to inflict unnecessary burden upon you. Find and focus on your inner peace.
If you want to find a purpose, be a good, genuine, and kind individual. Bring joy to others.
salute Well said! Turn down the noise and focus on the moment. It is possible to overdose on news.
I don’t know who told you this but there has never been any point to anything.
Correct, so now the point is whatever you want it to be. Having free will is fucking great.
I don’t think many people like this. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Not everyone should know this. Many will try and destroy everything just because there is no point to anything. End and beginning has no meaning. It’s just the journey, that matters to ME.
There is never a point. Just do enjoy while it goes.
Sigh… Definitely feels like that more and more
I like the food most of us have access too. Ice cream and pizza makes me happy. Soup dumplings, ramen, Air fryer chicken. So much good food. Also, I’m waiting drive for Stranger things last season… Idk I’ve got stuff to do.
I still have hobbies and people I wanna keep happy ^^ If there is any hope, giving up closes any and all possibilities. Be the best you can be, until the we know the final resolution.
I’ve been having that feel too as well as with immediate future choices. I finally might be able to buy a house, but I’m in Florida. So do I put money, time, and effort into a house that’ll be under water when I get done paying it off (assuming it isn’t destroyed by a hurricane), or do I seriously start looking at moving jobs/states to even have a chance at having a house that will be there in 15 to 20 years? Renting seems like an even worse option since this last year has proven they can just charge 50-100% more and get away with it. And once the house thing gets “solved”, now I have to wonder if we ever get our shit together and stop destroying everything in and including the world so the house thing even matters. Idk. This is just a paragraph meant to vent. I don’t have an answer for you, because any sane person almost has this gnawing constantly in their heads. Personally, I’ve just made goals that have been bettering myself and my surroundings as well as the people around me. As for why? I’m not religious, so at this point I figure if I do my best, I can one day die happy knowing I at least tried to do something.
Don’t buy a house in FL. Insurances probably won’t be available for you in the future. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4098567-aaa-follows-farmers-in-limiting-coverage-in-florida-citing-natural-disaster-threat/
Was there ever a point? lol
Make your own point fren
Life has always been what you make it. If you’re looking for purpose to come to you naturally then you’ll be waiting just long enough to die.