Long ago I have realized that life has no objective, inherent meaning.
I also think meaning doesn’t exist in the physical world; it exists in so far as love exists in our mind.
As a result, meanings, if we are content with its being only in our mind, of all kind, are dependent on the beholder.
From time to time, the sense of meaningless would strike me hard. I feel like everything is pointless in view of eternity.
I lost motivation and fall into the endless hole.
I have also asked a lot of people what their motivations came from. None of them seemed to be able to drive me.
I have tried to articulate the feeling I have had and it has been difficult. But I shall try in this post.
As much as I think life has no intrinsic meaning, I do recognize that life can be fun. So voluntary death would not be an option me.
The problem is just that while I was experiencing fun, I saw the meaningless of it too often simultaneously. I see fun and joy as merely neural and brain activities, which reduces the fun. And then when I thought of my life as being driven by the need to satisfy my emotional needs, I become reluctant.
Maybe I don’t have to be so pessimistic. Maybe I can find a new perspective different from the emotion one. Maybe my life can serve purposes other than emotional needs.
But what is or should be my pursuit in life?
I remember I wrote in many occasions that we should live a life that has transcendental meaning.
But now let’s don’t use the word meaning at all, for it has too negative a connotation for me.
What are the things I can do in life? What is my purpose in life?
Is it possible that there is actually good purpose in life, but I haven’t found it yet?
I titled this post “The Great Reconciliation” because I want to come out of this philosophical depression.
How should I go about it?
First, I will need to learn, about meaning, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, emotional well-being, etc.
Then I should remind myself every time I feel the same again, that not knowing what your goals and purposes are doesn’t mean the whole life is without goals and purposes. I should do something fun, like speak to a friend, family, play a game, read a book, watch a movie and so on. Keep search for that answer in your life. Even if life ends up having no meaning at all, at least I will have had a fun ride.
Right, I should also design a poster in my home reminding me what to do when I come to depression again.
What to do when you have philosophical depression?
- Watch the YouTube video Optimistic Nihilism
- Listen to music, From New World
- Go to do exercise and play sports
- Speak to a friend
- Take a walk in the woods
- Go to KFC and buy a piece of chicken that you like