I can't make the jump from nihilism to absurdism (Update) (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Guamer@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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Not for a lack of trying, I assure you. It's just that no matter how hard I try, my mind won't accept it.

The thought of life and existence being ultimately meaningless (Something else my mind fights against, despite knowing it's true) is too much of a blow to my psyche to overcome and look at light-heartedly.

I'm just so desperate to have a purpose and meaning in my life, but at the same time I can't sincerely believe in any religion or afterlife. I try to "live in the moment" and "be happy and make others happy", but it just isn't enough. I need something more.

Edit: Thank you everyone for their responses so far, I do read them all. They give me something to ponder and think about, maybe even leading to a solution.

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[-] JeSuisUnHombre@lemm.ee 6 points 3 months ago

It's tough to passively live in an absurdist mentality. Especially with the heavy indoctrination into the abrahamic value structure embedded in most world cultures. It's something to keep reminding yourself of. That being said, you're allowed to give yourself a purpose that means something to you. It doesn't have to just be "everything is meaningless", it can instead be "everything is meaningless so I might as well make it better."

To say the same thing a different way. Nihilism says "nothing matters so why do anything", which is a very easy passive emotion to sink into. Absurdism says "nothing matters so why not do everything", which requires actively choosing to do something. The latter option sounds a bit more fun to me, even if it takes a little effort.