[0rdgpsbp]

Hi. I'm new here. Struggling with existential thoughts. Wondering why life has to be so painful to us all. The shortness and temporary nature of everything just seems wrong. And sometimes I just feel unable to accept or deal with it

[Rose76]

You're in good company. Over thousands of years, many great minds have expressed and recorded similar thoughts. As far as an answer to "Why?" - Your guess is as good as anyone's.

Some big thinkers claim that life is meaningless. That doesn't seem true to me, though I will agree that life sure can be awful disappointing.

I think the main thing is to find fellowship and connectedness. It can be elusive.

[*Beth*]

I've been struggling with an existential crisis since I was 19. I turned 60 a few days ago; in the months prior to my birthday the existential crisis was unbearable. As in, I toppled from the peak of a very, very tall mountaintop and was falling, falling, falling, headfirst, for months. I finally landed on something the day I turned 60...it may be that the existential crisis is now struggling with me. So my guess is that "it" and "I" will be going back and forth this way until who-knows-when.

Fun it ain't. Meaningful? Who knows.

By the way: Welcome to the forum. It is nice to meet you - and of that, I am sure

[MuseumGhost]

I like what Rose said. It's so true. We all struggle with these kinds of thoughts from time to time, especially if one is intelligent, and life does not seem to be rewarding us with the kinds of things we'd hoped to gain from it, by now.

You'll have to arrive at your own conclusions about it all. No one can tell you how to feel about these things. My only advice : Be gentle with yourself.

Personally, I try to take it one day at a time---that's enough for me. I used to be able to take on so much more. But it's okay that it's this way, and I have grown accustomed to it. A person can get by like this, until you're stronger, and can do more, and perhaps even think differently.

I hope you will find a calmer and quieter place, soon.

[Rose76]

@MuseumGhost - You seem to have a mature philosophy of life. Good luck getting through tomorrow. I'll try to have a decent day too. Some days are good.

[*Beth*]

Sorry, wasn't my intention to offend anyone. I was tossing a bit of Camus in, but perhaps used too much cheek.

[MuseumGhost]

I didn't think that, *Beth*, not at all. Any supportive help is legitimate.

Everybody is so different, and their experiences are all so different, even if similar on the surface.

And we never have much background on any new members, so in a way, giving advice is a form of guesswork.

[moodyblue83]

Originally Posted by 0rdgpsbp

Hi. I'm new here. Struggling with existential thoughts. Wondering why life has to be so painful to us all. The shortness and temporary nature of everything just seems wrong. And sometimes I just feel unable to accept or deal with it

I've had these thoughts since I was about 7 years old . Wondering why ? Like was said , this question has been gone over since ancient times. It's a futile question that can't be answered. The one thing is that this way of thinking can ruin your life by consuming your thoughts and meanwhile life passes you by. The way to get through this life is to just plough through it , one day at a time. I've learned over the years that you must fight your way through it . Life will never be the way you or I want it to be.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by moodyblue83

I've had these thoughts since I was about 7 years old . Wondering why ? Like was said , this question has been gone over since ancient times. It's a futile question that can't be answered. The one thing is that this way of thinking can ruin your life by consuming your thoughts and meanwhile life passes you by. The way to get through this life is to just plough through it , one day at a time. I've learned over the years that you must fight your way through it . Life will never be the way you or I want it to be.

It is absolutely true: pursuing the meaning of meaninglessness can ruin your life; it has detroyed so many, and will surely continue to do so. Yet, examining meaninglessness has provided meaning and purpose for so many people, gets them out of bed in the morning or keeps them up all night, thinking and writing - and that will also surely continue. Existential in its purest, simplest form simply means the experience of existence. What a beautiful thing that is! What a gift!

It is the existential crisis, that dreadful feeling that life lacks meaning and purpose, that leaves us feeling stuck.

You say "You must fight your way through it." Can you explain what you mean? For example, what do you mean by "it"?

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by moodyblue83

I've had these thoughts since I was about 7 years old . Wondering why ? Like was said , this question has been gone over since ancient times. It's a futile question that can't be answered. The one thing is that this way of thinking can ruin your life by consuming your thoughts and meanwhile life passes you by. The way to get through this life is to just plough through it , one day at a time. I've learned over the years that you must fight your way through it . Life will never be the way you or I want it to be.

That's not a bad way of looking at the reality of suffering in life and what it takes to prevail, despite life's downside. I'll now share one of my favorite quotes. It happens to be from the bible, but I'm not trying to push a religious perspective. There is wisdom to be garnered from contemplating this saying, even if you have no particular faith.

"I do not concern myself with great matters or with things that are beyond me." Psalm 131:1

Some interpret that to mean that the psalmist doesn't concern himself with major worldly matters. I take the meaning to be more broad . . . that the psalmist also doesn't wrack his brain trying to figure out what the human mind simply cannot figure out. As you say, that effort is futile. It is a misdirection of effort. Better to focus on that which we have the capacity to grasp.

It's natural for these big questions to arise in our minds. But, mental maturity means eventually recognizing that some things are beyond what we can wrap our brains around, so we let go and don't frustrate ourselves to no good end.

We have enough to do focusing on the road immediately in front of us. I agree that making our way along is hard and requires struggle. That is true for every living creature. We might as well make up our minds to that and put our shoulders to the wheel, so to speak. We have to "just plough" ahead through what is immediately before us. A good analogy. Wise advice.