Ask Lemmy

First off, it's ok to be in this mental state - it's nothing to be ashamed of or angry at, as uncomfortable as it is. Because ultimately, thinking about each and everyone's "purpose" is is not a bad thing per se. It's what helped me branch out and starting an apprenticeship in something I wasn't sure I'd be fit for after stumbling around in university and not knowing what to do with my life.

That said, I think life is about creating heaven on earth as far and much as possible. All your good deeds don't go unnoticed and don't go away if you die. It's about making something meaningful and special, be it to you or to others.

Who cares if there even is an afterlife. You can just exist in the here and now and make the best of it. Granted, a lot of things are going south right now, but it's the thought that counts.

Re-unite with family with whom you've not been in touch for a while, meet new friends, experience new things, be a good friend. All of these things generate value either for you or for others and these are the things that count in the long term.

But also don't feel bad if you don't live up to your expectations every single day. It's ok to take time off, to focus on yourself and not sacrifice your well-being for others all the time.

Not sure if any of this helps, but it's what's helping/helped me and these were my thoughts in regards to this subject. Lots of love - get better soon 💜

Make as much art as possible in the little time you have.

To pass your seed and knowledge to the next generation.

Teach, fuck, prosper.

Well, you've alrady been "nothing". And that was before you were born or better, conceived. You'll return to that state of not existing, after you died.

And I think the point of living is what you make of it. There are nice things out there. You can do things, learn things. Experience everything, Love someone... Leave something memorable behind...

It's ultimately up to oneself to decide these things for oneself, but there is literature on the topic. Part of it you can just frame like the stories themselves: Is it worthwhile to read or watch a story unfold, rather than just read a summary? Is there any point to anything that ends? You know a good meal with your loved ones is going to end before you sit down—but you still choose the meal over going hungry and alone. Because the experience has value even if it ends. Some experiences are even valuable because they only existed a brief moment in time.

There are, ultimately, some stories that are so mired in despair and suffering that anyone would close the book early, but most of the stories are kind of trudging along, with their own motivations, hopes, fears and joys.

To quote another work on the topic: One must imagine Sisyphus happy.

Why would there have to be a point? It's possible there is no architect and thus no point. It could all be random chaos colliding into this weird situation, and we're just particles floating along in the maelstrom.

To come the question of why should you care, well you can choose pleasures or pain in your time on this planet. Pain is the default if you make no choice.

I suggest you read Thus spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche.

I don't believe in heaven or hell, but nature is even more beautiful than that, in my opinion. The Earth is pretty much a closed system, which means that all energy just passes from one form to another. When you die you eventually become part of earth, which nourishes other beings, and carries you on forever. You're likely breathing some of the same air that your ancestors breathed, or a transformation thereof.

If there is"no point" then the point is to do the most good and have the most fun whilst you can.

I work in healthcare and often talk to people and families about the dying process. We tell people that dying is a lot like falling asleep and that hearing is the last sense to go. So even if they aren't awake and interacting anymore they are still aware of the people around them.

To me, dying is part of life, it's the big unknown. Everyone dies, you can't change that. What we can do is accept it and make the best life we can with the time we have. The point is enjoying the now. For me I focus on spending time with my wife and doing what good in the world I can do. I work with dying people a lot and if I can make even a few minutes of their time better I've made a difference that was worthwhile.

What's the point of heaven? Does heaven even have a point? Say I believe in heaven, what happens if I die and go there? Will I just... Wake up and it'd just be Life 2.0?

As far as reality goes, there are only two points to living: the standard biological point of all life as we know it, and the one you create for yourself using your human intelligence.

Most religions believe in some kind of afterlife. We know that's unlikely to be true which makes this one all the more valuable.

If you think there is supposed to be a point, you are missing the point. Red pill blue pill matrix shot.

I’ve recently discovered that a lot of my feelings and beliefs about life are summed up quite well by the Humanist movement. I’ve never been religious, and while I’m perfectly fine with people having faith, I very strongly believe that a life without should be the default view and stance on everything, especially state and education.

Religions can control nearly every aspect of life, be it gender, behaviour, what you’re allowed to study etc. Now you are in a position to capitalise on your new found freedom.

Seek out art, philosophy, science, music. Things that show beauty and creativity of the human mind. See what others think.

Use that knowledge to grow, and to help others in any way that you can. Life might be fleeting but you can use that time to try and improve the lives of this and subsequent generations. Make a difference.

Think for yourself, act for everyone.

If there is an after life. What is the point of after life?

As a living thinking being it's your own responsibility to think about what's important to you and what you want from life. Being in your circumstance is outside your control. You could have been born into a kind/cruel family or a fortune/unfortunate one and have an easy/comfortable life but I see it all as luck. If you were born in a different body with certain brain chemistry you'll think about life in a more carefree or dutiful way. Imagine that for any person you can possibly conceive and potentially any creature or even bacteria that don't or can't think in such a considered way.

With all that in mind you're probably pretty lucky in the circumstances you're born in and you have been raised to be empathetic or you were naturally inclined to be but if that's how you are you can choose to continue those values that try to help others to live in a positive way while you still can. Maybe there's a reward or not. For the conceivable time you're able to be empathetic and cognizant of your place and privilege maybe you'll find happiness in knowing helping others can bring comfort and joy to others and in turn yourself. There's no knowing what is after but choosing to spread decency and altruism within your means can give you comfort that when the time comes (however soon or sudden) you can end knowing you were gifted and gifted a blessing to the other lives you contacted who may also continue in your footsteps.

Just because something ends doesn't mean it's pointless, try to be your best self and get along with other people. The world will be better place for having you being in it.

https://youtu.be/asOFi1W228M?si=Qtjlm7rOsGa3pnqr

Actually there is no afterlife whatsoever.

I turned existential a few years ago contemplating existence.

Then I started asking questions like what is that reincarnates? Nothing. When I die the atoms will be used by the universe for something else. My memories will be gone.

And I realized it's all just a game. It's the part of the illusion. I know I know. It sounds made up.

But hey now that we are here do what you want to do. If you don't feel like doing anything then that's fine too. Have a simple and a minimal life.

I think a lot of our stress to be something comes from social conditioning.

The society keeps saying you have to be something. They give you a list of things and tell you to follow it in a particular order and say viola you are a respectable human being now. As if you weren't a human being before haha.

So maybe stop focusing on being or becoming someone and focus on actions maybe? That's fun.

But yes everything goes to nothing in the end. The reason we feel it shouldn't end or why is it the way it is or it's unfair is because of the thinking mind.

The mind likes to create ideas and concepts. We sir are living in one hell of a conceptual world. You and me are tied down by the concepts. We can't accept the absurdity of the nature of this futile and impermanent life.

That's how nature works. Then our mind comes up and creates psychological dramas on how sad it is. Hahaha.

It's all part of the game. Play it. No one gets alive. There is no one to get out alive. Hahahaha.