How to find meaning in life? Existential frustration remedy

Image by Karin Henseler from Pixabay

What is the value of life or death? What is the difference between living and dying? What’s the point of life anyway? Lets examine this…

We are just a speck in time. Life on earth has been since 3.5 billion years, what is our lifespan, 70–100 years? Nobody gives a damn about who you are and what you do or did. We are one of 9bn people amongst multiverse. You could think ‘One person lost doesn’t make any difference, or does it? 1-day grief form acquaintance (if fortunate) and then the world moves on’ or alternative thoughts could be ‘My problems and stress are so small now’

Do even other animals contemplate like this? Nature is so interesting. It has given humans the power to imagine. And we can imagine everything. Only everything that has made an impression on us. We can imagine Death. But not something beyond death. Even if imagined it cant proved or disproved. Nature has bestowed upon us the power to manipulate the surroundings to increase our life span and population. Our health is the best until sexual Maturity and then it starts deteriorating. Nature is also clever in its ways. It keeps everything in control though pandemic outbreaks and Natural Calamities.

Theologians and Philosophers have imagined beyond death. Western religions have the concept of YOLO. You will live only ones and then you have to face the judgment day. Where you have to give an account of your sins and good doings. You can’t remember what you ate for lunch yesterday how will you give an account of your whole life?

There are some Extremists who give the interpretation of their Holy text, brainwash youth, and use them for their means. Ya, I am talking about people with guns and DIY Suicide kits. The carrot given to the victims is happiness in heaven and the stick is sadness in hell. How better or worst can it get? You have dropped your body here. How will you feel anything? Also, how would your Soul look like?

I wonder what the Shinto, Zen, and Dow think about this.
Hindu thought is of rebirth. Take birth again and again in different forms: Insect, Animal, Trees, Bird. The carrot is Enlightenment or Moksha. LOL.
Could death be like the Meditative state? Where you don’t feel anything, no thoughts, no emotions, no sense of time.

Talking in terms of Rebirth or video game terminology. Is it alright to end and restart your life when you are not able to find your purpose?!

Well if considering to restart, what is the best way to end the game? Shooting, Jumping off, Hanging yourself, jump in front of a train, or Fast until death? Shooting is cool as popularized by Movies but where and how to find a Gun? Depends on your country, over here it’s not easy. Of course, there is a black market. But still too much effort. Jumping from a high place: Make sure it is high enough. And Dive down. Make sure you go down heads first for a clean sweep. Hanging your self is boring. You need to have a proper hook that can take your weight. Proper rope and proper way of tying a knot. Also, you need to do it in such a way that your Spinal cord breaks in one jerk. It’s not about suffocating your self its about breaking the Spinal Cord. Jumping in front of a train. Lie on the track at night. Put on headphones. Fasting until death; is the coolest of all. It is also the most courageous. Go to a remote area. Where no one will disturb you. Stop eating and drinking. Few religions consider it a wise man’s last deed. You could associate it with some international issues and receive a posthumous award. haha!

You might have realized that choosing to Die seems a little unnecessary or not the best option. So if you are choosing to live then what to live for? How can you find your purpose?

First of all realize that you are not the body, not the senses, not the mind but much beyond that. You are force that is unaffected by any events or actions in the past or the future.
Identify and nullify the options of living life on ‘others’ parameters or judging yourself based on the yardstick of other’s lives. You will die and others will also die one day. So why worry about what others think. Others meaning anybody who has an influence on you eg your role models, family members, friends, or even your own mind. You have a unique objective. For discovering the objective you will have to live.

Chasing Money, Fame, Power, or Sex is usually short-lived and followed by sorrow. If we try to simplify these drives we can state that; Money is a nothing unit of Karma; your Karma, your family’s karma. Hunger for fame is noting but hunger for being loved by or being recognized by people, more the merrier. Power in an ideal way is the responsibility you take and lives that depend on your decisions. Hunger for Sex and food are the natures’ remort control of your mind, which motivates you to stay alive and pass on your genome. Sex sex sex (just to remove the taboo of mentioning it).

Just observe that there is (and has been)always someone better and bigger than you at whatever stage you are. Does this thought kill ambition or just remove the feverishness? Does it followup with more questions of deeper meaning?

So how to find Meaning in your life?

Sage Yog Vasistha describes life as a dream. What is real and what is Unreal? This book trouble shoots all concepts and conditions. Must read. Its a Mind Twisting and fun book.

Many find meaning in Motherland and Racial pride. People who die for a cause are glorified. Political cause mostly, because that’s what History books teach you and that’s also what Media feeds on. One thing I like about War is that it had ‘clear objectives’ i.e to kill or get killed. Sometimes you just don’t have clarity on life. Is it okay to have no clarity? Yes of course!

Dr. Viktor Frankl, a neurologist and psychiatrist, a holocaust survivor who had turned his life in Nazi Concentration Camp into an experiment to find meaning in life. The three ways to suggested by him are:Finding Meaning by Doing Things, Experiencing things, and in suffering. Well it dose not mean you stick to a particular option, you can mix and match or do all things together, any time.

Doing Things refers to trying new things, working, helping/ doing service, learning, do everything, basically meaning in taking action and keeping yourself busy. Experiencing Things means giving yourself different experiences, listening to music, Painting, photography, adventure, explorations, getting a new experience every day.

The third one is less of doing and more of realization.Buddha said life is Suffering. Finding meaning in Suffering is about being aware the hardship or discomfort in current situation or something from the past has a meaning. Fruits of your suffering are waiting for your or do to your suffering your loved ones have got the fruits. Some times its easier to live for someone else that live for yourself: Parents, Siblings, Friends, Spouse, Children or just a Stranger.

Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Terrassa found meaning in Service to others.

Find your Ikigai.! It is a combination of things that you are Good at Doing, Things that you like doing, things that the world needs, and things that what you can get Paid for.

Curiosity. Living with curiosity. It is the most awesome thing to live by according to me. Live to explore. Try new things. Learn skills. Hunt for things that get you in the Flow.

If need instant clarity, ask yourself:

‘Why? Why, you don’t want to commit suicide?’

Do whatever comes to your mind first as the answer..! This was one of his cool technique that struck with me.

If something is still bothering… Its best to remember:

“It all ends Well! If it is not well, Its not the end”

End thoughts:

• Don’t take life and your self too seriously.
• Set back and enjoy the ride! you get only one chance to die but you get a new chance to live every day. Explore life!
• Remember everything is temporary, everything changes! People change, situations change, nothing stays.
• You are stronger than your circumstances!
• Talk to a friend or even a stranger!

You can talk to me!