How do the individuals here who have jobs, and live as "normal" individuals cope with how meaningless most of it all is?
Took me a long time to accept things as the way they are. So many things that go on are so beyond my ideals.
But then I realized that my ideals were just as fleeting as the ideals of the people I couldn't agree with. And I realized that things tend to be the way they are for a reason. Things tend to find stable points, tend to oscillate between extremes.
I accepted the world as it is because I believe it is the balance between many existing forces, that the world will always change and oscillate between ideals, and that being somebody who hangs onto ideals is being somebody who doesn't want to live in this world.
It was hard to let go, but I am a better person with a better life because of it.
How do you find meaning in what you do?
This is another one that I struggled with for a long time. I searched and searched for meaning. Never found it.
But then I noticed that there's lots of people who have meaning. So I observed them. Many of the people "found" their meaning without ever asking questions, without ever searching. These people seemed to "be born" with meaning.
Then there were people who went through some kind of depression or search during adolescence, who didn't seem to have meaning, then came across something (like music or science or business) that just GRABBED them and they were like "yeah! this is it!". That happened to my brother, to some friends, etc.
And so I asked myself, "why not me?" I explored so many things, searching for meaning, why didn't I stumble across one that was "it"? And I think I understand now why:
People learn meaning, just as they learn religion, values, right and wrong, language, how Tiger Woods learned golf. They learn meaning through their environment, through their ACTION, through their life experiences. They learn by doing, by enjoying, and by remembering.
I didn't learn meaning because I always acted with hesitation, I always asked "why" before I learned to DO. Meaning is unconscious, it is free of mind, it is from the gut. I never followed through on anything so purely, my mind was involved in everything. I failed, my parents failed, my environment failed to give me meaning.
But wait--there was one thing that always had meaning for me--love and understanding. Unfortunately, because I had no other bases, I always chased love and understanding without boundary, without any care in the world. To many it seemed romantic, but to do anything so purely is at the same time beautiful and very, very dangerous. I've had my fair share of bumps, bruises, and injuries because of it.
And so now, I accept that. I accept that I live without such a basic meaning. My meaning has become my search for meaning. In large part, I have answered it. Now, I try to answer the question, "what is it to be human?" I study cognitive neuroscience. I like it OK. But without love, it all falls apart again.
For what it's worth, that's me.
And why do you think we are here?
I don't ask this as a teleological question anymore. I am interested in ideas as to how we came to exist, but I am tired of assinging purpose to us. I'd rather just see us move towards living more in harmony with the world, and I'll be very satisfied with that broad brushstroke.
Sorry if I'm reapeating myself. And good luck with your questions, it's a tough place to be.
Ben
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