The most difficult question...why should one live?

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Belindi
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by Belindi »

One of my main reasons for living this week will be to vote for and support the Labour party in the general election on Thursday.
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Grotto19
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by Grotto19 »

I have reflected on the matter much more over the passing days. And all the advice of “hey just do you” has been fruitless (for me at least). In fact the only thing which ever sticks at all is to serve. Perhaps that is my fundamental nature, or perhaps it is all our nature, this I cannot say as I am a subjective observer. But it is the only purpose or point I can swallow which allows for continued feeding and self-maintenance.

See for me simple acts of feeding and bathing are a chore. I tire of it all, and thus there needs to be a motive to bother. I can and have spent days off without eating nor doing anything. Only drinking water (admittedly I cannot tolerate dehydration). The only motive I can hold onto worth value is to serve others. It’s odd because if they are as insignificant as myself than why serve them, yet somehow I feel without proper justification that is the point.
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by Belindi »

Grotto, do prefer one option over another , in any area whatsoever? Republicans or Democrats? Blonde or brunette, savoury or sweet, men or women, sex or celibacy, cats or dogs, Christianity or Islam, trees or concrete, Nazis or Lefties, your compassion is a given so who are you going to select to be the object of your compassion ? My point is that when a man makes a choice that is to express theirself. I suggest that the next thing for you to do is choose something for a reason and then do it.


I guess there may be some few people who are not depressed or sad and who like not choosing and prefer others to choose on their behalf. However one way to break up the cycle of depression is to chose who you are going to be. True one is insignificant at the moment, insignificant =passive, but one can choose to signify.

Within the bounds of law and morality please!
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by LuckyR »

Grotto19 wrote:I have reflected on the matter much more over the passing days. And all the advice of “hey just do you” has been fruitless (for me at least). In fact the only thing which ever sticks at all is to serve. Perhaps that is my fundamental nature, or perhaps it is all our nature, this I cannot say as I am a subjective observer. But it is the only purpose or point I can swallow which allows for continued feeding and self-maintenance.

See for me simple acts of feeding and bathing are a chore. I tire of it all, and thus there needs to be a motive to bother. I can and have spent days off without eating nor doing anything. Only drinking water (admittedly I cannot tolerate dehydration). The only motive I can hold onto worth value is to serve others. It’s odd because if they are as insignificant as myself than why serve them, yet somehow I feel without proper justification that is the point.
Perhaps I missed it (though I could find no mention in the OP), but what is your general state of health? And I am not referring to your Mental Health.
"As usual... it depends."
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Grotto19
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by Grotto19 »

LuckyR wrote:
Grotto19 wrote:I have reflected on the matter much more over the passing days. And all the advice of “hey just do you” has been fruitless (for me at least). In fact the only thing which ever sticks at all is to serve. Perhaps that is my fundamental nature, or perhaps it is all our nature, this I cannot say as I am a subjective observer. But it is the only purpose or point I can swallow which allows for continued feeding and self-maintenance.

See for me simple acts of feeding and bathing are a chore. I tire of it all, and thus there needs to be a motive to bother. I can and have spent days off without eating nor doing anything. Only drinking water (admittedly I cannot tolerate dehydration). The only motive I can hold onto worth value is to serve others. It’s odd because if they are as insignificant as myself than why serve them, yet somehow I feel without proper justification that is the point.
Perhaps I missed it (though I could find no mention in the OP), but what is your general state of health? And I am not referring to your Mental Health.
I am physically well enough. Though I suppose existential crisis qualifies as mentally unwell. To be more clear my body will likely support me for dozens more years, my mind wonders why bother seems like a lot of work for no reason.

-- Updated June 8th, 2017, 1:38 am to add the following --
Belindi wrote:Grotto, do prefer one option over another , in any area whatsoever? Republicans or Democrats? Blonde or brunette, savoury or sweet, men or women, sex or celibacy, cats or dogs, Christianity or Islam, trees or concrete, Nazis or Lefties, your compassion is a given so who are you going to select to be the object of your compassion ? My point is that when a man makes a choice that is to express theirself. I suggest that the next thing for you to do is choose something for a reason and then do it.


I guess there may be some few people who are not depressed or sad and who like not choosing and prefer others to choose on their behalf. However one way to break up the cycle of depression is to chose who you are going to be. True one is insignificant at the moment, insignificant =passive, but one can choose to signify.

Within the bounds of law and morality please!

I do have my preferences, but they are only worth fighting for if they have a point. I am fairly vocal about human rights for example (all humans not just certain subsections). However my motive to fight is diminished by the fact I see little point in myself or any other. It's hard to get motivated to fight for something that is inconsequential. I out of habit fight for black rights, women’s rights, and defend all religions right to worship. But more and more my spirit is diminished because it seems all to be pointless. Just as I long ago lost the lust for rooting for a sports team I have now lost the interest in these things as well. For me at least I need what I care about to matter, to have meaning.

I cannot express what it is like to wake up and not know why you did that. I realize this concept is completely foreign to most people. But I literally have no reason to do anything, I need to invent a reason each day. Survival some would say, but why survive if the only reason you’re surviving is to survive? What is the point? That is what I am driving at. I feel like there is a reason, but for all my wit I cannot see it.
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by Belindi »

Grotto wrote:
I do have my preferences, but they are only worth fighting for if they have a point. I am fairly vocal about human rights for example (all humans not just certain subsections). However my motive to fight is diminished by the fact I see little point in myself or any other. It's hard to get motivated to fight for something that is inconsequential. I out of habit fight for black rights, women’s rights, and defend all religions right to worship. But more and more my spirit is diminished because it seems all to be pointless. Just as I long ago lost the lust for rooting for a sports team I have now lost the interest in these things as well. For me at least I need what I care about to matter, to have meaning.

I cannot express what it is like to wake up and not know why you did that. I realize this concept is completely foreign to most people. But I literally have no reason to do anything, I need to invent a reason each day. Survival some would say, but why survive if the only reason you’re surviving is to survive? What is the point? That is what I am driving at. I feel like there is a reason, but for all my wit I cannot see it.
I apologise for my facile suggestions. They aren't entirely useless for some depressed people. If your depression is so persistent , and you obviously are intelligent and resourceful, yours may be a case for a kick-start by medication?

-- Updated June 8th, 2017, 4:22 am to add the following --

Grotto, if it's any help some people describe what you feel as seeing the world through a permanent pane of glass. Affect is sometimes what is missing, and there is medication that can sort that.

-- Updated June 8th, 2017, 4:32 am to add the following --

Sometimes called apathy.

-- Updated June 8th, 2017, 4:39 am to add the following --

Apathy is uncomfortable when the subject is intelligent and cognitively aware. I don't want to be intrusive, but one of my greatest friends suffered from depression, so I sort of know what it was like. He had never been interested in dogs, but when he got to know and help to care for my dog he did in fact get some relief from the ennui. He neglected himself as a result of the depression, the ennui, and my practical interventions amused him so that was a help. I am just telling you in case something helps.

-- Updated June 8th, 2017, 4:40 am to add the following --

Apathy is uncomfortable when the subject is intelligent and cognitively aware. I don't want to be intrusive, but one of my greatest friends suffered from depression, so I sort of know what it was like. He had never been interested in dogs, but when he got to know and help to care for my dog he did in fact get some relief from the ennui. He neglected himself as a result of the depression, the ennui, and my practical interventions amused him so that was a help. I am just telling you in case something helps.
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LuckyR
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Re: The most difficult question...why should one live?

Post by LuckyR »

Grotto19 wrote:
LuckyR wrote: (Nested quote removed.)


Perhaps I missed it (though I could find no mention in the OP), but what is your general state of health? And I am not referring to your Mental Health.
I am physically well enough. Though I suppose existential crisis qualifies as mentally unwell. To be more clear my body will likely support me for dozens more years, my mind wonders why bother seems like a lot of work for no reason.
Not to trivialize something that is truly troubling you but let me draw you an analogy. There is a well known cure for the condition hypochondriasis (that you do not have), that is, getting a serious, real health problem/disease. Similarly, since you are blessed with good health, you have gigantic opportunities to do an infinite number of more and less important things that folks in poor health (a very common situation) would literally pay any price to access, such that missing those opportunities is borderline criminal (an exaggeration, though a slight one). Of course, if the above is meaningless to you, then you are meeting one of the five diagnostic criteria for depression.
"As usual... it depends."
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