I struggled quite a bit with an existential crisis a little over a year ago. The sense of despair I felt over the lack of innate purpose and meaning in life made it hard to get out of bed in the morning. I recovered from this aspect of it by reminding myself that evolution happened to shape me with a mind which craves purpose; so just as I fulfill my need for food, sex and companionship, I can create a sense of meaning for myself to meet this need.
The sense of meaning came from being, as Neil degrasse Tyson says, "A good, strong link in the chain of life". I decided to simply be a good human who attempts to be present and care for my fellow humans, to honor and respect life, and to try to leave society more healthy and stable. This is enough for me. Unfortunately, the existential risks which plague us (nuclear war, catastrophic climate change) not only frighten me because of the horrors I would experience, but also because they would erase my purpose. Grappling with the idea that humans could be wiped out due to our apathy, greed and proclivity towards violence is so thoroughly depressing that my only recourse is distracting myself. I meditate, get lost in friends, work and video games, enjoy travel, and try not to think about it. If civilization or our species will be destroyed within my lifetime, I want to at least have enjoyed the time I had.
The sense of meaning came from being, as Neil degrasse Tyson says, "A good, strong link in the chain of life". I decided to simply be a good human who attempts to be present and care for my fellow humans, to honor and respect life, and to try to leave society more healthy and stable. This is enough for me. Unfortunately, the existential risks which plague us (nuclear war, catastrophic climate change) not only frighten me because of the horrors I would experience, but also because they would erase my purpose. Grappling with the idea that humans could be wiped out due to our apathy, greed and proclivity towards violence is so thoroughly depressing that my only recourse is distracting myself. I meditate, get lost in friends, work and video games, enjoy travel, and try not to think about it. If civilization or our species will be destroyed within my lifetime, I want to at least have enjoyed the time I had.