What is the point in living?

[Dylan12133]

I don't see the point in living anymore. I've put myself in a mindset where I think, 'we're all going to die someday', so why go on living another 60-70 years in a world which has existed before I have, and will continue to exist once I depart from it? I just think that life prolongs the inevitability of death. I don't want to commit suicide because I wouldn't want to hurt those around me, but I just don't see the point in life anymore. Anything and everything I do or take part in is just cancelled out by the prospect of death.

When you think about it, death is the only certainty in life - the only thing that you can count on. Life just doesn't make sense anymore. I mean, I could get a job, go to uni, get married, have kids - but eventually I'll die, and this world won't even miss me. Like I said, it will continue to exist even though I am not present in it. I know, I know, life is beautiful, we have to make the most of the time we have on this Earth, yada yada yada. But why? It's not like I'll be able to remember my time in this world once I pass away, will I? When I die, it's not like I'll be able to reminisce over my time on Earth - so why continue? Why not just save myself the hassle of waking up every morning and continuing the same old routine time and time again and just exit this world?

I really just can't be bothered anymore. I mean, my life is good, I've got a great family and great friends..but I just don't see a point anymore. Death has a stranglehold over me and I can't escape from it, well I don't think I can anyway. My presence in this world is miniscule - one of around 7 billion people. And so, if I were gone, it wouldn't make a huge difference, would it? People would move on, the world would move on. I don't think I'll ever be able to enjoy life now, knowing that everything I do essentially counts for shit.

Is there anyone out there who feels the same way?

[Lost in the Echo]

Well, think of it this way: Why waste your life by concentrating on the certainty of death?
Life is fun because it's full of surprises, and very few certainties. Life is unpredictable, which keeps giving us hope, and something to live for.

Yes, everyone dies eventually, but you can try to leave some kind of impact, or something people will remember you by. Whether it be people remembering you as funny, or smart, or caring person etc. or whether you become famous for something.
In my opinion, the meaning of life is to do things that contribute, like helping people, or just being a good person. Or getting a good job, or finding a hobby you enjoy.

Why say "oh well, we live for 60-70 years then we die"? Give your life meaning. Do something constructive with your life, and do things you enjoy.
Basically, just enjoy life. There's really no point in moping around for 60-70 years.

[Red_The_Viking]

do things you enjoy
This.
Do things you enjoy!
If you want to veg out and sit on the couch all day. Do it!
Don't conform to society's " find person, have kids, die" doctrine.
Simply do everything you enjoy.
Find something you can't possibly live without.
And then work towards always having it.

Your life is about you.
Fact.
I might sound selfish. But do what you want to do.
Find that one thing.
And it truly makes all the hard parts worth it.

[Syvelocin]

"There is nothing in the world that we can count on. Even that we will wake up is an assumption." Not even death, other than it will happen eventually.

An issue that comes up with depression is the romanticization of death. I never romanticized death, but I did so with pretty much everything else—mental illness, self-harm, etc. It's definitely hard to break this, as the depression can really fuck with who you are at the moment as a person. I understand this is a difficult viewpoint; I didn't acquire it for years, and even in my case, I acquired it relatively young. But you only get one life. Like you said, we will all die, but right now there's no drive or motivation. With a clear head, it's possible to see that with one life, we should experience it to the fullest. Most of us will be forgotten. We will be hurt, hurt others, and eventually die. Why not experience everything life has to offer? Give this world a chance. Because regardless of what you believe in, you will never be on Earth again in this consciousness. Life is the most valuable thing, slightly ahead of time and love (imo).

Western society has this fascination with immortality. We all want that eternal youth, to be captured on-screen or in textbooks or whatever. It's more of an Eastern concept, aging gracefully, experience life and accepting death at the end. No, none of it has a point. But I guess that's also the point of it all.

Like Red said, your life is about you. The LaVeyan philosophy that you are your own god. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, you are one of a large number of people. In your world, you are the sun around which the planets revolve. There is no story without a protagonist. "We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one."

[1_21Guns]

It's often been said there's a difference in this world that only you can make, but even so, yeah not everyone's going to change the world, and of course you'll die someday, but you have a right to live, that's all there is to it, you have a right to live, you have a right to make your life, build your life as you want it, to have hopes and dreams, reaching your aspirations and getting where you want to get to in life.
You shouldn't concern yourself with if people will remember you, you should concern yourself with being someone you'd want to remember, yes, life goes on, of course it does, but if you be yourself, achieve what you want to, do things you enjoy and try your best to get the best you can out of life, then it's worth the shot, it's worth sticking around to see, nothing is ever really certain, you couldn't sit here and tell me that nothing making your life worth it will or wont't happen in the next 10 years, so why hang on to the certainty of death? Live, don't survive, then you'll see a point, find something you enjoy even if it's the most pointless thing on the planet, find something that makes you happy, do things that make you happy :)