I've reasoned away my reasons for living, what can I do next?
I've always prided myself on making all my decisions based on reason. I'm a very introspective individual and I seek the true motivations behind any of my actions. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy anything because I've gotten to that stage where there is no real mystery or self delusion to hide behind. I've reasoned away any enjoyment I have in virtually everything. While I'm currently more confident than I ever was its only because I don't really feel the usual fear I used to, more numb and apathetic than anything else. I'm more successful than i've ever been but I've ceased to care, I have more money but I don't enjoy spending it. I'm a little lost and I'm not entirely sure what to do to find a way back to a way of life that I can enjoy, I'm starting to forget what enjoying things felt like. It's not depression per se, i'm not entirely sure what this qualifies as, any advice?
Answers:
It sounds as if you need a little spontaneity in your life, you need to jump off some metaphorical cliff and learn how to live again, how to truly live. You have reasoned away intrigue and the need to trust and reduced your world to one made of facts, one that can be explained completely. Go do something bizarre that requires you to trust in something or someone else..before knowing the facts. Take a risk and find your fear again.
Is there a hobby of any kind that you would like to do. Anytime I feel this way I learn something new.Also there are lots of people that need a friend,just someone to talk to.That might sound boring but it does help.
I know how you feel - I had the same dilemma a few years ago and made radical changes. i gave up a great paying job, sold my house and worked for the VSO in Africa for a few years - it worked for me.
PRAY! With success, intelligence, money, and all the other things you mentioned, it all means nothing, because you have a void in your life which can only be filled by God. He is real; that other stuff is temporal. Seek HIM and His word; that is your reason for living!!
I do not know if you are young, old, male, or female but what you should do is this.
Look at the TV news about AFRICA or India or North Koreaand say am I better off than they are.
Then find something that you have never done before I started SCUBA diving and I am 54
You are reasoning that has lost sentiment and/or feeling. What made you feel good in the past? Those are the things you should return to. Push away all the negative things in your life and embrace the positive.
Lastly, it sounds like you are extremely analytical. If you want to gain meaning and power in your life, you need to become more holistic. How you do it is up to you, but don't think about it too hard. Thinking just makes it worse. Use your instinct to tell you. Trust your instinct, dear. It will never fail you.. maybe you fail it.
It sounds to me as though you have slipped into depression or at least, "low mood". Please see your doctor, because if this is the problem, then you can feel much better within a few weeks on some medication, to help you along just now. Who knows, maybe then you will see things very differently and be optimistic. Don't just discount what I've said out of hand, you do sound depressed.
In some way,
Our deepest self is the self of all men
Their pain is our pain
Their need is our need
There can be no joy for us
Until there is joy for them.
Now, you really have a reason to live and not the shallow life you were living before. By the way, this is not religious. It is just the way the human psyche is made.
I don’t know if this helps:
I watched a psychology show once on how the brain works chemicals and everything and it was saying about love just being an attachment made for survival because if you love a baby you will die to keep it alive rather than have it for dinner! And I sat trying to deny this love isn’t a survival mechanism its something mystical sent from the gods, but then the guy said what and amazing species we are that we have evolved so much we can love in a way (I assume) animals cant (because they will eat their kids for survival!)
We feel and it may be just chemicals in the brain but that doesn’t make them any less beautiful or fantastic, what beauty in the human race, with love or even the promise of it, how can you reason away life.
When I feel down I ask my self ‘would it have been better if I never lived?’ and I can never say yes.
Love and the smell of rain, the taste of chocolate the good cr@p. little and great makes it all worth it
yes chap, its depression..you said it all, youre a success. youve climbed the mountain.and youre fed up with the view from your ivory tower of wealth. which is why we go to work.
personally, im in a wheelchair, and every bloody day is a struggle, but i have something to look forwards to, another day.. i should have died on the side of the road almost 25 years ago..obviously i didnt. but my body is messed up. read my profile.
we all strive to eat caviar, but we all remember the sausage egg and chips, and we miss them.. sometime around ones 40-45th birthday we start to evavluate what weve achieved. and where were headed. life is a path of many turns. and it sounds like your lost in the maze section..
i'll bet in your meteroric rise to wealth and possessions your social life sucks. your an introverted workaholic, just like most of my mates. there is more to life than work. there was a patch back in the 70's, work to live, DON'T live to work.
sounds like you need a slap of reality to remnd you how far youve come in life. and be grateful for it. you want to feel better about yourself, do something in the local community, spread teh wealth, buy the youth club something it needs.
at the end of the day its your life. remember your parents life, and your grandparents life.. puts yours into perspective doesnt it.
i sit here in my wheelchair, almost 50, havent got two pennies to rub together, and im content, and happy. and thats something money cant buy.
sit down with a clean sheet of paper, and order your thoughts.put your life into perspective, and prioritise it. only you can do that. what is, and what isnt important to you.
find someone to enjoy life with. or give it all to charity and feel good about your selfless act
Sounds almost like a psychopathic personality. Almost. You claim to reason away all joy and emotions yet you want to find a meaning for life. You want a 2+2=4 answer? Good luck with that.trying to find one of those will get you to the end of your life. This type of thinking may be dangerous. For example: if you were to kill someone would it even affect you? If no, then I refer you to my first sentence and suggest you get help. In fact, I would suggest that now. If you have all this money then you can hire a good shirk to give your professional help. I think it's kinda illogical to seek such help from such place as UKQnA.com but that's just me.
If you reasoned away all feeling and can't laugh at anything like political debates or Monty Python then you have just squashed the best thing about life. Get some help, kid.
try living on emotion as well as logic
AT FIRST ALL WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FACE OUR FEARS AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES OF LIFE
ONLY A HANDFULL OF PPL MANAGE THIS!
THEN ONCE WE HAVE DONE IT, THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS - WE MISS THE FEAR AND CHALLENGE OF LIFE
ITS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. WE STRIVE FOR THE THINGS WE DO NOT HAVE THEN WHEN WE DO HAVE THEM WE DO NOT WANT THEM.
THERE IS AN ANSWER THOUGH AND THAT IS TO BECOME SELFLESS - GIVE OTHERS STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THEIR FEARS AND CHALLENGES.
BEING USEFUL IS THE HAPPIEST REASON TO LIVE
hi " you poor lost soul"
i think maybe you need to make some new pals or try a new hobby. you say you have plenty of money so do somet completely different.
do a bungee jump or a free fall sky dive just do something that you've never dreamed of doing and just do it.
i think it sounds like your appreciation of life itself has temporarily got lost along your way. have you had too much and been able to obtain it all too easily?
there are so many worse off people out there in this mad world that would love your life just open your eyes and look around u.
For a start,you can stop being so bloody sensible,being too introspective could drive you nuts,try & 'break out',do things that you wouldn't normally dream of doing,you've got into a rut,now you've got to get yourself out of it.All money does is give you a sense of security,knowing that you can cover the bills,in itself,it does not bring happiness.I haven't a bean to my name & i don't give a damn,there are no pockets in a shroud.Do some voluntary among people worse off than yourself,make yourself useful to your community.Good luck.
People tend to think of depression as feeling unhappy, whereas it's often more a condition of feeling nothing, exactly as you describe. On a rational, logical level it can seem that life has no ultimate meaning, and as an "existentialist" I'd have to agree. But on a day to day level life can be very exciting and worthwhile, building relationships, marvelling at nature, setting yourself goals and striving to achieve them.
I suspect that you are in fact depressed, and would advise you to contact a counsellor. Cognitive therapy might help. You've taken the most difficult step already, by asking for advice. Don't let life slip past you, it's too precious to waste.
what do saudi/iranian/afghani women think about feminism?
Suffragettes and Women's Liberation - do you think they shot themselves in the foot.?
Whats the worst obsession men's obsession with football or women's obsession with shoes?
why are televisions square.?
The English: tolerant people?
What is the role of Visual Merchandising?
Why No Blog ? Get A blog now ! yahoo360 on your profile?
recomend me a good book on crimonology?
Answers:
It sounds as if you need a little spontaneity in your life, you need to jump off some metaphorical cliff and learn how to live again, how to truly live. You have reasoned away intrigue and the need to trust and reduced your world to one made of facts, one that can be explained completely. Go do something bizarre that requires you to trust in something or someone else..before knowing the facts. Take a risk and find your fear again.
Is there a hobby of any kind that you would like to do. Anytime I feel this way I learn something new.Also there are lots of people that need a friend,just someone to talk to.That might sound boring but it does help.
I know how you feel - I had the same dilemma a few years ago and made radical changes. i gave up a great paying job, sold my house and worked for the VSO in Africa for a few years - it worked for me.
PRAY! With success, intelligence, money, and all the other things you mentioned, it all means nothing, because you have a void in your life which can only be filled by God. He is real; that other stuff is temporal. Seek HIM and His word; that is your reason for living!!
I do not know if you are young, old, male, or female but what you should do is this.
Look at the TV news about AFRICA or India or North Koreaand say am I better off than they are.
Then find something that you have never done before I started SCUBA diving and I am 54
You are reasoning that has lost sentiment and/or feeling. What made you feel good in the past? Those are the things you should return to. Push away all the negative things in your life and embrace the positive.
Lastly, it sounds like you are extremely analytical. If you want to gain meaning and power in your life, you need to become more holistic. How you do it is up to you, but don't think about it too hard. Thinking just makes it worse. Use your instinct to tell you. Trust your instinct, dear. It will never fail you.. maybe you fail it.
It sounds to me as though you have slipped into depression or at least, "low mood". Please see your doctor, because if this is the problem, then you can feel much better within a few weeks on some medication, to help you along just now. Who knows, maybe then you will see things very differently and be optimistic. Don't just discount what I've said out of hand, you do sound depressed.
In some way,
Our deepest self is the self of all men
Their pain is our pain
Their need is our need
There can be no joy for us
Until there is joy for them.
Now, you really have a reason to live and not the shallow life you were living before. By the way, this is not religious. It is just the way the human psyche is made.
I don’t know if this helps:
I watched a psychology show once on how the brain works chemicals and everything and it was saying about love just being an attachment made for survival because if you love a baby you will die to keep it alive rather than have it for dinner! And I sat trying to deny this love isn’t a survival mechanism its something mystical sent from the gods, but then the guy said what and amazing species we are that we have evolved so much we can love in a way (I assume) animals cant (because they will eat their kids for survival!)
We feel and it may be just chemicals in the brain but that doesn’t make them any less beautiful or fantastic, what beauty in the human race, with love or even the promise of it, how can you reason away life.
When I feel down I ask my self ‘would it have been better if I never lived?’ and I can never say yes.
Love and the smell of rain, the taste of chocolate the good cr@p. little and great makes it all worth it
yes chap, its depression..you said it all, youre a success. youve climbed the mountain.and youre fed up with the view from your ivory tower of wealth. which is why we go to work.
personally, im in a wheelchair, and every bloody day is a struggle, but i have something to look forwards to, another day.. i should have died on the side of the road almost 25 years ago..obviously i didnt. but my body is messed up. read my profile.
we all strive to eat caviar, but we all remember the sausage egg and chips, and we miss them.. sometime around ones 40-45th birthday we start to evavluate what weve achieved. and where were headed. life is a path of many turns. and it sounds like your lost in the maze section..
i'll bet in your meteroric rise to wealth and possessions your social life sucks. your an introverted workaholic, just like most of my mates. there is more to life than work. there was a patch back in the 70's, work to live, DON'T live to work.
sounds like you need a slap of reality to remnd you how far youve come in life. and be grateful for it. you want to feel better about yourself, do something in the local community, spread teh wealth, buy the youth club something it needs.
at the end of the day its your life. remember your parents life, and your grandparents life.. puts yours into perspective doesnt it.
i sit here in my wheelchair, almost 50, havent got two pennies to rub together, and im content, and happy. and thats something money cant buy.
sit down with a clean sheet of paper, and order your thoughts.put your life into perspective, and prioritise it. only you can do that. what is, and what isnt important to you.
find someone to enjoy life with. or give it all to charity and feel good about your selfless act
Sounds almost like a psychopathic personality. Almost. You claim to reason away all joy and emotions yet you want to find a meaning for life. You want a 2+2=4 answer? Good luck with that.trying to find one of those will get you to the end of your life. This type of thinking may be dangerous. For example: if you were to kill someone would it even affect you? If no, then I refer you to my first sentence and suggest you get help. In fact, I would suggest that now. If you have all this money then you can hire a good shirk to give your professional help. I think it's kinda illogical to seek such help from such place as UKQnA.com but that's just me.
If you reasoned away all feeling and can't laugh at anything like political debates or Monty Python then you have just squashed the best thing about life. Get some help, kid.
try living on emotion as well as logic
AT FIRST ALL WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FACE OUR FEARS AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES OF LIFE
ONLY A HANDFULL OF PPL MANAGE THIS!
THEN ONCE WE HAVE DONE IT, THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS - WE MISS THE FEAR AND CHALLENGE OF LIFE
ITS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. WE STRIVE FOR THE THINGS WE DO NOT HAVE THEN WHEN WE DO HAVE THEM WE DO NOT WANT THEM.
THERE IS AN ANSWER THOUGH AND THAT IS TO BECOME SELFLESS - GIVE OTHERS STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THEIR FEARS AND CHALLENGES.
BEING USEFUL IS THE HAPPIEST REASON TO LIVE
hi " you poor lost soul"
i think maybe you need to make some new pals or try a new hobby. you say you have plenty of money so do somet completely different.
do a bungee jump or a free fall sky dive just do something that you've never dreamed of doing and just do it.
i think it sounds like your appreciation of life itself has temporarily got lost along your way. have you had too much and been able to obtain it all too easily?
there are so many worse off people out there in this mad world that would love your life just open your eyes and look around u.
For a start,you can stop being so bloody sensible,being too introspective could drive you nuts,try & 'break out',do things that you wouldn't normally dream of doing,you've got into a rut,now you've got to get yourself out of it.All money does is give you a sense of security,knowing that you can cover the bills,in itself,it does not bring happiness.I haven't a bean to my name & i don't give a damn,there are no pockets in a shroud.Do some voluntary among people worse off than yourself,make yourself useful to your community.Good luck.
People tend to think of depression as feeling unhappy, whereas it's often more a condition of feeling nothing, exactly as you describe. On a rational, logical level it can seem that life has no ultimate meaning, and as an "existentialist" I'd have to agree. But on a day to day level life can be very exciting and worthwhile, building relationships, marvelling at nature, setting yourself goals and striving to achieve them.
I suspect that you are in fact depressed, and would advise you to contact a counsellor. Cognitive therapy might help. You've taken the most difficult step already, by asking for advice. Don't let life slip past you, it's too precious to waste.
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.