How to cure nihilism based suffering?

[AlphaAbundance]

It feels saddening and negative thinking everything is meaningless. It feels uninterested to do anything in life with me understanding (or perhaps thinking) it is meaningless.

• For example, with watching TV, it feels uninterested in anything that is happening. With playing video games, it feels bored thinking there is no real meaning, purpose behind playing the game. With drawing, it feels uninteresting thinking what is the actual point, thinking there is no absolute, objective purpose. And with altruism, it feels bored thinking there is certainly no point to actually helping others. It seems (or is the case that) all meaning is mentally created and therefore not objective.  And created meaning is "meaningless" and arbitrary.

Life has just dropped to survival needs and pure hedonism. Any resources or really anything I can do to fix this problem. I should have asked on here months ago. It feels saddening thinking there is no reason to anything. I also can kinda see that there is nothing bad or negative about there being no meaning in life - it just still feels saddening thinking that the enjoyment or fulfillment or "feeling of meaning" is gone and won't come back. The illusion has been shattered. It is kinda a feeling negative thinking that "ohh life is meaningless" but its also feeling saddening thinking "meaning is gone = I have less enjoyment of life" (which may or may not be the same thing). Its still feeling negative based on a scenario of meaning being gone and of there being less joy in my life.

My only goals now are just seeking financial freedom (so I can avoid the suffering of having to work), enlightenment (bliss, true happiness and understanding of life so I can know what is best, what to do, how to solve this and all my problems) and becoming a super powered being (lol don't ask).

How to cure nihilism based suffering? And on a side note, is joy (like the pure pleasure of eating ice cream) connected to meaning in anyway? Someone please just explain meaning. What is meaning?

(And yes I already watched Leo's video - that is what seeded this. Also just be straight up no bullshit or sugarcoating)

Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[Forestluv]

No meaning = suffering 

Absence of meaning = freedom

[AlphaAbundance]

@Serotoninluv Wow interesting how so little words can convey so much. Simple and concise. Ok but how do I create meaning? What do I have to look forward to with the absence of meaning? Just pure survival + hedonism? Like what is there to do? Is it just Being™?

Also for others please continue to reply - the problem is not solved yet

Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[Epikur]

9 minutes ago, AlphaAbundance said:

It feels saddening and negative thinking everything is meaningless. It feels uninterested to do anything in life with me understanding (or perhaps thinking) it is meaningless.

• For example, with watching TV, it feels uninterested in anything that is happening. With playing video games, it feels bored thinking there is no real meaning, purpose behind playing the game. With drawing, it feels uninteresting thinking what is the actual point, thinking there is no absolute, objective purpose. And with altruism, it feels bored thinking there is certainly no point to actually helping others. It seems (or is the case that) all meaning is created and therefore not objective.  And created meaning is "meaningless" and arbitrary.

Life has just dropped to survival needs and pure hedonism. Any resources or really anything I can do to fix this problem. I should have asked on here months ago. It feels saddening thinking there is no reason to anything. I also can kinda see that there is nothing bad or negative about there being no meaning in life - it just still feels saddening thinking that the enjoyment or fulfillment or "feeling of meaning" is gone and won't come back. The illusion has been shattered. It is kinda a feeling negative thinking that "ohh life is meaningless" but its also feeling saddening thinking "meaning is gone = I have less enjoyment of life" (which may or may not be the same thing). Its still feeling negative based on a scenario of meaning being gone and of there being less joy in my life.

My only goals now are just seeking financial freedom (so I can avoid the suffering of having to work), enlightenment (bliss, true happiness and understanding of life so I can know what is best, what to do, how to solve this and all my problems) and becoming a super powered being (lol don't ask).

How to cure nihilism based suffering? And on a side note, is joy (like the pure pleasure of eating ice cream) connected to meaning in anyway? Someone please just explain meaning. What is meaning?

(And yes I already watched Leo's video - that is what seeded this. Also just be straight up no bullshit or sugarcoating)

I am working with the concept of Epikur. A hidden garden, some friends, intellectual curiousity (play). Live frugal and minimalistic. 

That is the most no nonsense approach I found. It's pretty down to earth. It's not super heroic but it might work for most.



 

[AtheisticNonduality]

@AlphaAbundance Love is a meaning.

[AlphaAbundance]

@Epikur I can't find that online. Sounds interesting and valuable. Where can I read up on it? What do you mean by "not super heroic"? You mean like not grandiose or "who has the biggest dick" self-improvement type shit?

Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[Epikur]

26 minutes ago, AlphaAbundance said:

@Epikur I can't find that online. Sounds interesting and valuable. Where can I read up on it? What do you mean by "not super heroic"? You mean like not grandiose or who has the biggest dick self-improvement type shit?

There is a lot online. It was one of the biggest ideologies in the time of the roman empire. This might help:
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_epicureanism.html

With not super heroic I mean he is a minimalist. So he is the opposite of a marvel hero. You won't become "the hero" with his philosopy. 

But you might become relatively content and sometimes happy once in a while I guess.

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by Epikur

[AlphaAbundance]

@AtheisticNonduality Is it mentally constructed though? I thought the pure love of absolute infinity is not? Or are you talking about regular love? Yeah that I can see as atleast partially being mentally constructed (although it seems some of it is semi-natural to humans like wanting approval, to feel safety, etc)

@Joshi3 Lmao would you all care to add more than a couple of sentences. Its hard to understand the nuances. So are you saying you must actively frame it as a positive thing? How does one do that?

@Epikur Thank you - do you think his philosophy is superior to all other philosophies? Do you think it will provide the best life? Also I'd make sure your not building an identity around him in case his shit happens to fall through and so that you can see other perspectives

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[AlphaAbundance]

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Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[AlphaAbundance]

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Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[AlphaAbundance]

@Joshi3 Ok interesting. I feel negative thinking I am and will have reduced joy from lack of meaning. I feel negative thinking that there is nothing to do, everything is for nothing since there is no meaning. It is more like I am suffering from the lack of meaning reducing my joy. So it might be from my drive for enjoyment. Its feeling saddening thinking I lost the meaning. I understand what you are saying but its hard to escape it. I will keep trying. Please help though. What should anyone do if there is no meaning (or absence of meaning)? How does one create meaning?

[Epikur]

9 minutes ago, AlphaAbundance said:

@Joshi3 Ok interesting. I feel negative thinking I am and will have reduced joy from lack of meaning. I feel negative thinking that there is nothing to do, everything is for nothing since there is no meaning. It is more like I am suffering from the lack of meaning reducing my joy. So it might be from my drive for enjoyment. Its feeling saddening thinking I lost the meaning. I understand what you are saying but its hard to escape it. I will keep trying. Please help though. What should anyone do if there is no meaning (or absence of meaning)? How does one create meaning?

I would work with Maslov's pyramide of needs. 

Regarding meaning I would use the word sense. I think it's less confusing. Like puppies wants to play you want to "play" as well. That is why many people love computer games and sports because it works. It gives actually some form of meaning. That is good enough I guess to keep you going. Try hobies I guess.
 

[AlphaAbundance]

@Epikur Ok got it - but doesn't Maslow's hierachy have some mentally constructed meanings (becoming the best, esteem, the great self-actualization - even if they are influenced by genetics or human nature). I might have already transcended those. I know my sex drive is currently practically zero (already deleted the meanings of wanting to be alpha, important because I fuck girls, etc - although this might be cause quarantine).

Is the idea of "play" like in computer games or sports, more like you allow these meanings to exist so that you can enjoy them? The meaning you assign to hobbies is why you enjoy them?

How do I start assigning meanings to make myself think hobbies and other shit is actually (and objectively) important? And basically is what I am pursuing enjoyment (or play) through the tool of meaning? Just pursuing and assigning meanings for the sake of enjoying them?

Edited June 21, 2020 by AlphaAbundance

[Blacksmith]

1 hour ago, AlphaAbundance said:

For example, with watching TV, it feels uninterested in anything that is happening. With playing video games, it feels bored thinking there is no real meaning, purpose behind playing the game. With drawing, it feels uninteresting thinking what is the actual point, thinking there is no absolute, objective purpose. And with altruism, it feels bored thinking there is certainly no point to actually helping others. It seems (or is the case that) all meaning is mentally created and therefore not objective.  And created meaning is "meaningless" and arbitrary.

Hey man, I can't say I know exactly how you feel. But I can say I've felt very similar to what I see you describing. What your feeling isn't wrong but I wouldn't recommend staying there for too long.

A few things that have helped me when I was depressed, watching T.V. seasons, playing tons of games, and feeling all around hopeless:

1) You need to try different things to get that feeling of fulfillment. Go for the healthy ones, if you want examples I can give some but Leo has some good ones   

If what you're doing isn't working, then you're probably doing the wrong stuff right?

Make sure you're doing basic little things that will build an all around feeling of "good" in your body. Showers, time outside, all that annoying stuff moms typically nag their sons about. Not that you probably aren't, I just know it improves my mood greatly.

Try to watch a little less porn.  No for real, if you're jerkin' it all the time you're gonna feel pretty shitty, 9 times outta 10.

2) Realize that you are a biological animal. And like every animal you have a certain pre-set response to certain things.

I.e. Achieving / growing / learning makes you feel happy, being chased by tiger's releases crazy chemicals into your body, when you accomplish something you thought was impossible like riding a bike you feel dopamine and other such things. Just random examples but the point is that you can can study what leads to deep fulfillment in most people then get a general idea of what to aim for yourself.

3) Hold onto the idea that you can get through, understand, and reach the next level after this.

Could it be that this will lead somewhere interesting? What if it was a gift? This might give you a new unique way of thinking or combine into something positive later.

4) If all meaning is made up, any feelings of things being pointless are made up to.

If you feel like something has very little or no meaning, that's made up. You're essentially placing that thing on the lowest end of the value spectrum. 

When you realize all meaning is made up you can basically gain superpowers in the sense that you "jail break" your mind. If all value can be made up, then you can look at a flippin' doorknob and decide this is the most beautiful thing in the world.

 

Can't say they'll work for sure. They help me. Might get you thinking something interesting. Good luck!

[Epikur]

1 hour ago, AlphaAbundance said:

 

@Epikur Thank you - do you think his philosophy is superior to all other philosophies? Do you think it will provide the best life? Also I'd make sure your not building an identity around him in case his shit happens to fall through and so that you can see other perspectives

 

I think in general yes but it depends on the context. 

If you are in a tough situation like war. I think some level of stoicism might help. After you came trough the worst situation it's time come through life in a nice way. For that epicureism seems to be quite good.

Actually I don't think I am building too much identity around him. Specially because it is not much known from him. Yes you are right I try to be flexibel with my perspectives. That is why intellectual curiousity is a big part of the deal.

 

 

 

 

[Epikur]

15 minutes ago, AlphaAbundance said:

@Epikur Ok got it - but doesn't Maslow's hierachy have some mentally constructed meanings (becoming the best, esteem, the great self-actualization - even if they are influenced by genetics or human nature). I might have already transcended those. I know my sex drive is currently practically zero (already deleted the meanings of wanting to be alpha, important because I fuck girls, etc - although this might be cause quarantine).

Is the idea of "play" like in computer games or sports, more like you allow these meanings to exist so that you can enjoy them? The meaning you assign to hobbies is why you enjoy them?

How do I start assigning meanings to make myself think hobbies and other shit is actually (and objectively) important? And basically is what I am pursuing enjoyment (or play) through the tool of meaning? Just pursuing and assigning meanings for the sake of enjoying them?

When you transcended all of them it's nice. I guess you still need to eat and dring. So I guess you have to do at least the minimum level of maintenance for the different areas. 

With the sex drive I would check if you may do some maintenance to keep some level of it. Maybe you can keep it off for a while or all the time.

I think if you don't stimulate your senses to a maintenance level you might lose literally some functions with your senses. Like I said you might want to take care of your senses it gives basically meaning to us as biological beings.

When you talk about being alpha with the girls I would say this is not a balanced view in terms of maslov's pyramide also with Epikur. You might keep things balanced and at least at maintenance level. You never know if it might get back to you like a storm. I read yesterday about a buddhist monk who killed his ex-girlfriend.

Yes you could say you allow "play" as a meaning to exist but actually it probably comes biologically anyway if you allow it. So yes you can assign meaning to your hobbies I think it's a good thing to do. 

I think when we look at our "reality" we see how powerful "play" and "hobbies" are. So you don't have to use too much energy to assign meaning to them. You can call it motivation. If your senses get stimulated with play it probably creates a feedback loop. The meaning assignment works then on autopilot. Like with marathon runners it feeds itself. The bilogical system enjoys itself by doing things that make "sense".

For creating motivation you can remind yourself what faktors are relevant to it. For example (mircro) habits are a good way to get motivation going. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Member]

9 hours ago, AlphaAbundance said:

My only goals now are just seeking financial freedom (so I can avoid the suffering of having to work), enlightenment (bliss, true happiness and understanding of life so I can know what is best, what to do, how to solve this and all my problems) and becoming a super powered being (lol don't ask).

Well, work towards accomplishing these goals gradually and take it easy. You will find meaning in realizing your dream. Since you know what needs to be done in order to become a superhero as that's the ultimate goal of yours, nothing should get in your way. And btw, you're already a superhero just that you haven't realized it yet!

9 hours ago, AlphaAbundance said:

How to cure nihilism based suffering? And on a side note, is joy (like the pure pleasure of eating ice cream) connected to meaning in anyway? Someone please just explain meaning. What is meaning?

Nihilism is nothing but mental masturbation, stagnation and constipation, not the ultimate truth. You need to become aware that you're the entire Universe, not something small and insignificant whose existence is limited in space and time. Just be careful as this process might scare the hell out of you as you will need to throw out of window everything you know and learned till now.

Edited June 21, 2020 by Member