Yes, I became a nihilist for some time then I found solace in Islam. The more I thought about it the more I became convinced there is a God and there is a meaning behind all of this. And when I read the Quran it took all the worries from my heart.
Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
31–40 of 69 posts
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#32Always. Since I was 10years old, I've battled with the knowledge that life has no intrinsic meaning. Sometimes I break free for a few years, but it always comes back around. I'm 38 now and I don't see myself being able to come up with a convincing reason to live anytime soon. I mostly feel empty or sometimes I bubble over with rage, or deep sadness. Sometimes something interesting will catch my eye and I can become i…
Huggles. I can understand how you feel.
> battled with the knowledge that life has no intrinsic meaning
Yes, it doesn't. But we can choose our own adventure, create our own meaning. I organize a summer camp for ~50 people. Is there any objective value to it? No - we'll all die and no one will remember. But I derive plenty of subjective value, as do the other participants. Is it worth it to do this? Objectively, no. For me subjectively, yes.
Have you read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl?
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#33Yes, I became a nihilist for some time then I found solace in Islam. The more I thought about it the more I became convinced there is a God and there is a meaning behind all of this. And when I read the Quran it took all the worries from my heart.
I get turning to God for meaning, but why Islam in particular? Did you try reading other holy books?
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#34I handled it logically:
If there is a meaning of life, we did not find it yet. Therefore it must be beyond our current scientific knowledge. Now, science becomes the new meaning, because it may give us the original meaning. Therefore I devote my life to science. (It is not necessary to be a scientist. Any possibility to help science counts for me.)
If there is no meaning at all, then I personally do not understand why people would continue struggle in life. I just cannot accept such situation. I would rather search for the meaning.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#35Yup. I guess spending time with family and friends makes it better. At least it does for me. We adopted a dog with my girlfriend this January and I'd say that just spending time with him alleviates it. I'd imagine having kids will have a similar effect (probably 100x stronger).
In the newest Indie Hackers podcast [1], founder Aline Learner mentioned that starting a business helps with existential crises because you're so busy worrying about everything else. I'm looking forward to finding out if this holds true to myself in September.
[1]: https://www.indiehackers.com/podcast/099-aline-lerner-of-int...
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#36Always. Since I was 10years old, I've battled with the knowledge that life has no intrinsic meaning. Sometimes I break free for a few years, but it always comes back around. I'm 38 now and I don't see myself being able to come up with a convincing reason to live anytime soon. I mostly feel empty or sometimes I bubble over with rage, or deep sadness. Sometimes something interesting will catch my eye and I can become i…
Huggles. I can understand how you feel. > battled with the knowledge that life has no intrinsic meaning Yes, it doesn't. But we can choose our own adventure, create our own meaning. I organize a summer camp for ~50 people. Is there any objective value to it? No - we'll all die and no one will remember. But I derive plenty of subjective value, as do the other participants. Is it worth it to do this? Objectively, no. F…
Why not give up on the search of meaning? "What is the meaning" is an ill posed question, because it assumes there is one or that there should be one. I mean think about it - what's the meaning of a life of a wolf. Or a frog. Or a computer program. Or a modern naked ape. They all just are, until they are not.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#37Had one a few years ago and I became a nihilist because I couldn't really find a purpose for my existence. I'm not as ambitious when it comes to work. Switched to contacting as a 9 to 5 job and don't touch programming outside of that. I spend more time with family and friends, going to the gym and doing sports, traveling more.
> more time with family and friends, going to the gym and doing sports, traveling more Sounds like a good life. I've seen nihilists who are equanimous (like you appear), and ones who seem rather depressed. I can see how nihilism can lead to either of these outcomes, and wonder what the differentiating factor is.
It could be that I have a loving family (including a cat I've raised since she was a kitten), I'm quite social and have lots of hobbies. Don't get me wrong, there's days when everything falls apart, but usually I see no purpose in being depressed. I only got one chance to live this day and I don't want to waste that time by being sad because life is meaningless.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#38I handled it logically: If there is a meaning of life, we did not find it yet. Therefore it must be beyond our current scientific knowledge. Now, science becomes the new meaning, because it may give us the original meaning. Therefore I devote my life to science. (It is not necessary to be a scientist. Any possibility to help science counts for me.) If there is no meaning at all, then I personally do not understand wh…
What is the struggle if there's no meaning? In my opinion, you struggle only, because there are actually things that mean to you. You cling to things, you yearn for things, and you don't get them. That's the struggle. If you don't want anything, where's the struggle? If you don't want life, you would just fade away, with no struggle.
It's self-deceptive to think you don't yearn for things. Maybe it's a way to protect yourself.
If you're stuck, try to see the underlying assumptions you have about life, and break them. That, in my opinion, let's you take steps forward.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#39I found that one of the best advice (successfully tested on myself and others) to help during existential crisis is to remember that someday you are going to die, and work from there.
If you knew you were going to die in ten minutes, what will you do ? What will you regret ? What will you wish you had done ?
Also this : https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-fiv...
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had an existential crisis?
#40I found that one of the best advice (successfully tested on myself and others) to help during existential crisis is to remember that someday you are going to die, and work from there. If you knew you were going to die in ten minutes, what will you do ? What will you regret ? What will you wish you had done ? Also this : https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-fiv...
so basically Stoicism's negative visualization?