How to Exist • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Exist

#211

Post by fasterik » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 5:50 PM UTC

I got really into meditation a few years ago. At the height of my practice, I was doing 1-2 hours per day, and I did one 7-day retreat.

Since then, two things happened. One is that I completely lost interest in meditation. The second is that I feel I've become a lot better at emotional regulation and self-awareness. It's hard to tell whether meditation actually played a role in this, or whether it was other things I was doing, or just a natural consequence of aging and accumulated experience.

Now my thoughts on meditation are that it's probably moderately beneficial, especially for someone like me prone to anxiety and depression and lacking in healthy lifestyle habits. But I'm skeptical of claims that it has unique benefits when compared to any other focused, rigorous activity like physical training, serious reading and writing, or playing a musical instrument. Or for that matter, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.

Re: How to Exist

#212

Post by indiv0 » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 5:54 PM UTC

BoppreH wrote: post #168

> and that many preferred to administer electric shocks to themselves instead of being left alone with their thoughts. I see this study cited often, and I always reject this interpretation. I'm perfectly content sitting for long periods, with or without my thoughts, but if you give me an electric toy I've never seen before, of course I'll play with it! Can I make muscles twitch? Move my arm? Are some parts more sensi…

I like your take. I think I'd personally be in the same boat, if I was a participant in the study. Not sure if that take generalizes beyond us, though.

https://xkcd.com/242/

Re: How to Exist

#213

Post by DrewADesign » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 5:58 PM UTC

shimman wrote: post #210

nradov wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We should all listen to guys like your boss. Circumstances have changed a bit but their beliefs are generally directionally correct and they have some great lessons to teach.

That we should act like "self made men" when in reality it took entire multiple lifetimes worth of effort where people in power were finally allowed to create a society where a common trades worker could enjoy an upper middle class lifestyle? Hard pass, I'd rather talk to his union rep.

The union rep is, indeed, a good dude!

Re: How to Exist

#214

Post by bigupthewhole » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 5:59 PM UTC

I find just going for a walk in nature, after walking for 2 hours something happens with my brain. I'm more calm, relaxed, focused, and coherent in my inner thoughts. I think it takes around 2 hours of inner monologue and thinking about all the problems I'm facing in my life until I feel like I'm done and I can let them go, or I've gone over them enough.

Re: How to Exist

#215

Post by DrewADesign » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:14 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #183

DrewADesign wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m directly between his age and the age of the people he criticizes. He has absolutely no understanding of what challenges young people face. His path to stability has vanished. There’s no apprenticeship program in that union anymore and in the ones that are, the percentage of your living expenses to your income is incomparably higher. The younger people work more hours than he did at their age and have a hell of a…

In South Korea everyone was recently using 3x leverage on the stock market—which mostly consists of just 2 companies, so concentrated that American institutions aren't allowed to call their index funds diversified—because you have nothing to lose by losing 200% of your money. Which did happen last week as the market crashed. Those people are no worse off for losing 200% of their life savings, because they are already…

I think it’s pretty hard for people that came up in the 70s and 80s who are ending their careers to wrap their heads around how shit it is to try starting a career/life right now. Even when people outright tell them, they assume those people are exaggerating or making excuses for not challenging themselves. Back in those days there was always some other route. The entire lower-end of the job market, including just about anything entry-level, is so deliberately extractive now that, by design, you just ‘can’t’ get ahead. That’s where the financial nihilism comes in.

Re: How to Exist

#216

Post by srid » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:16 PM UTC

[flagged]

Re: How to Exist

#217

Post by gf263 » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:19 PM UTC

bigupthewhole wrote: post #214

I find just going for a walk in nature, after walking for 2 hours something happens with my brain. I'm more calm, relaxed, focused, and coherent in my inner thoughts. I think it takes around 2 hours of inner monologue and thinking about all the problems I'm facing in my life until I feel like I'm done and I can let them go, or I've gone over them enough.

My understanding is this is the default mode network allowing your brain to process things. I think modern life just completely inhibits any amount of this happening and that’s why these things are so important

Re: How to Exist

#218

Post by cyanregiment » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:20 PM UTC

hbcdbff wrote: post #192

cyanregiment wrote: post #142

I live in the hood and can’t believe how many people just “chill” all day. Sun up to sun down just sitting or standing doing nothing. Occasionally yell at their dog which has never been to a beach or park, both of which are less than 1 mile away. Blaring loud music, the same rhythmic narcissism over and over, just sitting around without a single creative or productive thought “chillin” Hey what are you doing? “Chilli…

Maybe they’re happier that way

I'm sure they are, and those who waste their time meditating or praying to gods aren't actually wasting their time, since apparently they really are happier (according to various research).

I think all these people are escaping the same thing - their own mortality.

Re: How to Exist

#219

Post by freak42 » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:23 PM UTC

cyanregiment wrote: post #179

folkrav wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Things can’t be bad now cause they were bad before”

"Things can't be good now cause they were good before"

That doesn't work.

Re: How to Exist

#220

Post by 47282847 » Sat, Aug 01, 2026, 6:28 PM UTC

BohdanPetryshyn wrote: post #77

One of the most concise and to-the-point explanations of meditation I've ever seen. One thought I had while reading it: isn't trying to get more comfortable with doing nothing just another thing to do? isn't it another form of changing what already is? EDIT: I'm advocating and practicing mindfulness but I always have this thought on the background and it's a real dilemma. Any thoughts?

One way to look at it is that the act of meditation is just the exercise part; it helps you practice to “be with what is” in the rest of your life’s experience, which translates into “whatever happens within or around me, I always have choices of action and can decide on my actions from a place of silence, the eye of the hurricane, with sufficient space between where I am and my own emotions and feelings, body sensations, and other sensory input”.

A side note: the experience of meditation alone and in groups is very different. There’s a reason why people who are “serious about it” (or seriously interested) do it in community.