What’s the point? It is a casual phrase that we often use. It’s common for people to wonder why they are here and what their purpose in life is, if they find themselves wondering. Everybody has a distinct way of finding meaning in life, yet it can be simple to compare our actions to those of others or to posts on social media. Finding meaning can be aided by thinking back on what makes you happy and fulfilled, but it can also be beneficial to pay attention to the “small stuff.”
Why You Might Be Curious What is the point?
Perhaps you’ve wondered, “What is the point of life?” whether you’re going through a stressful period or a major transition. If you don’t know who you are or feel like you don’t have a purpose in life, you might be thinking these kinds of things. It could also be a sign of a mental illness, such as depression.
There are several reasons why someone would question why they are here:
Suffering a Loss
Everybody will face loss at some point in their lives since it is an inevitable part of existence. Deaths of spouses, parents, children, pets, and prenatal losses are just a few examples of the many diverse kinds of losses. Every one of these has an own set of circumstances and emotions associated with it. Experiencing a loss could make you wonder what your own life is all about. It may bring up issues you wish to resolve before passing away or even your desired legacy.
Someone You Know Is Dying of a Disease
When someone close to you receives a grave diagnosis, you can start thinking about your own life and goals. It can also give you the impression that your life and health could change abruptly and drastically if the diagnosis is given suddenly or without much warning. It may cause you to have concerns or anxieties about what your own life is all about.
Being Affected by Trauma
Trauma may have a profound effect on our sense of ourselves as well as how we relate to and interact with the outside world. After going through trauma, you may start to wonder why we are here at all if such horrible things can occur. Trauma will make you feel powerless and dangerous, making you wonder why you are even here.
Having Trouble with Depression
Studies reveal a correlation between sadness and a higher number of depressed symptoms and lower levels of “life meaning.”1. Depression’s persistent melancholy and hopelessness might lead one to question why life is even worth living. A particular kind of depression called existential depression is associated with asking yourself what the purpose of life is.3.
Depression signs and indicators include:
- Feeling helpless
- Alterations in eating or sleeping patterns
- Sadness
- Indifference
- Energy loss and restlessness
- Loss of enthusiasm for things you used to enjoy
- Separation
- Low regard for oneself
- Suicidal thoughts
Having a Spiritual Life
Being spiritual usually entails seeking significance in life as well as having a connection to something more than ourselves, which could be God, Spirit, Source, or something else entirely. Being in touch with a higher power can cause us to reflect on the meaning of our existence and redefine what success and failure truly entail, even if you don’t have to be spiritual to experience this kind of feeling.
Experiencing a Change in Life
Experiencing a significant life shift can lead one to wonder about the purpose of life because circumstances and surroundings are always changing, sometimes beyond our control. Feeling stuck and wondering what the purpose of life is might result from failure to launch syndrome, which occurs when young adults continue to rely too much on their parents after high school and college. In a similar vein, contemplating one’s purpose as one enters a new phase of life can also result from a midlife crisis.
Indications That Life Is Meaningless
There are several indications that you may be having trouble understanding why you are here. In certain situations, you might feel “what’s the point,” yet other times, these emotions might be less apparent:
- You may believe that your efforts are in vain.
- You might no longer be concerned with how things turn out.
- Things that formerly made you happy could now seem meaningless or hollow.
- You could experience a sensation of helplessness.
- You may believe that your efforts are in vain and that nothing will help you realize your dreams and ambitions.
Ways to Discover Life’s Purpose
It may take some serious thought and challenging your views and ideals to discover your life’s purpose. Thankfully, there are resources and approaches available to assist with meaning-finding. Start by thinking about your objectives, principles, and interests.2. Next, consider what your ideal life might entail and take steps to make it a reality.
These are eight strategies for discovering life’s purpose:
Assisting Others
Giving of your time to assist others might give you a sense of direction. Altruistic acts, or helping others, have been shown to make people feel more connected to others and give their lives a greater sense of purpose, according to research.
Prosocial activities include helping a friend in need, volunteering for a subject you are enthusiastic about, and making financial donations to charities. You can feel that your efforts are meaningful and that you are changing the world by giving back to an organization or cause that is greater than yourself.
Developing Connections
Interacting with loved ones and friends. The maintenance of positive and healthy interpersonal interactions is crucial for mental and physical well-being. These connections have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, increased stress resilience, and a lower risk of depression and suicide, according to research.
Support from friends, family, lovers, and other people can make you feel more inspired and driven to look for yourself and become involved in the community. Additionally, if you’re trying to find meaning or purpose in your life, it may be beneficial to focus your energy on these relationships.
Following Your Passions
Taking up enjoyable pastimes or pursuits can be a powerful means of adding purpose to your life. Put your attention on work that matters to you, whether that job is engaging in your favorite hobbies, advancing your creative abilities, or just pursuing a career you love.
Being artistic can serve as a means of self-expression and as a springboard for new interests. Think about taking up a hitherto unexplored hobby or pastime, such learning to bake, paint, dance, or sculpt.
Exercise Gratitude
Numerous advantages have been demonstrated by practicing gratitude, which is the act of feeling and expressing thankfulness for the things in life that you are grateful for. In addition to enhancing resilience, relationships, happiness, and general health, it can also enhance them.
It might also assist you in discovering deeper purpose in life. Gratitude has been demonstrated in research to increase happy emotions in people. This might also inspire people to appreciate the little things in life and to live in the present.
You can increase your awareness of the positive aspects of life by making an effort to practice thankfulness on a daily basis. You can do this by keeping a gratitude notebook or by setting aside a short period of time each day to concentrate on your blessings. This exercise might eventually assist in changing your viewpoint. You’ll start to recognize all of the small pleasures that give life purpose rather than feeling like it’s meaningless.
The messages of emotions
- Alone: Allow someone to enter by opening your walls.
- Sad: You have to deal with the loss of something.
- Frustrated: You’re frustrated because something isn’t going your way. Do something.
- Lost: Get to work figuring out where you’re going.
These are but a handful of options. There are several emotions and circumstances that can elicit a “What’s the point?” reaction. It’s important to comprehend yours. To what extent does your “What’s the point?” mentality extend? Do you feel powerless or without hope? Or, as a coping technique, are you jumping to a basic question? Is it possible that this is helping you to evade dealing with the difficulties in your life?
