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We cannot choose to have meaning in our lives

The Transcended Omniverse

Well-Known Member
Many people would say that a meaningful life is all about our way of thinking. That for your life to be worth living, all it requires is a change of thinking. That it is our way of thinking that dictates whether our lives have meaning or not. But this is not the case and I am going to explain why. Perceiving your life as worth living (meaningful), that is a certain mental state. You have to be in that mental state in order for your life to have meaning.

This mental state is not the same thing as thinking and telling yourself that your life is meaningful. There is a big difference here between the two. I have ocd and when I have struggled with an obsessive worry that has made my life miserable, that made everything in my life completely insignificant (meaningless). Everything in my life was completely dead and empty.

It didn't matter what I told myself. Even though I thought to myself that my life was still worth living and that everything in my life was still meaningful, that did absolutely nothing. My life was still completely empty. Therefore, as you can see here, having meaning in your life is a certain mental state and is not a matter of simply thinking to yourself that your life is still meaningful.

This mental state is turned off for some people during obsessive worries and in some cases of depression. When this mental state is turned off, that makes everything in your life meaningless. That makes your life completely devoid and empty and no way of thinking can make your life meaningful. You have to wait until the depression/obsessive worry passes. Only then will that mental state turn back on.

Once that mental state turns back on, that is when your life will be meaningful again. Everything in your life will be filled with significance once again. Everything I have explained here is my personal experience. This is my experience with having depression and ocd. Many people would say that only selfish people perceive their lives as meaningless when they have depression/ocd.

But everything I have written here is an attempt to debunk this false nonsensical notion that is completely ignorant of the suffering of those who struggle with depression/ocd. It makes them look like they are selfish people when, in reality, it is not their fault since that mental state that allows these people to perceive their lives as meaningful, that mental state is turned off.

I am currently having an obsessive worry in my life that has taken my life away from me. My life continues to remain completely empty regardless of what I do, how I think, etc. and this is not my fault. It does not mean I am selfish.
 
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bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
As some one that had depression, It does effect your mental state but there are drugs and doctors that can help you to get back to a meaningful state. I was on meds for a year and saw a psychologist for 3 months. After the 1st month I started feeling better, after the three months I believed I was fine but the doctors kept me on the meds for a year. I have been fine since.

In a way you are right you can't just think yourself well but with professional help you can actually get well.
 

jonathan180iq

Well-Known Member
As some one that had depression, It does effect your mental state but there are drugs and doctors that can help you to get back to a meaningful state. I was on meds for a year and saw a psychologist for 3 months. After the 1st month I started feeling better, after the three months I believed I was fine but the doctors kept me on the meds for a year. I have been fine since.

In a way you are right you can't just think yourself well but with professional help you can actually get well.
What is therapy but just a way to help you think better? It's a cognitive realignment process that is the basis of their craft.
The fact that it worked for you is proof that it can produce a "meaningful" life.

People can delude themselves into both happiness and depression. The only variable that needs to be altered is which system of thought you accept. If you intellectually accept that your life sucks, then your life sucks. If you intellectually accept that your life is joyful, then you will experience joy.

My whole professional life has been centered around human relations and interpersonal dynamics. I've never seen an instance where the biggest hindrance to happiness wasn't the person's mind.

"Once you convince yourself, the Universe falls into place."
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
What is therapy but just a way to help you think better? It's a cognitive realignment process that is the basis of their craft.
The fact that it worked for you is proof that it can produce a "meaningful" life.

People can delude themselves into both happiness and depression. The only variable that needs to be altered is which system of thought you accept. If you intellectually accept that your life sucks, then your life sucks. If you intellectually accept that your life is joyful, then you will experience joy.

My whole professional life has been centered around human relations and interpersonal dynamics. I've never seen an instance where the biggest hindrance to happiness wasn't the person's mind.

"Once you convince yourself, the Universe falls into place."

I'm not saying its not the mind. I saying its just like when the body gets sick, it is far easier to get well and not die if you seek professional help. Trying to heal the mind by yourself may not always be possible.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
@MattMVS7 I assume you have tried medication and professional support. Am I correct? If so, what do these professional support people tell you?
 

idav

Being
Premium Member
Choosing meaning is harder than just making a choice about what you want for breakfast. There are too many forces at play which is why seeking help isn't a bad thing and is usually best.

People with addictions struggle with this infamous choice we are all supposed to have and many claim only god can give us the free will to fight. There is likely good reason people believe it and reason why it works for so many when struggling with choices not under our control.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
IMHO, family is the first link to the world. If that is broken, then life becomes less meaningful. The problem is much less where family is more important than individual.
 
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psychoslice

Veteran Member
IMHO, family is the first link to the world. If that is broken, then life becomes less meaningful. The problem is much less where family is more important than individuality.
This can be true, but there are a lot of families that are nothing more than toxic, they can produce many kinds of neurosis that can affect you when you grow up.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I won't deny that, but it is not much encountered around here, that is why my observation. Only a negligible percentage here have step-parents. Family/Extended family remains a solid institution in India
 
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