How I Deal With The Pointlessness Of It All

Saṃvega is a Buddhist term for a general sense of existential dissatisfaction with the world — the feeling that life is meaningless and you’re missing out on something deeper. 

Saṃvega: The urgent realization that you need a more meaningful life, a fascinating article introducing 4 general approaches to this saṃvega we have all felt and now have a word for.

• Religious
• Existentialism
• Absurdity
• Nihilism

I'm absolutely not a religious person and find it all woo woo and, tbh, scandalous. It's just stories, nothing else, people telling stories and convincing other people to relinquish their independence. Having said that I am all for community and people helping people and being kind and if that comes because of a story then fine and dandy.

I can wobble into nihilism sometimes, the belief that it's all for nothing and that there is no meaning. I'm not sure how it helps me though and it does seem to become a dominant view during those darker times. I s'pose, for me, it can engender a sense of calm in times of external 'events', if it all means nothing then there's no real reason to get all dramatic and hand wavey eh. Maybe.

I absolutely see the world and deal with Saṃvega through a combination if existentialism and absurdity:

Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value, existentialist thought often includes concepts such as existential crises, angst, courage, and freedom.

Authentication is the key component for me, being who I am, showing who I am, and not being effected at my core by those that don't like it. It's bloody tough tbh, but the more I do it / let it flow the easier it gets. I am also quite impressed by anyone who seems to be doing it despite what I or others think about how that plays in the world. 

Well, absurdity, has always made me chuckle, often because it is an actual thing :)

... the philosophical theory that the universe is irrational and meaningless. It states that trying to find meaning leads people into conflict with a seemingly meaningless world. This conflict can be between rational humanity and an irrational universe, between intention and outcome, or between subjective assessment and objective worth, but the precise definition of the term is disputed. Absurdism claims that, due to one or more of these conflicts, existence as a whole is absurd. It differs in this regard from the less global thesis that some particular situations, persons, or phases in life are absurd.

It's all a bit silly eh and, as often is the case, Douglas Adams sums it up in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy:

"It was a tough assignment," said Deep Thought mildly.

"Forty-two!" yelled Loonquawl. "Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"

"I checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is."

"But it was the Great Question! The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything!" howled Loonquawl.

"Yes," said Deep Thought with the air of one who suffers fools gladly, "but what actually is it?"

A slow stupefied silence crept over the men as they stared at the computer and then at each other.

"Well, you know, it's just Everything... Everything..." offered Phouchg weakly.

"Exactly!" said Deep Thought. "So once you do know what the question actually is, you'll know what the answer means."

I suspect there is no answer, not even 42, and therefore there is no question to be asked.

That I exist in a meaningless universe fills me with calm, serenity, and wonder. I am not having to ask questions that have no answers, I am free to be curious about everything as each tiny moment is one of unique beauty that can fill me with wonder. It's like being a child again, no preconceived ideas - it's absolutely lovely tbh.

If, at some point, a Goddess does show itself, or multi-universes are discovered, or higher life forms send us an email then, sweet, more great stuff to be amazed at - doesn't give an answer though.

Well, that's me - where do you sit on the the four methods of dealing with the feeling that life is meaningless and you’re missing out on something deeper (religious, existentialism, absurdity, nihilism), or do you have a completely novel approach?

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Here's a few other Gemini attempts at the AI image creation, the spelling never got there until the one I used at the top. I really like the second one.