Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

I hear can't stand on my own and now I have daily existential crisis's

User Profile: straightforwardSpruce2599
straightforwardSpruce2599 January 3rd, 2023

I've never been successful and never kept a job. Travelling like a nomad and living abroad in cheap countries. It's my life, but I've never built a career..I was well educated and threw it away. Now I see evolution and man made religions to explain existence and I can't see a point to any existence. So nothing means anything in life. I spend hours a day now in total breakdown going over this.


[edited for triggering content by MistyMagic 3 Jan 23]

11
User Profile: Spearman60
Spearman60 January 3rd, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599

Wondered if I could start out my response to you by asking you a question... do you believe in God?

1 reply
User Profile: PeaceInMyDreams
PeaceInMyDreams January 3rd, 2023

No

load more
User Profile: blueAngel00
blueAngel00 January 3rd, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599 I can so relate to feeling like nothing means anything in life. And it's such a depressing feeling, I get it. I feel it a lot, too, but I feel like nothing in MY life means anything, and nothing I've done means anything. But not because we die, but because most days I hate who I am.

I think people place too much emphasis on "why are we here?" I don't believe in organized religion, but I've studied lots of them. The closest thing to a religion I believe in is Taoism, that humans and animals should live in balance with the universe, and that the spirit of the body joins the universe after death. And since everything is made up of energy, everything's connected. In that respect, what we do impacts everything. If we help someone, we help the universe as well as ourselves. Same when we hurt someone. And when we die, our energy doesn't perish, just our bodies.

But my beliefs aren't what you're needing right now. I just threw that out there in case you might be able to relate. But I think maybe you're so consumed with not ever having a career, and berating yourself because of it, it's clouding some of your other perceptions.

First I'd like to ask you this: you stated you're well educated, but that you "threw it away". Why is it that you feel that way? Because you've never had a career? Don't you think you just might be using that education in daily life, outside of a job? I don't know what field your education is in, but most fields have some kind of application to daily life.

Secondly, why do you place your self worth on the basis of having a career or not having one? One of the most influential (in a positive way) beings who ever graced this planet didn't have a career, per se. He considered a career in politics, but decided to devote his life to study and philosophy instead (thank goodness!) The list of his studies is long and spectacular, and his philosophical writings are the main and unchallenged influence of Western thinking. But I haven't listed anything even close to all his accomplishments...all mastered without his having a career.
Pretty impressive, wouldn't you agree? By the way, I'm referring to Plato.
Finally, just because you never created a career that is within the confines of the generally accepted definition, how does that make you a failure? You were well educated! That in itself is proof you're not a failure. Socrates, Plato, Mahatma Gandhi (who was educated as a lawyer, but used his education for a more admirable and selfless purpose): none of these men could be considered failures, yet none of them had the kind of career you bemoan not having.
Since you brought it up, albeit in a roundabout way, I think we're all here to help each other become better beings. So perhaps if you took the energy you've been spending on regret, and used it instead for some kind of helpful enterprise...for the betterment of a group of people, or animals even, or society, or humankind overall...your perception of your own life, and maybe life in general, would most likely improve. Then you'd feel better, about a great many things, but particularly yourself.
I do hope I was able to help, even if just a little. Heck, if you thought everything I've said is a joke and you cracked a smile, I'd consider it a win!
But if you take away just one thing from my reply to your post, PLEASE take away the fact that your self worth is NOT dependent on having, or not having, a career.
Best of luck to you! 🌹
🐻


User Profile: Happyhelpfullistener4
Happyhelpfullistener4 January 3rd, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599

This post speaks to me so much. I'm well educated but have a hard time keeping jobs. Life feels meaningless at times.

1 reply
User Profile: Somil01
Somil01 February 1st, 2023

It happens with me too but life gets better ☺

load more
User Profile: PeaceInMyDreams
PeaceInMyDreams January 3rd, 2023

Why do you say you aren't successful? Do you have trouble finding passionate work?


I am currently struggling as a small business owner myself as a college drop out.

User Profile: hopefulPond6108
hopefulPond6108 January 3rd, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599 Animals don’t need an explanation for existence. Yet they exist just fine. We are animals of course. We have cognitive functions that differentiate us from the rest of the animals and we think ourselves so superior. Yet we chase useless questions like, “what is the meaning of existence” like a dog chases its tail. If the question causes such discomfort, quit chasing your tail!

User Profile: lexydong
lexydong January 4th, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599 Education is the easiest path to success but not the only one. Your willingness to change is enough to prove that you are a person who pursues progress. If possible, I suggest you try a part-time job and slowly regain your confidence in your work. I believe you can go further.

User Profile: Sassfireluna
Sassfireluna January 8th, 2023

"Throwing" away a 9-5 to go find yourself in travel does not make you anything but more educated, more understanding, more compassionate, and an overall better person.


Education, corporate experience, 9-5 office do not make you who you are.


You taking off from all that shows you are more than that structure.




Religion is also that ... Structure ... it is organization that sometimes promotes fear for control .... not a way anyone should live




You can be spiritual without religion


It is more about trusting and respecting yourself, showing kindness and compassion, treating people as equals.


Sometimes it means you are a healer... people find you and you help them in a way




There is soooo much more to life than corporate grind and organized religion.... I am sure if your path was to travel ... It was a journey you were meant to take .... look deeper within :)



User Profile: forcefulZebra362
forcefulZebra362 January 27th, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599

I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. I think I can relate. I went to college and got an associates degree …I worked in the field for 5 years max and I quit . It wasn’t that I didn’t love it , it was due to my physical abilities . I got hurt and then I realized what I was making and taking home didn’t show any growth in my advancement in life. I still depend on living with my mother. I know if I move out on my own I wouldn’t be able to manage. Now I have all this work experience on a different field, but no certificate or degree. I’ve been without a job since Covid 2021. I have applied but jobs require the degree or certification. I haven’t had any luck. Luckily I have a partner who helps me with money just to pay my dues. It’s not cute . But I’m learning just to relax and take it day by day. I do stress a lot but I’m working on that. If I can’t manage to do something in life , then be it. other people are put in front of me to work smart/hard for me . I’m also currently pregnant, so I’m thinking of going back to school . Not sure what will happen , but I’m jumping in . I’m due in July during summer finals. Which is a program that I had differ twice already, if I differ my application again …I will have to wait 3-4 yrs to get accepted . So it’s a risk I’m taking for now, unknown if I’m going to be able to manage during pregnancy and delivery and having a new born ; all while trying to complete a 2 yr radiology tech program . All just to be more “successful”. We’ll see. Either way I’m up for it. Bring it on life. I have survived much more than this! Let’s go!

User Profile: JunxiL
JunxiL January 28th, 2023

@straightforwardSpruce2599 hey, I know sometimes life can be bleak however, do not just stop fighting. The future will always hold better opportunities. No matter how hopeless it seems, the end will always be clear. Doing things you like, money does not always mean happiness. Some rich people are unhappy with their life, and on the contrary, some poor people have nothing but also need nothing since they have what they want in their job. Don't ever give up since you don't know what the future hold. Who knows, something amazing could happen.