The loss of meaning!
Stolen from Selwyn Hughes. It just hit me, I have never done a 'food for thought' post in a long time so here goes...
The loss of meaning is perhaps the most devastating crisis we can experience. Without meaning life becomes drained of its colour and bleached of all interest.
"He/She who has a "why" to live for can bear with almost any "how." Woe unto you who sees no more sense in his/her life, no purpose, no aim and therefore no point in carrying on. They are soon lost.
One of the components lying beneath non-organic depression is a sense of meaninglessness. Such despair often leads to suicidal tendencies. Today as you read these lines, many will bring their life to an end simply because they do not have a "why" for living.
On the other hand the loss of meaning can be less dramatic than above as characterised with "Sunday Depression." Where people who have been active all week in their work (or TV) find themselves with nothing to do or no one to impress or please, whereupon the inner emptiness that is inside them becomes more apparent! Earthly pleasures seem useless from booze...partying...you name it...all become replaced fully and wholly by emptiness.
The Christian whose heart is filled with AGAPE LOVE will sense a meaning of purpose in everything he/she is called to face. They can endure the "how" because they have a "why"-the "why" of eternal purpose and eternal meaning. "
My questions to you:
-how many feel they lack a "why" to get thru the "how" in life?
-do u lack meaning in your life even though for a second...do you suffer from emptiness that leads to depression that may manifest however it does?
The loss of meaning is perhaps the most devastating crisis we can experience. Without meaning life becomes drained of its colour and bleached of all interest.
"He/She who has a "why" to live for can bear with almost any "how." Woe unto you who sees no more sense in his/her life, no purpose, no aim and therefore no point in carrying on. They are soon lost.
One of the components lying beneath non-organic depression is a sense of meaninglessness. Such despair often leads to suicidal tendencies. Today as you read these lines, many will bring their life to an end simply because they do not have a "why" for living.
On the other hand the loss of meaning can be less dramatic than above as characterised with "Sunday Depression." Where people who have been active all week in their work (or TV) find themselves with nothing to do or no one to impress or please, whereupon the inner emptiness that is inside them becomes more apparent! Earthly pleasures seem useless from booze...partying...you name it...all become replaced fully and wholly by emptiness.
The Christian whose heart is filled with AGAPE LOVE will sense a meaning of purpose in everything he/she is called to face. They can endure the "how" because they have a "why"-the "why" of eternal purpose and eternal meaning. "
My questions to you:
-how many feel they lack a "why" to get thru the "how" in life?
-do u lack meaning in your life even though for a second...do you suffer from emptiness that leads to depression that may manifest however it does?
posted by Spidey/Tato at
5/02/2006 07:06:00 PM
21 Comments:
Poi stop sneaking around like that - do we need to take this outside, again.
LOL lets seewhat babyface has in store for us this time :D
The emptiness is always there. So the why is to fill it the how is running around finding anything and anyone to make it not so empty, a little worthwhile.
with enough faith, one is in most cases able to get back the meaning. maybe it requires changes in our lives or maybe all that's necessary is time...
hope you're ok man!
@Poi: maybe we shuld start such a website
@Guessy:did u drown in thepost where are u come back to me
@stunnuh:yup that is the how...but it still gets u empty
@adrian:i agreee with u change is usually a start...thanks im doin aight!
Okay Nicky?
Ati what?
I was here...NO comment.
I cannot handle much right now.....I cannot understand much, But I was here.
**KM looks around to see if Shi is looking**
((((((((((NICK)))))))))))))
How are you doing sugar baby?
Nice post. I had this same debate until I came face to face with death. When you view your life from a death bed, you do not worry about the meaning, you only pray for a chance to make your life right. Then you encounter people in hospital who redefine misery and suffering and instead of begging to know the purpose, you thank God for blessing you so richly. You learn to embrace your family, friends and all the people who make your life possible...You discover the power of prayer...You take pleasure in simple things...You learn to take a day at a time and plan for real things not so far away...You live your life in Faith.
In all these things is hidden the meaning of life.
I got my chance, and am embracing every moment of it.
Si you know me, awaiting your email..
At least I am in the top 10!Wacha I go read!
I do what few people do when it comes to despair and depression, I indulge and wallow in it!By doing so I take myself so far down that the only way is up.Since I also tend to be action oriented, like the phoenix I ressurect from my ashes.I burn what caused me to be depressed and move on to a brighter day.....
the why can be found in Christ!
@KM:u lucky young undepressed thing u...no worries she aint around she is out studyin for her exams wink wink
@N.K:oh i realise how lucky i am remember i work in a hospital and its so evident that hell does exist on earth but sometimes that emptiness/depression is also a form of hell too
@Aco:oh boy there is nothin as pleasurable sometimes as wallowing in self pity..heck maybe thats what im doin now...but why should we have to wallow in the first place...maybe its just life we have to have ups an d downs
@Fgal:That is the perfect ANSWER!
Take heart spiderman. Take heart. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
@ last anon: I like your response. That is so true and yet- we never seem to keep it in mind ...Blessings abound evey day. We just have to remember to count them.
@Nick: My admitedly more than $.02 (at lest $.50). To answer your #2 question first, I think that sometimes we segment our lives and we (read 'me') are satisfied that my life has 'meaning' if one of these areas (job/family life...)is making sense. If I can find a convincing reason to wake up in the morning e.g. "so others may eat; so that peace will reign in Nepal" etc. etc., then I think, I can say, yes... my life has meaning. If in all these areas (family, love, work) I am able to find meaning- my mum's diabetes is getting better, my kids are healthy, I am accomplishing my dream to be a singer, reading a book every day, getting some serious cash, etc. then my cup overflows.Y'know?
As for yr 1st question,I truly, truly believe that everytime we end up not doing what we really should be doing (as faith, fate, mugo wa Kibiru, destiny, mothers with an agenda etc.) then we end up with these little tu-holes that eat into the 'why'. And slowly but surely, you have like 40 holes all scattered in that region we call "Nick" and it only takes one 'how' inducing moment for all these holes to come together to make one big gaping hole that leaves you empty and worthless.
Paolo Coelho in his book Alchemist explained this much more eloqently than I ever could and since I also have a blog, I know, I'll step off.
Deep post Nick. Deep.
(Thanks dagitari and if blogga swallows this comment,surely, kuna mtu ataona cha mtema kuni)
For some time I had me some "Whys", "Whens" & "Hows" but I had to teach me some "Nows" to deal with all that.
Had to learn to live for the Now, act now, enjoy every "now" moment so I could handle the "Whys", "Whens" & "Hows".
There's a lot be grateful for, especially the little blessings we often take for granted.
Hehehehehe
You want to change your niche for Kaybees 2007 given that I twangad you in most humorous?
Hehehehehe
Dont let the loss make you feel that you have lost meaning. Chin up my guy, chin up!!!!
Am a new blogger and just saw your blog and now I understand why you won the `coolest blog' award.
yeah - nick's way cool.
Like Farmgal said, for those who are Christians, Jesus is the answer. Drugs or therapy can momentarily plug that hole but Jesus can heal it completely.
@kelitu but sometimes its such a long tunnel..u wonder if that is light at all
@Mutumis:verydeep
@Akiey:been in living in the here and now..but thats not a good thing..cause when the furure calls boy oh boy
@Milo: ng'ombe wewe now i feel a whole lot worse!
@GNG: Karibu sana...if being a feak is cool the shoe fits!
@Sandman: I need to get back into my relationship wit Jesus!
As I've grown older I've began to sense that much of life consists of both periods when we lose meaning and others when we are fueled by our passion to just be alive.
The times when we lose hope that we will ever regain our zest for living, I think are when we should be worried. Because those seen to be the times when suicide is a better option.
Love this post. Kisses.
It's very good to take time to smell the roses everyday and find something to be gratefull about. Your post has inspired me to find 5 good things about my life every single day. And as Farmgal said the answer is Jesus, his yoke is easy and his burden light.
@Anon: yup those are the worryinn times especially if they are plenty
@Kgal:oh yes i used to do that every night b4 goin to sleep to be thankful for 5 things everyday that were good!
haya si you beba your own flashlight. Ama you have run out of paka power batteries? Nitakumosh zangu.
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