I'm not going to touch on whether the 'gifted' only feel this sort of constancy of existential fear and depression. I don't think that matters. I think moving past it does.
It's a question of framing.
I have battled this sort of perspective, the existentialist depression, for a long time.
I am finally beginning to realize the radical openness of life can be viewed in another way. You can see this existential predicament we all share not as something ultimately harrowing , but rather a gift.
The future truly is open. Radically so. Existence does precede essence--rather there's no essence at all.
See what occurs as a gift, when you can.
The works of Samuel Beckett, though perhaps on a surface interpretation nihilistic and perhaps depressing, are actually a point of positivity for me. I find they really capture the open nature of life and its inherent lack of structure, or apparent (key word) purpose, and the human propensity, which is really quite admirable, to go on, in spite of all that.
The following are all quotes from Beckett I like to keep in mind when I am viewing life in a grim manner and want to improve my mood:
but who cares how things pass, provided they pass.
the end is the beginning, and yet you go on.
A story is not compulsory, just a life, that's the mistake I made, one of the mistakes, to have wanted a story for myself, whereas life alone is enough.
----
The important thing, I think, is to live. You can't control how things pass, but you can rest easier, perhaps, if you lay down your head knowing you at least tried.
I had a professor whom I will always cherish that said "what if, could have, should have, would have, if only" are the words of tragedy. I've finally taken that lesson to heart.
An importnat step for me was deciding and forcing myself to go out and do things I normally didn't do. I'm not an inherently social person, and I forced myself to modify that. I'm still not a butterfly by any means, but getting out there, meeting people, learning about them and how they lived their lives, genuinely starting to care about them, that all helps. Solitude, while it can be a sweet companion, I think is probably the worst possible thing to have when facing this sort of condition of existential worry.
A story is not compulsory. It is written, if you write it.
Sorry for personal ramblings, but I've been through what I'd call existential dread and its not fun, not fun at all. We only have one shot at this life thing. At the end of the day, spending it in a state of perpetual negativity is sorrowful. It's my hope, I guess, that maybe venting my own process of change and moving on from this incessant feeling of damnation will help someone else too, even just a little.
It's a question of framing.
I have battled this sort of perspective, the existentialist depression, for a long time.
I am finally beginning to realize the radical openness of life can be viewed in another way. You can see this existential predicament we all share not as something ultimately harrowing , but rather a gift.
The future truly is open. Radically so. Existence does precede essence--rather there's no essence at all.
See what occurs as a gift, when you can.
The works of Samuel Beckett, though perhaps on a surface interpretation nihilistic and perhaps depressing, are actually a point of positivity for me. I find they really capture the open nature of life and its inherent lack of structure, or apparent (key word) purpose, and the human propensity, which is really quite admirable, to go on, in spite of all that.
The following are all quotes from Beckett I like to keep in mind when I am viewing life in a grim manner and want to improve my mood:
but who cares how things pass, provided they pass.
the end is the beginning, and yet you go on.
A story is not compulsory, just a life, that's the mistake I made, one of the mistakes, to have wanted a story for myself, whereas life alone is enough.
----
The important thing, I think, is to live. You can't control how things pass, but you can rest easier, perhaps, if you lay down your head knowing you at least tried.
I had a professor whom I will always cherish that said "what if, could have, should have, would have, if only" are the words of tragedy. I've finally taken that lesson to heart.
An importnat step for me was deciding and forcing myself to go out and do things I normally didn't do. I'm not an inherently social person, and I forced myself to modify that. I'm still not a butterfly by any means, but getting out there, meeting people, learning about them and how they lived their lives, genuinely starting to care about them, that all helps. Solitude, while it can be a sweet companion, I think is probably the worst possible thing to have when facing this sort of condition of existential worry.
A story is not compulsory. It is written, if you write it.
Sorry for personal ramblings, but I've been through what I'd call existential dread and its not fun, not fun at all. We only have one shot at this life thing. At the end of the day, spending it in a state of perpetual negativity is sorrowful. It's my hope, I guess, that maybe venting my own process of change and moving on from this incessant feeling of damnation will help someone else too, even just a little.
Keep on living guys.