Getting past futility?

[Kotochan]

Does anyone else feel like progress is a futile pursuit. Even if I did all the things I think are important, I know that my happiness wouldn't reach a level where I'd feel fulfilled. Do any of y'all have experience with that - or stories of how you found ways to become fulfilled.

The path to a responsible life would exhaust me, and would ultimately lead to being stuck repeating the things that I can't stand when I'm already so tired. Not even the things I enjoy would be worth doing consistently

 

[SmellyRat]

Yes, i understand the feeling too well.

Life has become so tedious.

 

[sourpink]

I feel quite similarly.
no matter what you do and how much/often/well you do it, it's never enough.

 

[Kotochan]

Yeah.. I don't really know what you can do to get past that. Thankfully some of my passion for art came back in the past week

I'm just waiting on my anti-emetic just waiting.. haha

I made an appointment with my psychiatrist in the meantime although I don't think anything will change, and doctors are mostly annoying xd

 

[TooMuchToBear]

Yes, I feel exactly like that. The amount of work to just 'sustain' is immense, and the good parts aren't enough to make up for it, all the more because nothing is ever guaranteed.

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

I often tell myself that "If I can't be happy now (no physical pain, half of the basic needs met, etc), then I'll never be able to." but when I imagine cuddling that special someone I start doubting myself.

 

[timf]

I once heard a Catholic priest who held a doctorate in psychology respond to the question, "What do you do about borderline personality disorder." His response was, "Try to get to this side of the border". He explained that you should try to take the next step forward you can. I suspect that he meant that if you only focus on an ultimate goal of total happiness, you can be disheartened. If you focus on the next step, you might be able to give yourself credit for the progress you do make and this can be a source of encouragement.

 

[Makko]

Epicurus said: if you can't be satisfied with small things, you will never be satisfied by anything.

I'm most satisfied by tea, daydreaming and ambient music. Small, easily accessible things. I suppose "satisfied" is a relative term, but this is the most consistent pleasure I've been able to squeeze out of life. Relating to Epicurus, it also gives me hope that if I can be satisfied by the small things, I may be able to appreciate the great things all the more... if I can find and get them.

 

[saltshaker]

The situation we'll be in if we try to fix our lives, our families, the world etc, will likely be better then if we do nothing at all. Ultimately it's all futile, if you look forward a million years nothing seems worth doing. Look forward a year or five years and i imagine you can think of something worth aiming for.

Take aim, if you can't aim for anything significant yet just try get yourself out of bed, clean up, have a shower etc.

 

[Kotochan]

Thanks for all your posts everyone - I appreciate all the perspectives.

Epicurus said: if you can't be satisfied with small things, you will never be satisfied by anything.

I'm most satisfied by tea, daydreaming and ambient music. Small, easily accessible things. I suppose "satisfied" is a relative term, but this is the most consistent pleasure I've been able to squeeze out of life. Relating to Epicurus, it also gives me hope that if I can be satisfied by the small things, I may be able to appreciate the great things all the more... if I can find and get them.

This feels especially quantifiable, the times i've been most at peace is when I found a new song or playlist and that moment would feel perfectly synced