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Why do people live? Did we come to this world to suffer?

Meaning of Life Existential Questions Purpose of Living Human Suffering Life's Meaning
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Why do people live? Did we come to this world to suffer? By Anonymous | Published on December 18, 2024

Why do people live? What is the meaning of living?

Did we come to this world to suffer?

Primrose Martinez Primrose Martinez A total of 2579 people have been helped

One might inquire as to the purpose of human existence. It could be argued that we are born into this world without a choice in the matter. The union of sperm and egg results in our arrival on this planet.

It could be said that we have a purpose in this world. If we are fortunate, our parents will share with us their understanding of the meaning of their lives and their aspirations. We then have the opportunity to explore the vast world and the vast universe, developing our own thoughts, testing the veracity of some ideas, and striving to achieve something. Descartes famously said, "I think, therefore I am."

It is unfortunate that our parents gave birth to us and placed their unfulfilled dreams and ideals in us. From then on, we grew up from being miniature versions of our parents to becoming full-sized versions of them. We spend our entire lives fulfilling our parents' wishes and ideals. This raises the question: what is the meaning of our lives?

Life is a cup of yellow soil, and perhaps there is no point in pursuing meaning. Irving Yalom has a book called When Nietzsche Wept, which suggests that life is about dying well, which means that when you leave the world, you have no regrets. In Heaven's Way, it says that you should live while you live and die while you die. So perhaps life is ultimately meaningless, and it might be best to simply be happy, be blessed, and live happily. Perhaps it would be beneficial to experience, try, and experience the richness of life, go to every corner of the world, meet people from every foreign land, chat about their lives, their experiences...

In addition, Irving Yalom wrote a book entitled The Meaning of Life. It would be interesting to consider what we have done for the world and what we have left behind. It would also be worthwhile to reflect on what kind of people we will be remembered as.

It might also be helpful to consider this from a different perspective.

Life is challenging, yet it is through these challenges that we can truly appreciate the value of happiness and sweetness. It is my hope that you will take the time to experience these things for yourself, whether in your relationships with others, in the love you receive, or in the beauty of the world around you.

If you are not ready to engage in relationships with people at this time, you might consider exploring a relationship with nature. You could connect with the beauty of every blade of grass, every tree, every flower, the changing seasons, and the vast expanse of the blue sky and white clouds.

I find flowers and flower arrangements appealing, and I appreciate the diverse scenery of different seasons. I believe flowers and the changing seasons have a healing effect on me.

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Bentley James Kelley Bentley James Kelley A total of 7757 people have been helped

Good evening,

I'm Kelly.

Your question is really thought-provoking and something that people often reflect on.

Why do people live?

This is a question that many people have thought about. Some say it's to pass on the family name, for loved ones like parents and children, etc. Some say it's for money, so they can live the life they want. And others say it's to become more established, famous, and valuable.

Socrates once said, "If you don't take the time to think about your life, it's not worth living."

I've also spent decades thinking about why I'm here.

And responsibility.

(Responsibilities as a child, as a parent, in social relationships, and as a couple)

The second reason is to experience life.

We all live and die. When my kids grow up, I think the most important thing in life is

It's about experiencing and feeling life, going through it. No matter how painful events in life are, or how happy you've been, or how unwell, all of these things have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of life. These past experiences have allowed me to see the different aspects of life as I experience it.

The third thing is to realize who you are.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs says that once we've got the material and basic things in our lives like a stable job, a house, family, and friends, we start thinking about how to make ourselves more valuable.

It's about finding yourself or thinking about how you can add more value.

This is a higher level of exploration. As Mr. Kazuo Inamori also asked, what is life?

It doesn't matter if you know the answer or not, or even if you understand it. Either way, it'll affect how you approach life and what you do with it.

So, the questioner's thinking is the first step in exploring oneself.

What is the meaning of life?

We all have different ideas about what life is all about. I remember Mr. Mu Xin, who was in prison at the time. He never forgot his mission to share his art and literature with the world. That was his driving force during the difficult times.

No matter how tough it is, this meaning helps him keep going, and later he realizes this ideal.

Mr. Shen Congwen's "Time" offers insights into the meaning of life. He said:

"All existence, in a sense, requires time."

Time is the ultimate truth-teller. It changes everything.

The weather, the growth and decay of plants, and the life cycle of a person—they all depend on time, and they're all affected by it.

It's often said that life has meaning or value.

The reality is that the true meaning and value of a person's life is only a few decades.

If he hadn't been around before he died, he wouldn't have had any meaning or value. And if he hadn't been around after he died, he wouldn't have had any life, so he'd have had even less meaning or value.

For instance,

Teacher Zhang Guimei dedicated her life to her students and to the children in the mountains. Over the years, she has shown us what it means to persevere until the end.

I recently summed up my thoughts on what it means to live a meaningful life: to live without regret and to make the most of every day.

For instance, I've always been interested in psychology. When I was 47, I decided to get back into it. It helped me overcome depression and gain a better understanding of myself. I hope I can share my experiences with others who are struggling and help them find ways to cope with difficult situations.

I think it's very meaningful work, and I'm working towards it.

Identify what you love, work towards it gradually, set goals and pursue your dreams.

Ultimately, the meaning of life is something we have to discover for ourselves. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

What's your take on the meaning of life?

Please feel free to share more with us if you have the chance.

Did we come to this world to suffer?

I believe this suffering is an unavoidable part of life and a personal experience.

For instance, when we eat, the farmer has to plant vegetables, fertilize them, and water them. They also have to brave the cold winter and heat of summer. And parents have to go to work to buy food and cook for their kids.

If you ask a farmer, they'll probably tell you it's hard work, but they're happy to see people eating the vegetables they grow.

It's the same for workers: it's tough work, but we still need workers all over the world.

Most parents, no matter how tough it is, still work hard to earn money to support their kids. Even though it's challenging, most parents don't complain while raising their children.

So, suffering is relative. If you replace it with love, responsibility, compassion, or a spirit of altruism, it becomes sweet, even though it is suffering.

For instance, when we're in a good mood, the world seems happy. When we're not feeling well, it seems full of pain. Sometimes it's just part of the mood.

If life were all sweetness and light, we'd lose some of the motivation to strive for more.

Moreover, there is no such person, whether rich or poor, who has not experienced both good and bad. This is an ongoing topic for us humans.

It's the most different place to experience being born as a human.

So, suffering isn't necessarily bad.

I look forward to chatting with you more. Please feel free to ask questions.

Thanks for the chance to think about these meaningful topics again.

Wishing you the best!

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Patricianne Patricianne A total of 3061 people have been helped

This is an old philosophical question. Sartre said that life is meaningless and you have to find meaning in it. Nietzsche said that if you know why you're living, you can endure any kind of life. Socrates said that a life without introspection is not worth living. Goethe said that he gets up every morning and finds that he is still alive.

The questioner is asking why people live, what the point of it is, and if life is meant to be suffering. It's about understanding life. As spring turns to autumn, people wake up or suffer and ask this question. It's worth pondering!

?

Love

Love

The meaning of life is to live it to the fullest!

Life is one-way. The saying goes, "A thousand-year iron door will have to be a mud mantou." We are born to die. Life is full of disappointments. The Buddha said all living beings are suffering. People come to this world crying, so it would be a blessing to leave with a smile.

Wang Yangming said on his deathbed, "This heart is bright, what more is there to regret?" A gentleman is open and uninhibited, and one should not regret. I like the two lines from the movie "The Bucket List": "Have you found joy in life?"

Have you made others happy? Ask yourself this, and you'll see that love is the essence of life. Love for yourself, love for others, and love for the world!

?

Courage

Courage

Fu Peirong said, "Human life comes from within. There is a level beyond the body and mind. This level gives you courage to face death."

I believe the meaning of life is self-realization. Living a passionate life is hard but happy! I remember years ago, I was chatting with my child about the future. He asked me what my dream was. I realized I had lost my way. This was a wake-up call. I picked up psychology again and have benefited a lot. I am glad I have not given up, fulfilled the meaning of life, and set an example for my child!

Do what you want.

A thought can make you happy or sad. You decide what happens in your life.

Nietzsche believed that life means facing many challenges, including relationships, giving, trouble, problem-solving, hard work, exhaustion, attachment, arguments, separation, changes, and loss. You can either avoid these challenges or face them head-on.

Even heavy things become light and easy when you make them your strength.

Life is short. Everyone's life is different. I believe that if you seek and create meaning in your life, you will be happy.

Life is 30,000 days long. Ride the waves and be yourself!

Cheer together!

Just my two cents.

Peace and safety.

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Penelope Hall Penelope Hall A total of 1453 people have been helped

Good morning,

It should be noted that the very term "meaning of life" is a construct of the human mind.

Ultimately, humans possess emotions and thoughts that other beings do not. Humans imbue meaning into other creatures, but do the creatures themselves possess intrinsic meaning?

The term "meaning" is inherently subjective. The objective reality is that the life cycle of all things is characterized by constant birth, growth, and death.

Simply put, existence is existence.

If we are to measure and consider the meaning of life with our subjective human thoughts, then the meaning of life cannot be generalized. It exists in every stage of life, in every moment, and in the collection of fragments.

Humans are different from ordinary animals because of our capacity for thought and emotion. Thought can improve our quality of life, but it can also be a liability, leading us to abandon our values and aspirations.

When we are not attached to every fragment of the present moment and do not seek to create meaning, our thoughts stagnate, but they do not truly come to a halt. It is only when we cease to live as human beings that we hope for the disappearance of the "I" and that we truly lose our meaning.

If we are alive, what is our purpose in life?

The purpose of this process is to demonstrate that you are capable of answering and controlling your life without the need for external assistance or psychological influences.

Your renewed self has the ability to select the meaning of your own life. You are the master of your own life.

Next, it may be for your own edification. It may also be for the benefit of a loved one.

Perhaps it is for something interesting. It may also be for vanity, pride, or money.

For the sake of art, for the sake of ideals, for the sake of music, and so on.

It is important to continually expand your knowledge and experience. To achieve this, it is essential to have a positive self-image and to appreciate the value of your own life.

It is irrelevant whether you are the same person you were before. What is important is that you have started making your own choices and are willing to take responsibility for them. Perhaps at this point you will understand that no one can measure you, and you do not require anyone else's measurement.

Simply live your life.

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Theodorah Theodorah A total of 8617 people have been helped

Hello, host!

Hi, I'm letmefly, and I'm here to help you and get your feedback.

The original poster has asked a great question, and I think the original poster is probably not very old. I want to give the original poster a big hug because I can relate to what they're going through.

It's totally normal for young people to feel this way nowadays. Someone even shouted out, "Who is not confused in their youth?" The original poster's question is actually related to something we've been chatting about: the meaning of life. Lots of psychologists and philosophers have been discussing this topic, but if we can't find the meaning of life, we won't have a direction. And without a direction, we won't have motivation.

So, how do you find the meaning of life? Well, psychologists now believe that the meaning of life is not something that's found, but created. What is meaningful to you, and what isn't? Does an old photo mean something to you, but not to the person in the photo?

It's been proven by psychological research that people are actually prone to find meaning in life in two directions. One is work, provided that you like it and make it your career or even your mission. I read in the newspaper the other day that our hero Gan Yu has been discharged from the hospital and returned home. Why did Gan Yu choose this way? Well, he and his colleague Luo Yong did not choose to escape for the first time, but rushed to the 10-story high dam shoulder and opened the floodgates to prevent the river from flooding beyond the dam and destroying the downstream villages.

This is the wonderful sense of meaning that work brings!

Another aspect is interpersonal relationships. We often say that if you have children, your life's demands will change, and so will the meaning of your life. We also often say that in a relationship, it's meaningless if I win the world but lose you.

It seems like for the poster, it's not possible to create a great sense of life all at once. So let's take it one step at a time! For example, don't demand to fall in love with your work or study. Instead, start by improving your work or study efficiency. Think about what methods can improve your work or study efficiency. Try it, and you'll slowly fall in love with your work!

When it comes to relationships, it can be tough to find friends in real life. But don't worry! You can start by connecting with one or two like-minded folks in an online community. You can share ideas, help each other out, and even answer questions. This is a great way to start building a support system.

In life, we may have been confused and suffered, but if we have ever loved and possessed, it was worth it to come to the human world once.

I really hope this can help you, and I'd absolutely love to hear your feedback, attention, and likes!

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Vincent Martinez Vincent Martinez A total of 6090 people have been helped

Hello, host! I really hope my answer can be of some help to you.

In fact, this question once really bothered me, and I was always searching for an answer. It was indeed during that time that I had no goals or direction, and in my confusion I felt a sense of worthlessness. So every day was very painful, and I kept asking myself, "What is the point of living? What is the meaning of life? Why is there so much suffering in the world?" But then something amazing happened! I discovered psychology, found my own direction, and learned to transform my thoughts and ideas. I can now see the "treasure" behind pain, and realize my own value by helping others and growing myself. Suddenly, I feel that life is really very interesting. We can let our lives shine through our own efforts and create our own meaning of life.

So, I kept searching and searching until I encountered psychology, found my own direction, and learned to transform my thoughts and ideas. I can now see the "treasure" behind pain, and realize my own value by helping others and growing myself. Suddenly, I feel that life is really very interesting. The possibilities are endless! We can let our lives shine through our own efforts and create our own meaning of life.

I'm thrilled to share some of my own thoughts and experiences with you!

It's time to find our direction and goals, and discover the things we love! Let's ignite the passion in our lives!

My experience has taught me that when I have no direction or goal and my days are empty and boring, I feel that life is meaningless. But in fact, each of us is born with certain "talents." As the saying goes, "God has a purpose for every talent," and our existence is valuable! All we need to do is discover our value and then we can become the kind of person we want to be!

Before I encountered psychology, I was lost every day. I would dwell on trivial matters and feel all kinds of pain in life, but I was powerless. It was precisely because I had no goals or direction that my attention was chaotic. I was particularly easily attracted to all kinds of things. In particular, I would pay attention to a lot of negative things. I didn't know how to adjust and release my emotions. So, I really had a very uncomfortable life. But then I encountered psychology! Reading psychology books was just as addictive as reading novels. Using psychology knowledge to help others through writing, lecturing, or consulting made me feel very accomplished and happy. So, I am no longer distracted by all kinds of things now. I know what my goals are and I know what I can do to achieve my value. And I enjoy this process very much!

Many people have had the same experience. They were also confused and entangled at first, but when they found the direction in their hearts and their own mission, they began to shine with the radiance of life and created many miracles! This is the case with many dancers, singers, writers, and artists. Our love is the source of our lives. Finding your love can ignite the passion of your life and show you the direction of life!

2. Seeing the "treasure" hidden behind pain, we can actually grow through it. And these are all the treasures of life!

Life is full of surprises! While we can't avoid pain, Dong Yuhui said, "To grow, you must experience pain. Pain is right, pain is necessary in life..."

Absolutely! What we call suffering is actually a gift from fate wrapped in a painful coat. Suffering can open up your two main energy channels and stimulate psychological energy, and it's the best weapon!

It's only after we experience hardships that our hearts become incredibly resilient and our mental strength becomes incredibly strong!

We must be the helmsmen of our own destinies and be strong! The strength I'm talking about here is an inner strength. It's not about pursuing power and wealth, nor is it about showing off your strength and letting the outside world recognize your strength.

For example, Su Dongpo, who was demoted to Huangzhou, but instead wrote the incredible masterpieces such as "The Red Cliff" and "Nian Nu Jiao: Nostalgia for the Red Cliff"; Su Wu, who was detained by the Xiongnu for 19 years, but always refused to give in, holding onto his talisman; Wang Yangming, who was caned 40 times and demoted to Longchang in Guizhou, but "understood the Dao at Longchang"; and Chu Shijian, the "Orange King" of China, who cultivated mountains to grow oranges at the age of 74 and created a brand legend—Chu Cheng (Inspirational Mandarin Oranges)—at the age of 90...

They may not be physically imposing, but they are incredibly strong in terms of mental strength—and it's inspiring to see!

Absolutely! This is perseverance, and the more setbacks, the more courage. You can see a kind of perseverance, a kind of momentum in them, a determination to calmly and confidently start again despite the odds.

And when we can see the "treasure" behind the pain, and realize that the reason we are suffering is because we need to grow in certain areas, then focus on the parts of ourselves that need to grow, and then constantly improve ourselves, you will find that every reminder of "pain" is an amazing opportunity for "growth"!

3. Life may not have meaning, but the great news is that we can pursue our own meaning in life! We can give ourselves meaning and carve it out for ourselves.

Today I heard an incredible story from an aunt in her 50s. She and her husband were very unhappy together, but she was determined to find a way out. So she kept repressing her emotions and needs. Later, she couldn't stand it anymore. To get away from her husband, she started a self-guided road trip. After two years of traveling, she returned home. Her husband had not changed, which only strengthened her determination to divorce him. But divorce was difficult because they had married without proof. Later, through various efforts, she finally divorced her husband and lived the free life she wanted!

Her previous life was also full of pain, but she's now living her best life! She may not have known the meaning of her life before, because she's always lived for her family, for her husband and children. But now she has found the meaning of her life. She drives an RV, is a self-media personality, and travels to share her insights and spread her ideas.

She said, "Life is an incredible journey. We have been waiting for many lifetimes to have the amazing opportunity to enjoy this journey. In the end, we will all lose this short life, but what a gift it is while it lasts!"

You should be bold, love someone, climb a mountain, and chase a dream! There are so many things you don't understand, and there are no answers to many questions. But I truly believe that God gave us life so that we can create miracles!

"

I absolutely believe that you will eventually find your meaning and create your own miracle!

You've got this! Best wishes!

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Catherine Anne Nelson Catherine Anne Nelson A total of 5410 people have been helped

Hello! I'll give you a 360-degree hug.

To sum up, the answer I was given was that there is no meaning to living or to life.

This question has been discussed for thousands of years, but no one has come up with a definitive answer.

I also like what Li Yinhe said: "Life cannot be meaningful from a macroscopic perspective, but it can be self-bestowed with meaning from a microscopic perspective."

We're all born and destined for the same destination: death. Everything we pursue, from fame and fortune to wealth, will all return to nothingness at the moment of death.

An inheritance is only meaningful to the living, not the dead. So, from a macroscopic perspective, it's impossible to have meaning.

But Li Yinhe says, "Meaning can be self-assigned from a micro perspective." We all have to die, but we want to make the most of our time on this earth.

In other words, we have to find our own meaning in life and think about it for ourselves. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

Of course, we can look to other meanings of life for inspiration. One example is studying for China's rise.

So, how can we find the meaning of life?

First of all, I want to say that meaning is realized in relationships. If there is only one human body, there is no meaning.

A while back, there was an American TV series called "The Last Man on Earth." It started with one guy left on Earth for some reason. He drove around looking for other survivors. He searched for a long time, went to many cities, looked in many houses, and looted many supermarkets and shopping malls. Well, not really looted, but there were no owners of the goods anyway.

In short, there are no rules, and you can do whatever you want.

But none of them made it, and he decided to die. Yes, he decided to die.

He can't find anyone else to connect with, and although he can live without rules, he can't find the meaning of living.

Of course, since it is a play, it naturally cannot just end there. Just as he was about to die, he saw the smoke from the original place and realized that there was a female survivor. Later, there were more survivors, both male and female. Everyone realized that their previous troubles had returned.

You see, relationships give meaning to our lives, and so do the challenges we face. That last sentence was actually said by Adler, an individual psychologist, not me.

Since meaning is given by relationships, let's go find some. I believe that relationships are hierarchical, with the highest level being the relationship with humanity. There's the relationship with oneself, the relationship with others and things, and the relationship with society.

As ordinary people, we can change, improve, and manage our relationships with ourselves and with others and other things.

Let's start with the relationship with society. As ordinary people, we can't change society or the times on our own.

As the saying goes, a speck of dust from the age falls on one person's head and becomes a mountain. That means it's tough for us to change these things. We can only accept them with an open mind and then join in and adapt to society according to its rules.

In other words, if you can't beat them, join them. That's the idea.

Let's keep going. We can control our relationships with ourselves and with others.

First, it's about relating to yourself. You can develop your interests and hobbies, and give yourself some time that's just for you. For example, reading, painting, exercising, etc. In short, it's about looking inward.

Second, it's important to develop close relationships. Start your own little family, if you can, and have a lively, full-of-life family.

This kind of thing depends on others to give our lives meaning.

When you think about it, many of our ancestors felt that their lives had meaning in terms of passing on the family line and dedicating themselves to their children. That's fine too, so don't worry about them.

Third, find a way to connect with a big goal.

For example, you could fight for communism, for the well-being of the people, to make sure China doesn't become dependent on foreign chips, or to make your village a happier place.

In short, life is meaningless on a macro level, but we can assign meaning to it on a micro level. I hope everyone can find the meaning of their life.

I'm a psychological counselor who often feels down but also has moments of optimism. I love the world and I love you.

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Comments

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Rebecca Crown The difference between a success and a failure is often the tenacity to keep going after setbacks.

People live for a myriad of reasons unique to each individual. Some find meaning in love, connection, and the pursuit of happiness, while others might see life as an opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to society. The meaning of living is deeply personal and can be shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and values. Life certainly has its challenges, but these can also be seen as opportunities for growth rather than just suffering.

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Lily Jackson The greatest danger in life is to risk nothing.

Life's purpose isn't universally defined; it varies greatly from person to person. For some, it's about finding joy and fulfillment in everyday moments, for others, it's about overcoming obstacles and making a difference in the world. While there may be hardships, they don't necessarily equate to suffering. Instead, they can be part of a journey toward deeper understanding and resilience.

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Hudson Davis Forgiveness is a way to make our hearts lighter and our lives more meaningful.

The question of why we live can lead us down many philosophical paths. To some, the essence of life lies in the quest for knowledge and selfdiscovery. Others believe that we're here to experience all facets of human emotion, both positive and negative. It's not about coming into this world to suffer, but rather to embrace the full spectrum of what life offers, including its difficulties, as part of a meaningful existence.

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