Awww, poor thing. Cheer up! Your failures are never as bad as you think they are, because they don't matter.
You don't matter.
Physicist Carl Sagan, gave a pithy observation: "The universe is neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent to the concerns of such puny creatures as we are." :)
More seriously though, I can't understand why just accepting reality - that one simply does not matter, isn't uplifting, not to mention, "normal"? Because, if what you do doesn't matter, then why bother being anxious, right?
It must be a cultural thing! See, ideas like:
everything's meaningless anyway;
that our struggles/efforts don't have any significance, insofar as what we imagine them to have,
is just regular stuff that everyone grows up with, here in India.
Perhaps, the above may be considered signs of depression in the US, but out here, it's common enough to be woven into religion. (Now, I'm no believer in God, but it's interesting to note that in Indian religions there's no concept of heaven. Instead, what you have is the chance to finally go extinct. It's rather nice - no stupid responsibilities; no more running on the hedonic treadmill; no nothing).
I suppose, it also explains why nobody here cares about schools teaching kids that we've descended from lowly monkeys (no fights on evolution, unlike the US).
Of course, the flip side of living in a world without meaning, is that we just do whatever the fuck we want. Consequently, we are amongst the most corrupt countries in the world; & we drive like we just don't care! :)
No doubt culture is highly determinative, and in the West, there is this strong sense of individualism, which, in perhaps circular fashion, has been driven in significant part by Christianity, being a highly individualistic religion, as it posits each individual has a special relationship with God, and so much hinges on what we believe and do.
I would further note that Christianity has an appeal that attracts people in other cultures, as it seems to enjoy significant conversion rates. I think the egocentrism and the promise of eternal bliss probably make a very attractive offering. However, I'm sure it is debateable whether this is for better or worse. I can see how these Christian notions may be seen as infantilizing.
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chiming
Relax!
Date: 2011-11-09 03:55 am (UTC)From:You don't matter.
Physicist Carl Sagan, gave a pithy observation: "The universe is neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent to the concerns of such puny creatures as we are." :)
Re: Relax!
Date: 2011-11-09 04:01 am (UTC)From:Re: Relax!
Date: 2011-11-09 05:10 am (UTC)From:More seriously though, I can't understand why just accepting reality - that one simply does not matter, isn't uplifting, not to mention, "normal"? Because, if what you do doesn't matter, then why bother being anxious, right?
It must be a cultural thing! See, ideas like:
is just regular stuff that everyone grows up with, here in India.
Perhaps, the above may be considered signs of depression in the US, but out here, it's common enough to be woven into religion. (Now, I'm no believer in God, but it's interesting to note that in Indian religions there's no concept of heaven. Instead, what you have is the chance to finally go extinct. It's rather nice - no stupid responsibilities; no more running on the hedonic treadmill; no nothing).
I suppose, it also explains why nobody here cares about schools teaching kids that we've descended from lowly monkeys (no fights on evolution, unlike the US).
Of course, the flip side of living in a world without meaning, is that we just do whatever the fuck we want. Consequently, we are amongst the most corrupt countries in the world; & we drive like we just don't care! :)
Re: Relax!
Date: 2011-11-09 04:02 pm (UTC)From:I would further note that Christianity has an appeal that attracts people in other cultures, as it seems to enjoy significant conversion rates. I think the egocentrism and the promise of eternal bliss probably make a very attractive offering. However, I'm sure it is debateable whether this is for better or worse. I can see how these Christian notions may be seen as infantilizing.