I've been having some trouble as of late. Some of you may have noticed, but I'm being a bigger [censored] than usual, and even I can't explain why. I don't even know what I'm mad about. Why, just a few weeks back, I was doing my best to come across as nice and accepting of other people's views and opinions, whereas now I'm showing open hostility towards them.

So I've been doing a lot of thinking, only to get stuck at a specific thought: Who exactly am I? My opinions change constantly, often over the same things. I claim to hate something I used to love, and adore things that I would normally never be caught dead supporting. What if I'm merely an empty shell that just lets all of the feelings and opinions of others and the media control what I think? But why, then, do I turn around and hate the very things they all like? Because I want to be different? Why do I appear to be so obsessed with this desire to be as much of an individual as I possibly can?

I don't even know if my opinions are my own anymore, or even my dreams. Do I really want to get into IT? Do I really want to write novels? Do I even really love the so-called "love of my life"? What if everything I think and say and do aren't things I really want to, and are just the collective results of my insecurities that people around me and the media fuel?

Maybe it's because I think I'm good for nothing, possessing no inherent skills or useful qualities, and the skills I could learn don't pique enough of my interest to have much hope of going anywhere. Maybe it's depression, confusion, or a severe lack of confidence. Maybe it's all of those. If someone were to ask me, "Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?", I'd have no idea what to say to them. I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't even know who I even am. I'm a man with a name, and that's all I can say for a certainty. What is the purpose of a life that's seemingly going nowhere? I just...feel like empty space all the time.

And I know people will try to cheer me up, but it never works. They'll give me suggestions and I'll put on my best fake smile and pretend that they're helping me, but they're not. No matter what, I always have these thoughts in my head, questioning why I'm even here and who I am, what the purpose of my existence is, etc. I could say gaming is what keeps me going, and for the most part, it is. But that's sad. It's as if all I'm doing is enjoying what little I can as I slowly waste away.

Kinda seems pointless, I guess; posting my troubles on a forum and then saying nothing can really help. I suppose if other people have similar issues, they're free to vent in this topic if they wish. But hey, while words of encouragement may not work well with me, they're appreciated all the same.

What is your definite passion? Find out what that is, not what you think it is, not what your family think, not your friends, not society, find what it definitely is and do it, not what you think but what you know it is. That can hard though.

As for the reason to why you exist, there is none. Who you are, is an accident of genetics and circumstantial coincidence. Everyone you've met have had some kind of impact on you and shaped you, in every little and big way, you're a product of your everchanging environment, and as it changes, so do you. Adapt to it, but don't surrender to it.

Are there any big happenings going on in your life right now? Marriage, kids, that sort of thing?

My advice is to avoid anything Pokemon related.

Nothing of the sort. In fact, my life is excruciatingly uneventful; it has been for years. As you can imagine, that's amplifying my feeling of emptiness.


I can always expect cleverness from you, Fanner. It is true that the Pokemon ranting is what triggered these thoughts yet again, but it's far from being the root cause.

I feel much the same. I barely plan what I'm doing a week from now, I certainly couldn't guess at what I'd be doing a decade hence.

I don't think there really needs to be a purpose to life though.

My advice to being awesome and successful at life: Watch Ponies!

I've felt similarly from time to time. I don't normally give pep talks, but since work is painfully slow today. . .

Advice:

Your tastes and opinions change as you grow older. Why should anyone have to have consistent opinions throughout their life? No one is static. Examining yourself from time to time is healthy. Doing it all the time is oppressive.

The point of life is what you make it. If you enjoy video games then play them. If a part of you thinks that's too hollow, explore other interests as well. If you feel like you should be doing 'better' things with your life, volunteer somewhere once a week. Anywhere. It will make you feel like a better person.

I don't think very many people can actually see where they'll be in five years. That's more of a question of goals. Do you have goals? Are you doing anything now that's going to help you achieve them? If not, why not do something small that's related to them.

Depression is a part of life. It breeds lethargy which makes you more depressed. If you do things - anything constructive really - you'll feel less depressed.

Get your hands dirty doing something.

Also, if you're really depressed, take a minute every day and reflect on anything good that happened that day. Your mind tends to linger on the negative and forget the positive. Force yourself to think about the positive.

I won't try to cheer you up, but I would like you know that this feeling is natural. I've painted a portrait of a man I'd like to be. Strong, honest, noble, kind, fun, charming, witty, and well off. Every day I try to mold myself and my actions to fit the ideal. Am I perfect? No way. Do I forget who I'd like to be, and fall into habits of self-loathing? From time to time. If I do, fall down though, I pick myself up and keep going? Why? Don't ask why. It's ... easier that way.

Thanks for some of the advice. Another thing to note is that I often find myself quitting everything, the best and most recent example being Storm's game quiz. Realizing I could never achieve greatness, I packed up and left for good. That pretty much sums up my reaction to everything in life that I don't think I could do. Instead of giving it a full and honest effort, my confidence dwindles and I inevitably abandon it altogether. It happens with job hunting all the time.

I assume you are in our teens-twentys. You are in the stage of your life where you get to experiment with many different fields, many different ways of life to see what you like and what you don't. Life is not some static "I'm gonna be a banker for the next 60 years" type of thing. Life is ever changing, morphed by the decisions you make. The vast majority of people go through multiple career changes in their lives. Change is a part of life, stop trying to be static and start flowing.

My advice is to live in the moment, experience everything you can, and above all, have fun. Because that is what life is all about, the fun moments.

I joined at round 6, and only have 5 points. But they're not meant to be anything big... just for fun. I think you need something to really focus on... something really worth your time, that you can invest yourself in. Something physical. I'm betting, like me, you spend most of your day sitting on your butt. Physical action can correct hormonal imbalances that leave you feeling... empty.

I don't think it's truely possible to completely know oneself. It would take too long to explain, but it ranges from how you smell to what you dream everytime you enter REM, which happens every night but most of the time you don't remember what exactly you dream.

http://www.nakedrobber.com/wp-content/uploads/nakedrobber-bronies.jpg

Oh and thanks for showing that MLP should be included in Godwins law. Keep it to the damn pony thread.

Well yes that is the stereotype I suppose.

When I am in conflict with myself I try to go back to the stuff that I used to spend a lot of time on.
In my case that is MTG, I haven't been playing it much after the community pretty much died out in my town, but for some reason I find comfort in looking through my cards etc. I can't really explain it.

Also watching MLP tend to help me, but as far as I understand SubTonic isn't a fan, but maybe some other show that he likes can help him out.

Perhaps. I have been meaning to get more into The Legend Of Korra, but haven't been able to work up the motivation. I think something to that effect can take the sting out of my current mood.

Sounds like you need some kind of supportive figure in your life. If you live with your parents try and involve them with your life more so they can at least support you.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/2835/658855-fanboi_anatomy_super.jpg

What is your passion? Whatever it is, acquire a job or education which includes it.

BTW, don't worry so much about changing beliefs or opinions. The most open minded people are open to persuasion and the more you learn about something the better grasp you have on what you yourself believe and the more solid your opinions become. There were many opinions I held as a young person that I no longer hold. We have to bend with not only the changing world but the changes that we ourselves live through.

Want Success?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH3QZvBfZeY&feature=share%27%2C%29

Maybe focus on one aspect of your life at a time.

Just as an example: where are you at with regards to your education or job-wise? If you are confused on that matter, I suggest you consider reading, "What Color is Your Parachute?"

http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2012/dp/1607740109

It is a book that helps you figure out what you want to do with your life, *practically*. It isn't a "Find your passion in the next 30 minutes" type of gimmick. I read it when I was kicking around a career change. I read a lot of different articles and book reviews and in my opinion, this book was by far the most helpful.

There are a few exercises that you complete. I don't remember the exact details, but one of them basically had you create a list of the Top 5 Things that Interest You and the Top 5 of Your Best Qualities. Then take a step back and see how items from each list could fit together. It even suggests you google the sets of words to see what information and options are out there. You would be surprised at the results and suggestions you can get from this.

Anyway, I know education/job is only one aspect of one's life. But still...putting a piece of the puzzle into place often causes the other pieces to fall into place as well.

Best of luck. And hang in there.

Something else to keep in mind is to avoid thinking like that that would induce a self fulfilling prophecy. Most notably that first line there where the thinking that one's self is a incompetent loser is going to sap whatever passion you may have and make it true via defeatist thinking. If I think that I was a moron then I'm hardly going to spend time studying or improving myself intellectually where it gets to the point where it becomes true where it gets to turn many people very bitter and lash out at others (others on this very thread have shown such behavior). Basically find something you consider yourself to be well informed in with a emphasis on making use of said passions and avoid cyclical thinking that causes one to get into a cycle of self loathing. Trust me the last thing you want is to get into that vicious pattern or find yourself going down a very bleak road. Namely self termination.

Yup be open minded, but not so open minded that your brain falls out, if you get my meaning.

The military sounds like the perfect place for you.

I didn't read the whole thing but judging from what some of the replies said, it involves the "The Purpose of Life" question. To that I say life is what you make it. It's up to you to find purpose in it, which generally doesnt happen until later in life. My purpose is to love. There is a lot that can be said about that, but I'll settle for saying that I tend to harbor more compassion and empathy than others and that has been a big theme in my life; I'm a loving person. What with compassion and empathy being in very short supply in this world, I'm going to use mine to the best of my ability.

I don't have much in the way of life changing advice, but as for something small to help you feel better right away, I'd continue participating in Stormo's game quiz. Just realize that it's not about being better than everyone else, or even being in the top ten or something like that, but about the enjoyment of participating and testing your own knowledge. I enjoy it greatly, despite being terrible at it and rarely getting more than one point per round. I think my point is that, rather than try to change your whole life in one big swoop, you should try to enjoy the little things in life. Do that enough, and you'll get a much more positive outlook on everything.

And if that isn't enough you can still take pleasure in the fact that, even if you don't score a single point from this moment onwards, you'll still end up with a better score than me.