Driving to work I had a Nihilistic moment.

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:36

I was up at 5.30 am....had breakfast, watched a bit of breakfast TV...Had a shower...Drank some more tea.

I then left the house and drove the 15 miles along country lanes to work.

About 10 minutes in a had a sudden overpowering feeling of Nihilism.

I thought to myself, what the point? why am I doing this same thing again and again and again? For a moment my life and existence was totally and utterly pointless.

It reminded me of Sisyphus...

What is it about your life that resembles Sisyphus' plight? What is your relationship to your rock? Is the struggle itself enough for you? Would you describe pushing a rock up a hill heaven, hell, or something in between?

I guess the key is to try and not think about it.

Nevakonaza · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:38

Yup,Your not the only one who has had this moment.

Haggisman · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:41

Get a job you enjoy and doesn't involve getting up at 5.30am

ivrytwr3 · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:42

live to work or work to live.

I had a colleague recently have the same sudden realisation. We have mandated PT sessions (good thing!) and we had just returned off Xmas break and were both plodding along on the treadmills.

About 10mins in he hits the stop button, turns to me and says "IT3, wtf am i doing?"

He gets off the treadmill, showers, changes and when i get to the office, he is already there with a big grin on his face and says, "I just quit".

Cosimo · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:45

Next time just keep on driving until you run out of fuel.

CaptainRAVE · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:47

Most mornings tbh. I find myself driving faster in heavy rain these days almost hoping to aquaplane.

Hades · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:53

I've had this a lot recently. I think it's to do with not enjoying work. If your work is your passion then you probably wouldn't feel this way.

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:54

Haggisman said:
Get a job you enjoy and doesn't involve getting up at 5.30am

Thats the thing. I start at 9 am. I have been getting up early to alter my routine.

I don't hate my job either. But I don't hate sex...But doing it everyday over and over becomes tiresome

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:57

Hades said:
I've had this a lot recently. I think it's to do with not enjoying work. If your work is your passion then you probably wouldn't feel this way.

Taken from: The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus

"If this myth is tragic, that is because its hero is conscious. Where would his torture be, indeed, if at every step the hope of succeeding upheld him? The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious. Sisyphus, proletarian of the gods, powerless and rebellious, knows the whole extent of his wretched condition: it is what he thinks of during his descent. The lucidity that was to constitute his torture at the same time crowns his victory. There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn."

Camus presents Sisyphus's ceaseless and pointless toil as a metaphor for modern lives spent working at futile jobs in factories and offices. "The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious."

Hades · 16 Jan 2016 at 11:59

easyrider said:
Taken from: The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus

"If this myth is tragic, that is because its hero is conscious. Where would his torture be, indeed, if at every step the hope of succeeding upheld him? The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious. Sisyphus, proletarian of the gods, powerless and rebellious, knows the whole extent of his wretched condition: it is what he thinks of during his descent. The lucidity that was to constitute his torture at the same time crowns his victory. There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn."

Camus presents Sisyphus's ceaseless and pointless toil as a metaphor for modern lives spent working at futile jobs in factories and offices. "The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious."

From Steve Job's Stanford University speech 2015:

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:06

Hades said:
From Steve Job's Stanford University speech 2015:

But change what?

Another JOB? That requires the same rock pushing over and over again?

Pestilence · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:06

Had such thoughts many times. Clinical depression doesn't help.

Been tempted to drive my car as fast as possible into a wall on the way to work. Other times it's hit me on the bus and I've considered just forgetting about where I'm going, travelling to the coast and swimming out to the point of no return. Things like that.

Just have to focus on the moments of pleasure and enjoyment in life instead.

Hades · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:08

easyrider said:
But change what?

Another JOB? That requires the same rock pushing over and over again?

I can't answer that for you. But in my case my long term goal is to start my own business becasue I'm not prepared to push other people's rocks uphill any more.

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:16

doofer · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:22

Outcast · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:26

Indeed

It's a sad game we were destined to play in.

All those Trials, tribulations, moments of joy and heartbreak. Forever trying to get ahead, make our existences easier, more enjoyable etc

and at the end.....

We can't even take anything with us !!

God & Lucifer must be ****ing themselves with laughter at our retched selves.

btw.. Wait til you get to 40

That "Mid life Crisis" thing everyone jokes about... It's real and it's not funny !!

easyrider · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:26

doofer said:

So the key is to embrace the absurd and avoid committing philosophical suicide.

Whether it be religion or consumerism.

ivrytwr3 · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:31

a very pessimistic view of our existence. A great philosopher once said:

Yeah, well, everyone dies. You're born, and you die. The bit in the middle's called life, and that's still to come!

So, life and death are certainties, what you do with your existence is your choice - there are no re-runs.

Sliver · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:34

We all find ourselves catapulted from our mothers uterus, as if shot from a canon. Hurtling toward a barn door, studded with rusty hooks and nails. It's all about how we spend the intervening time in an intelligent and ironic way.

Hitch 1949-2011.

George Hincapie · 16 Jan 2016 at 12:35

easyrider said:
I was up at 5.30 am....had breakfast, watched a bit of breakfast TV...Had a shower...Drank some more tea.

I then left the house and drove the 15 miles along country lanes to work.

About 10 minutes in a had a sudden overpowering feeling of Nihilism.

I thought to myself, what the point? why am I doing this same thing again and again and again? For a moment my life and existence was totally and utterly pointless.

It reminded me of Sisyphus...

What is it about your life that resembles Sisyphus' plight? What is your relationship to your rock? Is the struggle itself enough for you? Would you describe pushing a rock up a hill heaven, hell, or something in between?

I guess the key is to try and not think about it.

TBH