Whether or not people like to admit it, we have all contemplated the reason for our existence in some form or another. It is practically human nature to wonder why we are here on this Earth and to try to search for some meaning to our existence. This is typically where religion steps in; for people to believe in some sort of end goal or a guide to their existence. Another way for people to attempt to explain their existence is through various philosophies, one such being nihilism.
Nihilism, specifically existential nihilism, is essentially the idea that life itself is meaningless and we are all on this planet for no apparent reason. This sounds like a dark and pessimistic view on life, right? Nihilism is commonly understood as a profoundly negative way to view existence because some people sincerely stand by the idea that life is pointless in every way, shape and form. The truth of the matter is that there are many different subcategories of nihilism which can denounce the existence of specific concepts such as deities, knowledge, morals, truth, and so on.
Although this way of thinking can appear dismal, one can also view the idea of a life without meaning as freeing. If nothing matters then it does not matter what I do with my life whatsoever. I have complete control in everything I do. How I look, who I associate with, and the choices I make mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Now we know that, unfortunately, in our society it is difficult to put all meaning aside because I could view something as meaningless, but it could mean the world to someone else. There are also limits to meaninglessness in the employment world as well. Who would want to hire a person who appears to lack ambition or passion towards their work?
That being said, we can still utilize the idea that things do not matter in certain aspects of our lives that we can control, such as caring about what others think, allowing things to upset us, not being able to let go, and much more. Sometimes, the only thing that is holding you back and keeping you upset is yourself. Therefore, it is much easier to keep a calm and collected state of mind when you realize that certain things do not matter. Why do things not matter? Because we are only on this Earth for an unknown, but temporary, amount of time. Why let little things eat away at you when you most likely will not remember what they were later in life? Oh, my favorite shirt was stolen out of the wash? I guess I will have to find a new favorite shirt.
A true nihilist may deny this, but in my eyes, existential nihilism gives one the opportunity to create meaning if they want. If nothing matters, then it does not matter if you want to enjoy the life you’re living or how you choose to enjoy it. Make your existence mean whatever you want it to mean because it is no one else’s business but your own.
