Author: Gud Sleepz Team
Date:
Losing Sleep Over Meaninglessness: A Young Adults Struggle
“The very meaninglessness of life forces man to create his own meaning” - Stanley Kubrick
Many of us are in search of a meaning or a reason to live. It’s either our loved ones, our work or the interests we pursue which keeps us going. Why is having meaning in life so important for people? Probably it makes one look ahead, expect, work hard or even gives them joy. Whatever the reason is, it becomes the bread and butter of our life.
People before us have searched for their purpose in life but how I personally see this is, as a journey of finding ourselves. I believe that finding meaning is usually seen as a guru’s job or for someone looking to disconnect from the world. Maybe. But it isn’t a destination, rather a process of finding and growing continuously. And I see many young people losing sleep over their life’s issues and struggling to find meaning in their life.
It’s probably the most excruciating stage for most young people as they try to find independence, nurture their fully formed identity, make important decisions, struggle for sustenance and find their own passion. This can lead to loneliness, isolation, self-defeating tendencies and complete withdrawal. In addition, the worry would lead to sleepless nights and chronic health-related problems.
This was the case for Andrea too.
Andrea, a 24 year old young adult who was the only child in her family. Her parents were in their late 60s and her worry just builded over the years. She was pressured to follow her passion but within a timeframe as she had to provide for the family. On top, she struggled with loneliness, dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. It never was an easy path for her.
She gave interviews after interviews but was never satisfied. She felt that she could do more but was scared to try more. She questioned her purpose, her existence and her abilities. She grew anxious and weary each day. She lost sleep almost all night. She prepared rigorously but negative self-talk took over her thoughts.
This is the struggle of every young adult trying to find an identity for himself/herself.
What’s the Good News?
That meaning can be found.
In Touch With Your Values: We often underestimate the importance of our personal identity and personal narrative about life. Everyone operates with basic beliefs about self, others and the world. And when we choose our purpose, we would want to exercise and operate based on our values. But, often we get derailed due to other’s expectations of us, societal expectations and neglecting yourself.
Mindful Vs Hustle: Due to the posed media, it is believed that doing more is a sign of achievement. Yet, people need to be aware of taking their path by comparing their today’s self to yesterday and not with others. It’s always the intentional activities that give us a sense of accomplishment, ignite passion and bring joy in our life. Therefore, hustling might seem like a successful path but mindful living would rather give you a sense of purpose.
Reflect and Introspect: We never stop and think about our lives. The choices we make, the decisions we take or the direction we go happens on a whim. Everything is automatic and fast. It’s important to re-evaluate our intentions, introspect on our self and reflect on our life. This can be in the form of self-talk, journaling or meditation.
Again, the good news is that your meaning can be found. And I hope you never lose sleep over it again. For more content, follow us on gudsleepz.
Tags: meaning , purpose , self-help , sleeplessness
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