[Ali]

Sometimes, loneliness isn't about being alone; it's about feeling disconnected from life's bigger picture. This kind of existential loneliness can make us question our purpose, our place in the universe, and even our own mortality. It's a profound sense of emptiness that doesn't always go away, even when we're surrounded by others.

We delved into this complex emotion in our video and article, "Existential Loneliness: Life, Death And Finding Meaning." Through insights from experts like Dr. Judy Ho, Saba Harouni Lurie, and Dr. Ken Lewis, the piece explores what causes existential loneliness, how it relates to death and meaning, and practical ways to cope with these feelings.

Check it out here: https://www.rootsofloneliness.com/ex...ial-loneliness

What are your thoughts on existential loneliness? Have you ever experienced a deep, unshakable feeling of being disconnected from the world around you?

How do you find meaning when everything feels uncertain? Let's share our experiences and support each other in understanding and navigating this profound aspect of human existence.

[SummerDay]

I definitely have. I think part of it is just feeling like I'm not on a "path", so much as just living day to day life with no particular direction. I like my work (most of the time), and I do feel like I'm doing good as far as doing something positive that makes a difference, but like... I wonder sometimes if there is more I should be doing. Or something else that I should be doing.

And then I wonder too, does any of it make any difference at all, anyway. Maybe that's me questioning my place in the universe. Like what is it all for, and how much does it matter since I'm barely a speck of dust compared to everything else around me (not just the world, but the whole universe I guess).

It's a little scary, tbh. I like to think that we're all connected in some cosmic way, but... I'm not religious in the slightest, but I like to think I'm at least a little bit spiritual. There are just so many questions about the universe and us, and our place in it, that I try not to think about it too much. It's overwhelming.

[Weighty]

I definitely feel this from time to time.

It tends to happen mostly whenever I visit something historic -- like, say, a museum, exhibit, or something with historical context -- and in doing so, inevitably, you read about or see the people that came before you, built that structure, or conquered that task or difficulty, or read about how people used to be and live.

It's in those moments that I always start getting nostalgic and thinking to myself "everyone in those photos is dead..." and I get a real deep feeling of existential loneliness thining about what does it all mean, how it's over in a flash, and how when I'm dead and gone, nobody will really remember me -- for sure within 1 generation or so.

It's both a terrifying and weirdly freeing thought at the same time.

[Birdie_94]

Oh, the old existential panic of being a speck of dust on a rock, haha. I definitely get this. I’ve gotten better at not letting it make me take life too seriously, though, and that has honestly helped a lot with my anxiety.

I’ve basically given myself permission not to save all the “bucket list” things for some imaginary future I might not have. I travel, create art simply because it makes me happy, and try to romanticize the little day-to-day things.

I have no idea why we’re here or whether there’s some being with a plan for us. But I’m starting to think a life doesn’t have to be remembered forever to have mattered. Maybe it’s enough to enjoy being here, connect with people, and make their time here a little better too.

[Weighty]

Exactly! It's the little moments in life that actually, strangely enough, feel the most meaningful.

Shared laughter, a knowing glance, the feeling after an intense workout where you feel at one with the universe, a great hike...

All of it could feed into that feeling, but on the flip side can also make you feel so grounded and so close to humanity, yourself, and the world around you.

If I think about space, the Big Bang, what's AFTER space (or before it!), who created it (and who created THEM!) etc, it's just on and on, and it literally hurts my head.

Once I let that pause and drift, I can be present and feel like I belong, if only for a nano-second in the grand scheme of things.

[Birdie_94]

Yes, absolutely! It’s so easy to look back on different eras of our lives through nostalgic, rose-colored glasses. Over the past few years, part of my grounding practice has been letting myself feel some of that nostalgia while I’m still living the moment, instead of waiting for the full download later. It’s helped me appreciate the present so much more rather than always longing for the past or racing toward the next milestone.

And I do think legacy can be worth striving for, of course, but I don’t believe a life is meaningless if it doesn’t leave behind a big one. We all affect the people around us, and bringing more kindness into the world or breaking harmful generational patterns can be evidence of a life well lived. Sometimes the little moments and small ways we shape each other are the legacy.

[SummerDay]

I really like this way of looking at it, especially the idea that the little ways we affect each other can be a legacy too.

I think part of my problem when I start thinking about this stuff is that my brain immediately goes WAY too big with it. LOL. Like, what is my purpose, what am I contributing, will any of it matter in 100 years, why are we here, what is the universe, what was there before the universe…and suddenly I’ve gone from wondering whether I’m doing enough with my life to having a minor existential crisis on the couch. 😂

But maybe meaning doesn’t have to survive forever in order to be real.

Something kind you do for someone might change their day, which changes how they treat somebody else, and you would probably never even know about it. Or you can make someone laugh, help them when they’re struggling, create something they enjoy, or just be there for somebody at exactly the right moment. None of those things are going to end up in a history book, but that doesn’t make them meaningless.

I also really like what you said about feeling nostalgia while you’re still living something, Birdie. I’ve definitely had those moments where I suddenly realize, “I’m going to miss this someday.” There’s something a little sad about that, but also kind of beautiful because it makes me pay attention.

Maybe that’s part of the answer for me. I don’t necessarily need to figure out my place in the entire universe. Maybe I just need to be a little more present in the tiny piece of it I actually get to experience.

Which is much easier than solving the universe, thankfully.