We have a massive problem festering in society, and while people glimpse parts of it, and even point it out from time to time, no one really seems to offer a real explanation. There are innumerable counterfeits masquerading as solutions, of course, but they all seem to instead feed back into the root problem.
A lot of men simply feel like they don't have a purpose anymore [...] and a man will crawl through broken glass for a purpose.
Shoe0nHead
Speaking as an adult human male, I can certainly confirm that men in particular seem to see a lack of meaning or purpose in life today. Gen X, Millennials, and Zoomers have watched families collapse, society crumble, the economy go bust, pointless wars smolder for decades, the church abandon its flock, and a pandemic response which only revealed how ignorant and authoritarian our "authorities" are. We have been sold materialism, meaningless sex, and empty status symbols as goals for our lives, and they have left us lacking.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Religions claim to provide meaning, but speaking from experience, the Christian church as a whole has lost its way. Philosophers say they seek meaning, although some abandon the idea entirely in a form of nihilism. Political parties and movements offer meaning, especially when big causes like end global warming climate change or wage a war on terrorism rallies people behind a cause too large to grasp. Some people just seek meaning based on identity, whether gender, culture, or niche interests.
Now, after decades of pointless war and economic instability, the places people sought meaning have undeniably failed, and the veneer of virtue is peeling away. Self-help gurus and other shysters prey on the most vulnerable. People found spiritual and intellectual junk food, so now they are sick and still unsatisfied despite trying to fill the emptiness, or at least hide from it. Where do we turn now?
I don't think I have all the answers, but I think there is meaning and purpose to be found, and I think have a decent idea of the direction we as individuals need to look. I plan to write more on this topic as I wrestle with various aspects, but meanwhile, feel free to chime in with a comment or critique. Do you see the same emptiness in yourself or in others around you? How are people coping with ennui around you?
! And yes, I already know the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is 42, but what is the question? Stay hoopy, my froods, and know where your towel is.
