<p>The times I work hard it's because I have some illusion in the back of my mind that energizes me and keeps me going. When I don't have that illusion, when I come to terms with the fact that I am just another one, when I accept the fact that neither my intellect nor any other trait I possess sets me apart from the rest of the crowd, I have a hard time feeling motivated to work hard.</p>
<p>While I like the idea of having a college degree, when I look at the big picture it almost makes no difference if I have an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree, or no degree at all, because in the end I'm just another random person. The college degree hopefully will make it easier for me to preserve my existence, but it won't fulfill my desire for prominence and greatness because the personal traits necessary to make that happen just aren't there.</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel like working hard is a pointless endeavor if there isn't a promise of great rewards and success?</p>
<p>Well, you’ll never have a certain promise of future rewards / success because you could get run over and killed by a bus the day after you graduate from Harvard. Still, going to college is one way that you can have a good time and build a life for yourself, not just financially but socially too. It’s certainly not your only option, but I wouldn’t write off going to college because of some kind of existential angst. Most people will never be “special” as you’ve defined it, which isn’t a great tragedy. And, of the people who are “special”, they had to work hard to get there and most of them probably didn’t know how it was going to turn out in the end.</p>
<p>The girlfriend thing sounds like a good idea, but how can I appreciate her feelings of specialness towards me when I know that she herself also isn’t special?</p>
<p>Honestly, self-respect is something that you have to find within yourself. Just getting a girlfriend won’t help you out since that emotional defect will still exist within you and she won’t be able to fix it since she’s just another human too.</p>
<p>You know, there was a time when I thought just like you, pvardc. I once embraced the nihilistic ideal that all of humanity’s goals, achievements, aspirations, were all for nought. Eventually, we all die, and after a few generations, become completely forgotten. Eventually, even the Universe will collapse upon itself and humanity will be forgotten forever, as if it never existed. What is the point of living, then, if death and complete anonymity was inevitable?</p>
<p>It was then that I realized this: Regardless of death’s approach, it is best to enjoy life as it is and ignore the existential questions in the meantime. </p>
<p>There is a reason why sex is so enjoyable…</p>
<p>Go talk to friend. Read a newspaper. Discover a passion.</p>
<p>Or you can always take heed of my former suggestion.</p>
<p>If being special is what motivates you as of now, and if you aren’t really special, then maybe you should find some other motivation :). Or maybe you really would be happier somewhere else right now?</p>
<p>watch the movie visioneers. actually, watch the trailer right now!!! go ahead, just type “visioneers” in the google search bar and watch the trailer.</p>
<p>I was speechless when I read your reply, because I honestly don’t know what to tell you without reinforcing your notion that I have issues. I’ll just say that I think it’s unlikely that the emotion you referred to would alter my perception of reality.</p>
<p>You should probably go and see the movie Visioneers. If you don’t have time, at least watch the trailer. It will change your life. Go see the movie Visioneers. You want to see the movie Visioneers. Visioneers is truth. Visioneers is knowledge. Visioneers is the peace of the grave. Go see Visioneers today.</p>
<p>Ok, I’ve never heard of Visioneers but I just watched the trailer…How is it any different from the American Beauty, Office Space, etc. middle-class suburban ennui movie out there?</p>
<p>That’s the human condition according to existentialists - that life is absurd, meaningless, and ultimately not something that revolves around us. According to them, life only gains meaning through a leap of faith - an irrational sudden personal belief in something beyond explanation (God, love, dreams).</p>
<p>In my sophomore year of high school I began reading philosophy extensively and came to hold this viewpoint - I felt very similarly to the way you do. I was a perfect student as a freshman and I didn’t do anything other than what I was told. However, I soon began feeling that it was ultimately meaningless and insignificant - it meant nothing in the great scheme of things. However, I find myself nevertheless motivated to do things I find personally valuable. I took a leap of faith and began to see value in high school debate and reading philosophy. I see no reason in doing so, but yet it brings meaning to my life. Much like a religious person does not question his/her faith, I don’t question my pursuits. </p>
<p>Is it possible to feel motivated? Yes. Is it possible to feel motivated to do something that you ultimately do not find meaningful? No. (well, yes, but only if you find the authority who told you to do that meaningful i.e. you accept the command of your parents/society on faith). Is it possible to accept man’s existential condition and feel motivated to work hard? Yes, but only if you do what you personally feel is right.</p>
<p>I encourage you to read existential thought or philosophy on finding meaning and, at the least, you will find peace in knowing that there’s an entire body of literature dedicated to the feelings you are having.</p>