The Delusion of Meaning

We live in a culture that demands performance.

Not art, not courage, not truth. Performance.

The script is simple:

“How are you?”
“Good, thanks. You?”
“Good.”

That’s the exchange.

No deviations allowed.

You could be standing on the ledge of your own mind and still the correct answer is fine.

Because God forbid you say, Actually, I don’t see the point in any of this. Life feels hollow. I’m tired of moving through days that seem to exist only because another one came before it.

Watch what happens.

The smile falters. The eyes shift. There’s a moment of panic while they search for something to say, usually one of the phrases we’ve collectively agreed are supposed to make being alive feel easier.

Find joy in the little things.

Think positive.

Practice gratitude.

Maybe they mean well. Most people probably do.

But beneath all of it I sometimes hear something else:

Please don’t make me look into the abyss.

We don’t know what to do with despair unless we can turn it into a problem with a solution.

….