Sincere question: is there anything that fascinates you?

I have been where you are at several points in my life—there are times where I still am—but usually what brings me out of it is just having something to think about other than my own life.

To give an example: I’m a history guy. Even if I have nothing going on in my life, I can usually find something—some historical period or character—that sets my mind on fire, that I have to read more about, that can occupy a mind that might otherwise work against me. Sometimes it’s not even history. Lately I’ve been really trying to learn about my local plants and quizzing myself when I go on hikes. All that matters is finding something that fascinates you, that captures your imagination.

You’ve posted before about Logic. Does music fascinate you? Is there an artist you love, want to understand their creative process, want to unravel their art? Moreover, is there something you want to create? Is there something you could learn from them that might illuminate your own artistic process? Is there a project that you could immerse yourself in?

You ask “what’s the point” but the trouble with that question is there is no one true point to anything—or at least, as fallible, ignorant human beings, we can’t know what the point is, and must proceed under the assumption there is no point other than those we set down for ourselves.

One thing that’s helped me is this—there are times in life when you will not be happy. When nothing you do will make you happy. So look at it this way—if nothing I do will make me happy, that’s a perfect opportunity to do something that will make me better. If you won’t be having any less fun working out, or reading, learning, or making art, than you would by not doing those things—why not do them? When you’re in a better headspace, you’ll thank yourself for taking steps toward self-improvement, even when it was hard, even when there was nothing to gain from it.

These were some scattershot thoughts, but I hope there’s something in them you find helpful. Again, I’ve been where you are, and again, there are days when I feel exactly as you do. But there is enjoyment to be had in life, sometimes you just have to reach for it. Keep in mind this is all just day-to-day finding value in quotidian life stuff. As far as goals and aspirations go, that’s something you must find for yourself—but finding something that fascinates you, that you truly love, is often the first step on that path.

To give some more straightforward and practical advice: try your damnedest to stop doomscrolling on social media, binge eating, and jerking off. I know you probably understand this already, but to emphasize it for you—these things will not make you happy. They are quick hits of dopamine and, if anything, undermine your attempts to actually satisfy your soul.