# Suffering and Loving Life By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-01-29 The perspective that life is meaningless and full of suffering does not preclude one from loving or attempting to love life. Those who have this perspective likely do love life in some capacity. Otherwise, one might expect much higher suicide rates among these individuals. As far as I can tell, the acknowledgment that life is meaningless and full of suffering has little or nothing to do with suicide rates. Much deeper demons exist beyond realizing suffering is inevitable. For example, believing one wasted one's life, thinking no one cares, or learning how one's lack of compassion has caused untold additional suffering in the world. All these things can occur regardless of one's philosophical or theological beliefs. In the standard paradoxical twist of fate, one could argue that accepting meaninglessness and suffering prepares one to accept the negatives and search for the positives more diligently and fruitfully. It could be the quiet moments in the morning or dinner with loved ones. Just because it is universally meaningless does not mean it doesn't matter in one's life. Just because suffering is inevitable doesn't mean one shouldn't attempt to make suffering happen to a lesser degree. The point is not what one necessarily believes but in finding the opportunities to love and experience life in the face of social, psychological, and existential uncertainty. #### Related Items [[Suffering]] [[Existential]] [[Paradox]] [[Beliefs]] [[Existential]] [[Philosophy]] [[Purpose]]