“Why Bother Living if the Future is Filled with Pain?” Reclaiming Our Thoughts

Najwa Awad
Jul 2, 2019
2 min read

"Overcoming black-and-white thinking is no easy feat, but it can be done with self-compassion, commitment, and a lot of practice. You matter. Your feelings matter and your future matters...."

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At a Glance

Why do I feel life is meaningless sometimes?

Life is meaningless when you question its purpose, direction, or value - a common part of an existential experience. Stress, trauma, or prolonged emotional pain trigger this crisis. People without a sense of meaning experience depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. This feeling signals that you need clarity, purpose, or direction - it is not a truth about your life.

How to deal with negative and hopeless thoughts

Negative thoughts convince you when they repeat often. Change your relationship with these thoughts: focus on managing them, not eliminating them. This approach works because it acknowledges the thoughts without giving them power.

Notice the thought without immediately believing it
Question whether it is fully accurate
Redirect your attention to what is within your control

Psychological approaches such as cognitive reframing and mindfulness reduce the intensity of these thoughts over time. The goal is to create space between you and your thoughts, freeing you from their control.

What are ways to find purpose in life?

Building purpose happens through small, consistent actions that lead to big results. Research proves that having a sense of purpose directly lowers depression and anxiety levels.

You can begin by:

Identifying what matters to you (values, not outcomes)
Engaging in meaningful relationships
Contributing in small ways (helping, creating, supporting)

Your daily choices shape your purpose, driving growth through consistent decisions, not a single moment of revelation.

How to reframe negative thinking patterns

Reframing involves challenging the way your mind automatically interprets situations. For example:

Instead of “Nothing will change,” → “This feels permanent, but it may not be”
Instead of “Everything is pointless,” → “I’m struggling to see meaning right now”

This shift changes how your brain processes experiences. Consistent reframing weakens rigid, negative thought patterns and builds more balanced thinking over time.

Can therapy help with existential thoughts?

Therapy is highly effective for addressing existential thoughts. Existential therapy directly tackles questions about meaning, purpose, and suffering. This approach empowers individuals to explore their values, accept uncertainty, and create their own meaning, taking control of their lives.

Therapy helps you tackle these thoughts head-on in a structured and supportive environment.

How to stay motivated when life feels painful

Life can be painful at times, and that's when motivation fades away - it's a normal reaction. We often wait for motivation to strike, but a better approach is to take small, deliberate actions every day.