Is it bad to not want anything out of life?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to achieve anything. I'm 23 years old, just living from day to day without actually wanting anything. I'm studying but I'm a bad student and I don't really care what mark will I get or whether or not I'll graduate. I don't care about my education, actually I'd rather not study than study but my parents want me to have a bachelor degree. I'm not sure if I'll get it, because I don't know if I really want it. I haven't thought about what kind of job I want to do. I don't think about my future at all and don't have any life goals.

It's not that I would feel uncomfortable about it but other people of my age are so different than me, everyone is rushing to get their bachelor and masters degrees and talking about what career will they make, everyone has their life planned out. It makes me feel like I'm from another world.

Is it bad to live the way I live?

[Wolfpack]

You have to live the life you want to live, You only get one shot at it so make the most of it.

You are still very young and have plenty of time to figure out what you really want out of life. Think deeply what do you really want to do or be ? If you find you have a dream you want to pursue then go after it, still care and respect your loved ones but live your life for yourself not just for them. Good luck.

[yousir]

I think, as long as you do enough to get yourself a stable job so you can support yourself that's all that matters.

So many people have their lives planned out but how wise is it to be rigid about that when life is so spontaneous? It's good to have ideas but you have to be flexible. But everyones just making it up as they go Really. No one really knows what the hell is gonna happen and many people go along with qualifications and education and careers because it's all they've been taught. School does not teach people how to think for themselves and parents just want the best for their kids.

And if life isnt changeable enough, so are People.
You may follow what everyone else is doing only to find out you're miserable because it's not really what you want.

You may be a person who works to live and lives to enjoy. Youre also a person who can clearly think for yourself. You've realised there's more to life.

Also. Less is more. Is admirable to live a simpler life. Is what I'm aiming for

[Cuddly]

It's sad that you don't care about your studies, as it could mean you should be studying something else. What's the point of having a degree in something you don't care about?

I try not to think about life goals etc., since it leads me down a depressive trail, discussing the meaning of life and stuff... So yeah! That I try not to think about, because I don't like where it takes me....

[MikeW]

First of all, I'm sorry you felt the need to post this anonymously. I mean, seriously? Even if we knew your forum member name and could read whatever you have in your profile, why would admitting you feel this way make us think less of you? Frankly, it isn't all *that* uncommon for people your age to feel this way -- whether they're studying hard or not. I think it was way MORE common for my generation, when I was near your age.

But the way you put the question that is the subject of this thread … " Is it bad to not want anything out of life?" … well, yeah, kind of. I don't mean that if you feel that way you are "bad" in some sense of the word. You're not. But I do think if you really have NO interests in life, then, well, life will feel very boring and you'll end up being a rather boring person yourself.

In my experience, often when someone says they have no interest or motivation in life, what's really going on is they are shut-down inside themselves for some reason. Since I don't know you, you're not letting me or us see who you are, it's difficult to say much about that. But, typically, what's going on is that someone actually wants something VERY MUCH but somehow or other *what they want* isn't acceptable. It could be a general social attitude or it could be specifically one's parents or family -- or a particular cultural taboo -- or who knows what. The point is there is an impulse on some level, a kind of germinating passion, that gets thwarted and shut down. This often gets covered over and shows up as a kind of ennui -- it's almost a kind of "sour grapes" (I don't really want what I want because it's dumb and stupid anyway, bla bla bla.) In other words, the lack of interest in anything and everything is just a way of avoiding feeling the disappointment of NOT being able to have what it is that you REALLY want. And often, as an adult (or young adult) this has gone on so long that you no longer even KNOW what it is or was that you ever wanted that you couldn't have. So… what I'm saying is, this can be a psychologically complicated problem.

If I seriously didn't know what I wanted out of life, the very first thing I'd do is take some time to try and figure out what that was all about inside myself. I don't know whether that would mean going to a therapist or whether that would mean just leaving the life that was set up for me and heading out on my own -- so I could discover for myself how hard it is to live well without an education, for example -- or perhaps I'd join some organization, like the Peace Corps -- or even the military if I was truly desperate -- where there would be someone outside myself to TELL ME what to do with my life. The point of any or all of it being to see what shows up inside myself.

AT SOME POINT something -- some "passion" -- is going to show up. It might show up as an adverse reaction to something -- like, I see some injustice and it just infuriates me. << That is passion. Or it could be that I see someone who needs help and I feel the impulse to help them in whatever way I can. << Another form of passion. Or maybe I find myself constantly paying attention to certain things that most other people aren't all that interested in… it could be fashion, it could be celebrities, it could be the way galaxies form WHO KNOW WHAT… the point is, *I am interested in it and pay attention to it almost without any effort at all* <<That, too, is a form of passion.

Is this making sense? Ok, so you don't know what you want. Try imagining loosing what you have! What would you miss? If I tried to take it away from you, what would you fight to keep? Anything?

Lots of ways to try and understand this problem.

[East]

I treated college like Cable TV. My problem..I am an information junkie and I took classes from professors because they were interesting and their lectures were music to my ears...not because I needed the classes....

I was never interested in a degree...my Dad was.

It was before Cable TV existed..so when Discovery and other Documentary TV became mainstream...I was in heaven.

None of it was wasted though...I use the skills I picked up along the way as I am successfully self employed ...and I kick ass in trivia. Depending on who is my opponent and providing I can skip "The Bible" and "Opera"..I have a decent chance of winning Jeopardy LOL

My point....we are all wired differently...

If your studies don't excite you...what is it that would excite you? Think about it. You probably have a passion for something...maybe you aren't aware of it yet?

[CellarDweller]

Please keep in mind you are still young. You're only 23 and have plenty of time to act on what will inspire you.

Try to spend some time being reflective and meditative. Think about what it is that you love and brings you excitement. that could help you find a direction you want to move in.

[Albie]

It is a bit bad to not want anything out of life. You don't see it now, as you are still young. The older you get, the more doors close forever. To me it sounds like you are living the life your parents want you to live. I think if you look into anything you are passionate about, you can find a new and better path.

[Camfer]

Honestly yeah, I think it's a bad way to live. The decisions you make now and in the next 7 years will largely determine what options will be shut for you, never to be a possibility again. Your 20s really are the defining decade of your adult life. Find a passion and pursue it.

[BarryAndBryan]

I feel that there is some underlying cause to these feelings. If Nothing makes you happy then something has to be going on inside of you. There is Nothing wrong with being unsure of what you wanna do...but to lack passion for anything can become a problem. You need to find something that makes you happy. I do worry, just for the fact that a lack of passion can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts...trust me...I've been there before...but if you ever need someone to talk to I am always here for you...message me Anytime....lots of luck to you...