How to Deal With a Meaningless Existence

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The people we love, the work we pursue, and the hints of a creator’s presence are sources of deep meaning in our lives. Yet, beneath these grounding forces lies a quiet yet persistent sense of nothingness—a void that subtly shadows everything we do. Confronting this nothingness can feel like staring into an abyss—a vast, unrelenting darkness that carries the weight of despair and the inevitability of death.¹ This encounter can leave us reeling, gripped by a sense of vertigo. How does one navigate these existential crossroads? And what steps can be taken to make peace with this daunting cul-de-sac of life?

In the face of such overwhelming questions, many of us turn to the comforts of everyday life. Vacations, celebrations, shopping, family gatherings, religion, and relationships often serve as welcome distractions, offering moments of respite from the weight of existential reflection. Yet, these diversions, while comforting, can delay the vital work of deeply examining one’s life. Only through such examination can one discover a more substantive energy—one that is both effortless and life-giving—to fuel the journey ahead.

The rewards of finding meaning extend beyond emotional and spiritual well-being. Research has shown strong connections between a sense of meaning in life and improved physical health. A meaningful life is associated with lower all-cause mortality, reduced cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, enhanced immune function, reduced depression, and better coping and recovery from illness.²

Given the profound significance of meaning in life, how can one deepen this sense of purpose without resorting to superficial clichés about love and work?

Reject coherence

Sense-making offers only a surface-level understanding of the world. At its core, life often defies coherence. Our narratives rarely align with reality, which unfolds as a series of disconnected events and surprises that challenge our need for understanding.

By clinging to coherence, we risk oversimplifying the complexities of existence, ignoring the richness that emerges from ambiguity, contradiction, and unpredictability.³ Embracing this uncertainty allows us to move beyond superficial understanding and open ourselves to deeper, more authentic ways of engaging with life.

Interestingly, this mirrors findings in neuroscience, where human intelligence is closely tied to brain entropy—a measure of the brain's capacity to access diverse neural states. Higher brain entropy, particularly in regions like the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes, is associated with greater intellectual ability, as it enables flexible thinking and adaptability.⁴ Similarly, embracing the "entropy" of life—the variability and unpredictability of experiences—can deepen our engagement with the world. Just as neural variability predicts complex cognitive performance, our openness to life's inherent ambiguity can unlock new ways of understanding and thriving, moving us beyond the superficial into a more dynamic and authentic existence.

Re-examine the function of questions in your life

Traditionally, we view questions as gateways to satisfying answers, believing that understanding lies on the other side of "why" or "how." We ask these questions expecting clarity, resolution, or comfort. When the answers resonate with us—perhaps aligning with our beliefs or offering a sense of closure—they can create an illusion of satisfaction. However, this satisfaction is often deceptive, masking the unresolved uncertainties and complexities.

In truth, answers can constrain our thinking, tethering us to a fixed perspective that feels reassuring but limits our capacity for exploration. On the other hand, questions hold transformative potential not in the answers they elicit, but in their ability to keep us curious, engaged, and open to new possibilities. When we let go of the need for definitive answers, questions become powerful tools for growth, inviting us to dwell in uncertainty and approach life with a sense of wonder rather than a conclusion.

Research shows that when we receive partial or inadequate answers, the brain engages in heightened activity, such as the P600 response, to restore coherence and make sense of ambiguity. This reveals the brain's innate drive to process and construct meaning, even in the face of incomplete information.

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By reframing questions as invitations rather than destinations, we shift from a search for finality to an ongoing process of discovery. In this way, the true value of questions lies not in the answers they provide, but in the doors they open to deeper understanding and more expansive ways of thinking.

Embrace abstraction

Finding meaning in life often requires moving beyond rigid, linear thinking and embracing ambiguity, much like Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art. His chaotic interplay of symbols and fragmented text resists literal interpretation, inviting personal engagement and deeper reflection. Similarly, life’s meaning emerges not from tidy answers but from grappling with its contradictions and complexities. Abstraction invites us to live with openness, engaging with life’s complexity on its own terms and discovering meaning not as a destination but as an ongoing process of creation and reinterpretation. Your brain is wired for abstraction, so take advantage of this.⁵

Ultimately, finding meaning in a deeply ambiguous existence requires embracing uncertainty, questioning assumptions, and leaning into abstraction—transforming life’s unpredictability into an ongoing process of discovery and connection.

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