I don't believe in anything anymore

Hey everyone! I'm new here... I've been lurking for a bit reading through everything, so I finally decided to jump in and share what's been weighing on my mind.

I don't really believe in anything. Not love, not truth, not freedom, God, science... I don't know... I just don't have any ideals. There's no "meaning" for me, just the practical value of things.

And people? I don't trust them either. Not even friendship. Honestly, I get along best with people who lie all the time, because then I don't have to believe a single word they say 🤷

I don't have much respect for anything... except maybe nature. I don't really hold strong stances on anything. Like, when there’s some massive national debate about a new policy or a big election cycle... I just can't bring myself to care. It's hard to care when you don't trust the news being fed to us anyway.

My behavior is pretty irresponsible, too. Toward others—like, I'll be great with someone one day, then just change my number and vanish forever because, again, I don't believe in friendship—and toward myself, like with how I handle intimacy. Not to mention daily responsibilities or obligations. I just don't have goals or desires.

So, basically, I could probably check out by tomorrow...

It doesn't bother me much most of the time, except for those moments (maybe this is one of them) where I wash up and think—how am I actually living like this? How long can this go on? Then I just tell myself—whatever, it'll work out somehow. What's the point of "purpose"? It's just an illusion anyway. And I just go back to my old ways.

I mostly just operate on pure impulse or sheer spite.
But I'm not some heartless jerk, if anyone's wondering. I think I'm a decent person. I'd never intentionally exploit or hurt someone just because it's convenient for me.

But I feel like I can't keep going like this forever. I don't want to wake up when I'm old and realize I've spent my whole life with absolutely nothing to show for it.
I wish I had at least one principle, any kind of principle (as long as it isn't destructive), just so I had something to guide me. Something that makes my behavior consistent for more than two days in a row.

I feel like a leaf blowing in the wind. I'm doing okay for now, but it's not really leading anywhere...

Does anyone have any advice? What do you believe in, and why? Do you have some sort of "code" you live by?

Adam Reed5 said:Hey everyone! I'm new here... I've been lurking for a bit reading through everything, so I finally decided to jump in and share what's been weighing on my mind.

I don't really believe in anything. Not love, not truth, not freedom, God, science... I don't know... I just don't have any ideals. There's no "meaning" for me, just the practical value of things.

And people? I don't trust them either. Not even friendship. Honestly, I get along best with people who lie all the time, because then I don't have to believe a single word they say 🤷

I don't have much respect for anything... except maybe nature. I don't really hold strong stances on anything. Like, when there’s some massive national debate about a new policy or a big election cycle... I just can't bring myself to care. It's hard to care when you don't trust the news being fed to us anyway.

My behavior is pretty irresponsible, too. Toward others—like, I'll be great with someone one day, then just change my number and vanish forever because, again, I don't believe in friendship—and toward myself, like with how I handle intimacy. Not to mention daily responsibilities or obligations. I just don't have goals or desires.

So, basically, I could probably check out by tomorrow...

It doesn't bother me much most of the time, except for those moments (maybe this is one of them) where I wash up and think—how am I actually living like this? How long can this go on? Then I just tell myself—whatever, it'll work out somehow. What's the point of "purpose"? It's just an illusion anyway. And I just go back to my old ways.

I mostly just operate on pure impulse or sheer spite.
But I'm not some heartless jerk, if anyone's wondering. I think I'm a decent person. I'd never intentionally exploit or hurt someone just because it's convenient for me.

But I feel like I can't keep going like this forever. I don't want to wake up when I'm old and realize I've spent my whole life with absolutely nothing to show for it.
I wish I had at least one principle, any kind of principle (as long as it isn't destructive), just so I had something to guide me. Something that makes my behavior consistent for more than two days in a row.

I feel like a leaf blowing in the wind. I'm doing okay for now, but it's not really leading anywhere...

Does anyone have any advice? What do you believe in, and why? Do you have some sort of "code" you live by?

Everything sounded fine until you mentioned that lack of responsibility toward yourself. Before that, I would have told you to stop looking for yourself and realize you're just a blank slate waiting to be written on—which means you're full of potential! Very few people truly "know" what they care about right away; it’s usually a long process of self-discovery, and that takes time.

That said, a lack of accountability can sometimes stem from how you were raised—maybe an older relative didn't pass down certain life lessons properly. But it's much worse if this irresponsibility comes from a genuine "I don't give a damn" attitude. You can fix the first issue, but if you persist with the second, that mindset can eventually lead to deeper struggles, like clinical depression.

....Having faith in something—anything at all—is the absolute bedrock of a functional human being....Try to look back and see if you have always been this way, or if there was a specific moment that shifted your entire perspective...

Adam Reed5 said:Hey everyone! I'm new here... I've been lurking for a bit reading through everything, so I finally decided to jump in and share what's been weighing on my mind.

I don't really believe in anything. Not love, not truth, not freedom, God, science... I don't know... I just don't have any ideals. There's no "meaning" for me, just the practical value of things.

And people? I don't trust them either. Not even friendship. Honestly, I get along best with people who lie all the time, because then I don't have to believe a single word they say 🤷

I don't have much respect for anything... except maybe nature. I don't really hold strong stances on anything. Like, when there’s some massive national debate about a new policy or a big election cycle... I just can't bring myself to care. It's hard to care when you don't trust the news being fed to us anyway.

My behavior is pretty irresponsible, too. Toward others—like, I'll be great with someone one day, then just change my number and vanish forever because, again, I don't believe in friendship—and toward myself, like with how I handle intimacy. Not to mention daily responsibilities or obligations. I just don't have goals or desires.

So, basically, I could probably check out by tomorrow...

It doesn't bother me much most of the time, except for those moments (maybe this is one of them) where I wash up and think—how am I actually living like this? How long can this go on? Then I just tell myself—whatever, it'll work out somehow. What's the point of "purpose"? It's just an illusion anyway. And I just go back to my old ways.

I mostly just operate on pure impulse or sheer spite.
But I'm not some heartless jerk, if anyone's wondering. I think I'm a decent person. I'd never intentionally exploit or hurt someone just because it's convenient for me.

But I feel like I can't keep going like this forever. I don't want to wake up when I'm old and realize I've spent my whole life with absolutely nothing to show for it.
I wish I had at least one principle, any kind of principle (as long as it isn't destructive), just so I had something to guide me. Something that makes my behavior consistent for more than two days in a row.

I feel like a leaf blowing in the wind. I'm doing okay for now, but it's not really leading anywhere...

Does anyone have any advice? What do you believe in, and why? Do you have some sort of "code" you live by?

Well, what can I tell you... just devote yourself to something you enjoy, set a goal, and try to reach it.
Regarding faith, I don't think that's going to help you much. I believe in God, I believe in medicine (specifically psychiatry), and I believe in science and technology. I believe there are good people out there... but it's just belief; I haven't truly felt any of it, and none of it has changed my life much. I don't know, maybe I'm believing the wrong way... maybe someone who knows how to believe properly can weigh in.
I'm just not sure, though... if you're like a leaf in the wind and you're doing okay for now, how are you even getting by?

So, how many years have you actually been on this planet?

Andrew Nelson12:37651679 said:]....having faith in something, honestly anything at all, is basically the foundation for anyone to function well....

I totally get that, which is why I’m asking what people generally believe in and how or why they do... maybe some idea will just click for me. Right now, nothing really moves me...

try to think back if you've always been this way or, if you haven't, what was the turning point in how you think...

I really can't remember... I think I've always been like this. If not, I truly don't recall any specific moment where things changed...

Harold Anderson3;37651837 said:

but I don't quite follow.. if you're just drifting like a leaf in the wind, and you're doing fine, what's actually keeping you going?

I'm still living with my parents, so I've got a roof over my head and food to eat. When I can, I work. When I have money, I spend it, and when I don't, I don't...

Kyle Harris7 said:So, how many years have you actually been on this planet?

23

My advice: start a journal or a blog. Find a space where you can re-examine your perspective on the world every single day...

Read the New Testament. Study the works of Indian sages. Dive into philosophy. Reflect deeply on those specific moments in life that truly moved you...

That process is what we call self-work. You have to discover who you actually are. It is actually quite wonderful that you are dissatisfied with being superficial or living such a shallow life. However, true depth usually reveals itself only after one undergoes significant life experiences. Regardless, those who seek will find. Personally, I believe in love and the principle that good should be returned for good. That is how I choose to live.

Adam Reed5 said:Hey everyone! I'm new here... I've been lurking for a bit reading through everything, so I finally decided to jump in and share what's been weighing on my mind.

I don't really believe in anything. Not love, not truth, not freedom, God, science... I don't know... I just don't have any ideals. There's no "meaning" for me, just the practical value of things.

And people? I don't trust them either. Not even friendship. Honestly, I get along best with people who lie all the time, because then I don't have to believe a single word they say 🤷

I don't have much respect for anything... except maybe nature. I don't really hold strong stances on anything. Like, when there’s some massive national debate about a new policy or a big election cycle... I just can't bring myself to care. It's hard to care when you don't trust the news being fed to us anyway.

My behavior is pretty irresponsible, too. Toward others—like, I'll be great with someone one day, then just change my number and vanish forever because, again, I don't believe in friendship—and toward myself, like with how I handle intimacy. Not to mention daily responsibilities or obligations. I just don't have goals or desires.

So, basically, I could probably check out by tomorrow...

It doesn't bother me much most of the time, except for those moments (maybe this is one of them) where I wash up and think—how am I actually living like this? How long can this go on? Then I just tell myself—whatever, it'll work out somehow. What's the point of "purpose"? It's just an illusion anyway. And I just go back to my old ways.

I mostly just operate on pure impulse or sheer spite.
But I'm not some heartless jerk, if anyone's wondering. I think I'm a decent person. I'd never intentionally exploit or hurt someone just because it's convenient for me.

But I feel like I can't keep going like this forever. I don't want to wake up when I'm old and realize I've spent my whole life with absolutely nothing to show for it.
I wish I had at least one principle, any kind of principle (as long as it isn't destructive), just so I had something to guide me. Something that makes my behavior consistent for more than two days in a row.

I feel like a leaf blowing in the wind. I'm doing okay for now, but it's not really leading anywhere...

Does anyone have any advice? What do you believe in, and why? Do you have some sort of "code" you live by?

That’s pretty much the underlying principle most people live by, honestly, so I really don't see what the big deal is.

Someone actually told me today that they don’t believe in anything anymore—just totally disillusioned with life, people, God, everyone around them... I honestly wasn't sure how to respond at the moment, and to be fair, I still am a little bit stuck on it.

What do you all think—is it actually possible to live without believing in anything at all?

Can someone really function like that? And if not, what’s the way back to finding faith again?

That’s just survival, plain and simple—it isn't actually living. Honestly, words don't mean much when you're stuck in a hole like that; at a certain point, talk is cheap. You have to show people through actual, tangible actions that there's a different way to exist.

Adam Kern2 said:Someone actually told me today that they don’t believe in anything anymore—just totally disillusioned with life, people, God, everyone around them... I honestly wasn't sure how to respond at the moment, and to be fair, I still am a little bit stuck on it.

What do you all think—is it actually possible to live without believing in anything at all?

Can someone really function like that? And if not, what’s the way back to finding faith again?

I don't believe it's possible to hold onto nothing at all. Even if everything else falls away, we can all say with absolute certainty that the sun will rise tomorrow.

Jamie Davis9 said:That’s pretty much the underlying principle most people live by, honestly, so I really don't see what the big deal is.

I'm also starting to realize that this might just be the reality of the situation. 🙂

But what about the people who just can't wrap their heads around such a (totally valid) "principle"?

Adam Kern2 said:Someone actually told me today that they don’t believe in anything anymore—just totally disillusioned with life, people, God, everyone around them... I honestly wasn't sure how to respond at the moment, and to be fair, I still am a little bit stuck on it.

What do you all think—is it actually possible to live without believing in anything at all?

Can someone really function like that? And if not, what’s the way back to finding faith again?

I would argue it isn't possible, though I suspect the question is frequently framed incorrectly and often devolves into mere semantics. Most people fall into the trap of asking, "Isn't nihilism itself a belief system?" or "Doesn't believing that nothing matters constitute a belief in something?" When someone claims they believe in nothing, they are usually referring to a nihilistic worldview—the rejection of an objective value system. They aren't suggesting a total absence of thought, but rather the assertion that nothing possesses inherent importance; that absolute good and evil don't exist. It’s not that these individuals lack convictions, but rather that they view values as lacking any objective reality. For instance, morality doesn't exist as a physical phenomenon we can observe through the laws of physics; it is a construct developed by humans that exists within the individual mind.

Can one truly live this way, and if not, how does one reclaim faith?

Of course one can. From the perspective of the average person, such a lifestyle is completely inconceivable because they rely on the perceived importance of a higher purpose to fuel their existence. However, some people have discarded those notions entirely and lead lives that appear perfectly normal on the surface. Some might dismiss this as merely "surviving" rather than "living," but that is ultimately a matter of subjective opinion.