This blog post is personal reflection. Everything stated here applies to our entire generation, and we’re all prone to this, including me. So you’re not alone, and hopefully these paragraphs make you feel better.

If you’re 16 or above, this question has likely crossed your mind. It’s the essence of existentialism. Wondering the reason behind our existence is what makes us human. After having spent centuries running away from predators, we’re finally in an age of being able to ask such a question that puts us vulnerable, and in a deliberate sense. Finding an answer to this question isn’t hard, it’s downright impossible. Because you’re never going to truly know what you’re here for. If you do, please send me an email and get in touch. I’d be down for a chat. ;)

Existentialism has been more widespread than ever. There are two main factors behind this – social media (of course) and the hustle culture. They’re fairly tied to each other so I’ll briefly touch upon them as a whole.

To state the obvious, we currently live in a society of constant instant gratification. Social media is largely responsible for this. The new currency isn’t just data, it’s the data extracted from your attention. And we barely give ourselves moments to direct our attention to introspection. It’s important to think about these questions in detail sometimes, instead of just ignoring them. When most of our time is spent providing attention to big tech, we’re bound to feel lonely and disinterested in activities that require more attention spans. That’s the reason why a lot of people won’t read this article, because it’s harder to read articles than to watch reels or TikTok.

We mostly deal with existentialism when we compare ourselves with others. Since using LinkedIn more often, I’ve noticed that it’s very natural to set other people hustling and doing great things as a benchmark. We then blame ourselves for not working hard enough or not being talented enough. If you look at it correctly though, it’s never enough. Today, it’s your classmate, tomorrow it’ll be your collegue, and then it’ll be the manager or CEO.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

– Theodore Roosevelt

Now that we understand the problem, what’s the solution? There’s no right answer, and there’s definitely no answer for the main question. I’ve noticed that the best way to deal with it is just being grateful. Be happy for what you have, and just live your life on your own pace. You’re writing your own story, so while it’s good to look at others and feel inspired, there’s no point ruminating over why you’re not as good as them. I just keep telling myself that I’m making the most of my time on this planet. Maybe that’s just coping, but hey, it works for me! Write your own story on your own pace. Speed up if you’re feeling motivated, and slow down when you’re not. You got this! You’re special, and there’s definitely something unique about you. Just keep looking.

Also watch: Hindi Poem on being Ordinary. Don’t scroll past this. ;)

This post is a result of me talking to myself a lot :). Reflection and introspection does help a ton.