When Everything Seems Pointless, Then What’s the Point?
Apathy, detachment, and rediscovering enthusiasm for life
To the deep thinkers,
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As someone frequently consumed by a pervasive sense of malaise and pessimism, the question What’s the point of it all? gnaws at me more than I’d care to admit. It’s the relentless itch at the back of my mind that refuses to go away. Do our triumphs and moments of suffering truly mean anything? Or is everything truly pointless?
It’s hard to pinpoint when my worldview became so grim. When did I begin to feel—whether rightly or wrongly—the futility of it all? Was it one defining event or a series of moments throughout my adolescence that transformed my once-burning enthusiasm into ashes in my mouth?
When did detachment and isolation become my shields of choice—the shields I used to protect the sensitive side that resides within? I look around and feel like I'm not alone in this. Apathy and indifference have become the norm, while passion and genuine care are seen as uncool. If something offends you, you're mocked. If you hold convictions that challenge the majority, you're cast out. To be truly earnest is to be an outlier—and sometimes, a pariah.
This apathetic worldview has begun to trouble me deeply, and I believe it starts on the micro level—with the individual. I’ve started reflecting on my own contributions to the problem. Much of the numbness I feel comes from my attempts to protect my heart and spirit. I’m naturally a sensitive person, but I grew up in a home where "overreactions" (crying or emoting) were demonized. So to cope, I mastered under-reacting—shrugging off the pain and burying my feelings instead. Sarcasm, apathy, and ironic detachment became my survival strategies.
I've struggled to distinguish between the apathetic persona I crafted for self-preservation and the genuine, sensitive version of myself. It’s as if the apathetic version cannibalized the real me. And still, I have felt moments of clarity—fleeting instances of genuine passion and enthusiasm for life. This alone gives me hope, not only for myself but for the world.
I want to explore how we ended up here and what it might take to rediscover a more earnest and caring way of living. I’m fully aware that writing or theorizing alone won’t solve the problem. But I do believe that by examining these patterns and provoking conversations, we can plant the seeds for meaningful change. Small, tangible steps can lead us toward a world that feels more connected and compassionate—a world where caring isn’t seen as a weakness but a strength.
So, here goes nothing.
Feeling numb
The corrosive apathy plaguing the modern world begins with numb individuals. Feeling numb is often the result of emotions reaching a breaking point. It happens when we're shamed for expressing our feelings or when the world's injustices and chaos become overwhelming.
Over time, the scale tips, and the intense anger and sadness transform into apathy. It's a gradual shift, marked by subtle changes in how we experience the world and connect with others. The highs and lows no longer register or fail to exist altogether.
Now, numbness doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s often influenced and reinforced by the world around us. Society seems to mirror this detachment as we lose touch with our emotions, moving to a place where feeling "too much" is a problem. This change is evident in the widespread experience of emotional blunting, a dull state linked to the use of antidepressants.
Recent data indicates a notable rise in depression among young people in the United States, accompanied by an increase in antidepressant usage. In 2021, approximately 5.0 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode, representing 20.1% of this age group. The prevalence was notably higher among females (29.2%) compared to males (11.5%). From 2009 to 2019, rates of adolescent depression increased from 8.1% to 15.8%, indicating a substantial rise over the decade. Since March 2020, antidepressant prescriptions for young adults and adolescents have increased by nearly 64%, reflecting a significant rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These numbers reveal a pervasive sense of hollowness. Ambition feels scarce and passion for things beyond the superficial seems rare. The things that once brought us meaning—college, jobs, marriage, kids, hobbies, socializing, and religion—are overshadowed by a heavy veil of cynicism.
And so it bears wondering: was Nas right when he rapped: "Life's a bitch and then you die."? Perhaps. But as with many things, perspective and depth are required to get the full picture.
Modern work and freedom
I'd argue with anyone up to it that it's impossible to create a life we love without the freedom to choose how we spend our time.
When humans feel a lack of freedom or control over their lives, suffering follows. We feel trapped and imprisoned. Our minds drift to the places we'd rather be, the people we'd rather see, the work we'd rather be doing. Modern work stands as the ultimate antagonist to our freedom, restricting our intrinsic need for autonomy. It’s a relentless cycle of routine, consuming our time and energy, and leaving little room for the true essence of living.
But work itself isn’t the problem. Humans are inherently wired to take on challenges, solve problems, and strive for growth. The issue arises when we’re engaged in work that feels meaningless or when we lack a sense of autonomy.
When our 9-to-5 jobs seem purposeless, it’s not just time we’re losing—it’s a significant portion of our life energy invested in something that doesn’t matter to us. Each day feels like a quiet surrender as if we’re trading pieces of our soul for the fragile promise of stability. And so to cope with this feeling of surrender, we seek solace in various coping mechanisms and fleeting pleasures.
Consumerism, comfort, and distractions
Not everyone has the privilege of living without the need to rely on a 9-to-5 job to make ends meet. I still rely on my day job, using my free time to write, hoping to make writing my primary source of income one day. I understand the push-pull nature of being a foot soldier with the ambitions of a king.
Turning those ambitions into reality means pouring my limited free time into building my dream life. Still, I see how many, overwhelmed by the fragmentation of the self driven by modern work, seek relief in fleeting pleasures or cling to totems of status to fill the void.
The fragmented self pushes survival and self-interest to the forefront, shifting society's focus from creativity and meaning to comfort and consumption. In chasing convenience, we risk losing authentic connection, purpose, and the fulfillment of creating something greater.
I want to be clear: I am not judging, but observing and recognizing that the problem is systemic. It's an infection that has burrowed so deep into the fabric of humanity that it's hard to figure out where to start the healing process.
Societies rooted in consumerism condition us to prioritize competition over collaboration, fostering division rather than unity. We feel that we have to have a better car than our neighbor, a bigger house, a more desirable job title, and an Instagram-worthy life to match. This relentless drive to outdo one another often leaves us disconnected, exhausted, and chasing hollow victories.
Even more unsettling is how deeply our sense of self-worth is tied to our ability to afford rent and remain self-sufficient. As a result, the idea of "finding meaning" feels like a luxury reserved only for the privileged—something out of reach for those consumed by the struggle to survive.
Overwhelmed and disillusioned, we retreat into fleeting pleasures, instant gratification, and status games—along with memes, reels, hot takes, and gossip, that all serve as meaningless distractions. Many rely on substances to cope or struggle with the discomfort of their own thoughts, as attention spans wither and deeper engagement feels like a chore. In the face of it all, we retreat further, seeking refuge behind the ultimate shield: apathy.
Apathy: the ultimate shield
When we struggle to see the point of it all, the barrier we use to protect ourselves is apathy.
I wrote about how we use barriers to protect our hearts here. Our barriers ultimately come from trying to protect or insulate ourselves.
The decline of an earnest society stems from our reliance on ironic detachment as a shield against the bleakness of modern life. One way to visualize this is by imagining how we bundle up against the cold—layer upon layer, trying to keep the chill at bay. This is what we’re doing emotionally: shielding ourselves so thoroughly that we can no longer feel the radiance of life. Instead, we find ourselves drowning in a sea of culture, gossip, consumerism, negativity, malaise, and anger.
Many of us have become afraid to feel, but the feelings themselves aren’t the problem. The real issue lies in hiding from them or complaining without taking steps to create change. Living in a chaotic world without convictions or values to anchor us compounds this struggle. To truly care about something, to feel the fire of passion for an idea or a way of life—that is what will awaken us from our zombified state.
Inner harmony and wisdom
I hope that this piece doesn't come across as overly negative (ironic considering the subject at hand). While I do think we've sunk to a dark place, we don't have to stay here.
When we attempt to protect ourselves by treating life as a joke or convincing ourselves that everything is pointless, we align with a worldview that values distraction over depth. This fixation on superficial gains distances us even further from our nature—the innate drive to seek purpose beyond material success.
Salvation is not found in further isolation or swinging too far the other way, in which we become closer to a hive mind or sheep. Our salvation lies in finding the harmony between individualism and what is best for the collective.
As Omar Najjarine writes:
An excessive focus on the objective—on order, harmony, and universal structure—can lead to restriction, self-silencing, and an overemphasis on conformity. On the other hand, an overemphasis on the subjective—on personal autonomy, introspection, and individuality—risks creating fragmentation and a disconnection between individuals and the social order, undermining the communal ends and values that hold societies together.
The remedy is more wisdom and understanding, not more consumption—and philosophy is the core of wisdom. It helps us navigate the delicate balance between the objective and the subjective—the need for order and connection on one hand, and the pursuit of personal growth and individuality on the other. An excessive focus on one side leads to restriction or fragmentation, but philosophy offers a way to bridge these extremes, guiding us toward a life that values both communal harmony and personal fulfillment.
Rather than devouring more and hiding from our emotions, let us open our hearts and minds. Let us think critically about how we relate to the world outside of us and what we can do to make it better.
The search for meaning
When we look out into the world and only see the worst of humanity, how do we persist? In the same vein, when we try so hard to improve our own lives, only to see the chaos of an unforgiving world come through like a typhoon and lay waste to everything we’ve worked so hard to build, where do we find the fortitude to rebuild?
Don’t Lie To Yourself
Rather than hiding from the sad truths, seek them out so that you can address the root of the sadness. Avoidance and repression only lead to a chase for more pleasure. Life isn’t easy, but it is beautiful. We are meant to struggle—to soar to great heights and endure hard falls. Everyone falls, but the true distinction lies in who chooses to rise again, and even more so, in those who keep rising, no matter how many times they fall.
Less Time Online
The internet and social media are not inherently evil or destructive. They are tools, but we have misused the tools. When you live online, glued to your phone 24/7, it’s really hard not to compare yourself to others or to escape negativity. Let us instead make an effort to interact with the world and ourselves. Sit with your thoughts. Get to know the people in your community, and you'll see that all hope is not lost.
Be Passionate
It's not uncool to care about things. Have conviction in your beliefs. Stand for something, and then be prepared to defend that something. In a world that often rewards detachment and cynicism, caring deeply is an act of holy rebellion. Convictions give us direction, purpose, and a sense of identity. They ground us when life feels chaotic and provide a lens through which we can interpret the world and connect with others.
The point
Many of us grew up in homes or communities where we were made to feel bad for overreacting, so we learned to underreact—to under-feel. Over time, we grew comfortable with detachment and muted emotions. Yet, this repression is slowly eroding the world around us. We must stand for something. We must have convictions we are willing to defend. And we must allow ourselves to feel—not just the surface-level distractions, but the deep emotions that drive us toward greater honesty, compassion, and understanding for ourselves and others.
What I’m into this week:
Many of us struggle to make meaningful progress in our lives because we’ve fragmented our attention into countless tiny pieces. With hundreds of competing goals, we give each only a sliver of focus, leaving behind a trail of abandoned ambitions and unfinished projects.
Warren Buffett’s 5/25 Rule offers a way to rein in this scattered ambition—not by suppressing it, but by channeling it toward five impactful goals that have the power to transform your life. By focusing deeply on these priorities and cutting away the excess, we can reclaim clarity and purpose in our pursuits.
“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.”
Much love,
- Jon ♾️
Thank you. I've never had to use mind-numbing things because I automatically numbed myself to avoid pain. I've done too much of that. I've stopped looking for happiness in things. My task (whether I've recognized it nor not) has been to get rid of that protective shield of numbness. For me, it ended up being a prison cell. I'm trying to dismantle it but it's a slow go. On the bright side, I am experiencing moments of full joy from time to time. I'm happy with that progress.
Damn great stuff my friend