Help What are some good reasons to live?

[ijustwishtodie]

I'd endure living if there was a good reason why I should. But I can't find any no matter where I look. The reasons I've found didn't really apply to me or are just too weak to work on me. However, since this site is different than everything else online, I was hoping I could find a different, better answer here. So, then, give me a good reason to live

 

[mutt]

the fact that anything can happen. there's a probability that a million dollars falls in your lap, and if you commit suicide, that opportunity could never occur. you may not have a purpose now, but its possible you do find purpose if you dont ctb.

what scares me the most about ctb as someone who's young and suicidal is not that i end up in an eternal perdition, or that my attempt fails, its that life has the possibility of getting better. i may not see light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean light doesn't exist.

 

[Abandoned Character]

I'm not sure anyone other than yourself can provide a satisfying answer. Any reason to live is a good enough reason to live, who am I to tell you what is a good reason or not? Whatever you can hold on to that you find worthwhile is, in of itself, worthwhile.

Personally, my reasons are centered around people. Being there for my family and friends. Smiling and laughing with strangers. Dancing. Sharing good food. These moments are the nectar of life--they keep me going. Additionally, I want to live to see humanity breach the technological singularity. I am very curious to see the social and geopolitical affects of incredibly advanced AI, for example. Also, I would love to see more breakthroughs in our understanding of fundamental physics, such as quantum gravity. And aliens, I want to see the world powers admit that there are non-human intelligences that we have been interacting with for decades (and possess their technology).

 

[6_6]

maybe a good place to start is considering the reasons that make ctb appear as the answer. and if you don't know a reason To live yet, you can always progress toward a life you'd want to live. for me, hearing other people's success stories [especially from low places] was infinitely helpful of putting my pain now in perspective.

 

[tiger b]

To find a good reason to live is a good reason to live. Hell, maybe it's the only one.

 

[oddetoad]

Literally nothing

 

[Slow_Farewell]

Depends on how you view the world, i guess. I came across a post on facebook that said something along the lines of "If you would want to end it all because you hate life, what better way to piss off life by continue living?" I found that funny, personally. makes sense, in a way. Aside from that, it depends on how you value "possibilities". While there's no guarantee that you'd get the outcome you desire, some folks actually place a very high value on what they might miss. Personally? it's a 50/50 chance on possibilities.. there's no guarantee either way.

 

[Forever Sleep]

'Oh God- I can only think of soup.'

Sorry- didn't mean to mock... Depends what you enjoy really. Nature, food, music, comedy, friendships. If you want to be convinced to live though- that's probably pro-lifer territory. Most people here are pro-choice. So- we can maybe suggest what some people like but we won't tell you to be satisfied with it. It has to come from within I think. Even simply the desire to want to try with life stuff. That's the most important thing probably. I'm probably not even willing to try a lot of things now. I've strayed into the recovery section to be honest without really being commited to doing it.

 

[Scythe]

Perhaps some hobbies, or just try to have more fun. Play some videos games go walk in the nearest park, go to the countryside and look at the stars. Or you can try to find meaning in life, find what's important to you and hold onto that. Perhaps try to remember what yoi valued before if you don't value anything right now.

 

[LoiteringClouds]

However, since this site is different than everything else online, I was hoping I could find a different, better answer here.

I don't know if this is helpful but...

I have a bizarre reason to live. I have several "imaginary friends" and I don't want them to go. There's so much ahead in their life. I tend to think life is futile when I'm depressed but still I don't want let them go.
This might fall into a hobby but for me it's valid even when I can't enjoy any hobbies.

Note: I don't have any dissociative disorder.

 

[N33dT0D13]

FOOD
MUSIC
And I guess movies video games & memes & shit too, dancing is always fun as long as either no one is watching or you don't care who's watching, rain is nice, cute animals, nice comfy beds, accomplishing something big/important then being super lazy afterwards as a treat, blankets & pillows & cute colorful warm hoodies with a character you like on it, incense & things that smell nice & you leave & come back & your place smells like heaven~
Really good sandwiches, especially when you haven't eaten all day & they have bacon on them
Honestly just being a dumbass sometimes to amuse oneself is fun lol
People, as friends, lovers, rivals or subjects of observation (mostly the last one for me these days, people are weird & confusing & scary but that's why analyzing them is so fun)
Oh also
SPITE
It's a big one for me lmao, best revenge is a life well-lived or some shit, I just want certain people to see me do certain things they said I couldn't so I can rub their big fat ugly faces in it

 

[Deleted member 65988]

its that life has the possibility of getting better. i may not see light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean light doesn't exist.

The issue I have with this is what good reason is there to be convinced things will turn around for me enough to look at ctb and think twice about doing it. Sure the possibility is there but missing out on any slim possibility of life getting better doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's like gambling to stick around a bit longer to see if the wheels of fortune turn out for you or if you'll waste your time waiting just that bit longer. I guess it depends how much it means to the person that things such as a million dollars falling into your lap not being outside the realm of possibility.

 

[Kit1]

Dear ijustwishtodie,

I have the awful habit of doing long write ups sometimes and this is going to be - apologising beforehand if you find it boring, but please hear me through if you are able to bear with me. I am will use my own life story to possibly get you to look at how life mapped out and maybe it might help (or if I have wasted your time, I really am sorry).

I was abused (every kind of abuse by multiple people throughout my childhood from the agebof 2 or before. By the age of 14, I decided that life wasn't worth living and took two overdoses - took one and woke up in hospital - stomach pumped, stayed for a couple of weeks and discharged. Within 24 hours, overdosed again and woke up in the same hospital and similar treatment same staff, same ward etc. Anyway I realised that I was not good enough to.die either, so I packed my rucksack with two sets of clothes and ran away from home in the middle of the night and was homeless - I was terrified to approach the police or social services in case they raped me (my past expeirnece with adults was horrendous) or I was returned to the house. Worked three jobs, rented a room and survived - just and there was all sorts of financial abuse (probably be classified as modern slavery nowadays), but I survived. As soon as I turned 16, I went back to college (whilst working and still haven't stopped working), studied, went to university and eventually got a 'professional' job that I love and settled down. Fell in love, had kids who I absolutely love and live for my children. However I have struggled with my mental health (and also autistic as well) all my life and suicidal ideation is part of the complex PTSD and the trauma. I still go through periods where I will take an overdose or end up at the edge of a cliff or somewhere whilst in a dissociative stage. There are no guarantees that I will not end my life. But I struggle to keep myself alive for the sake of my children. Also my work and the charity work keeps me going. I have accepted that it is okay to feel suicidal and try and live life to the fullest. I remember a time when I was standing on top of Beachy Head (done it several times) and another guy shows up (drunk) and is peering over the cliff edge. I was probably dissociated - anyway came down to planet earth pretty quickly when I saw this poir guy looking over the edge, drunk and it was early hours of the morning (too early to be drunk). We had a conversation and I was trying to establish whether he really wanted to jump or whether he was just being drunk - it turned out that he was being drunk and wanted to see the bottom, but couldn't focus. I took him down and gave him a lift into town - he wanted another drink! We all have our reasons to die, to live or sometimes live whilst dying at ghe same time. Times can change and our wishes might or.might not change. I have often wondered about that man - wondered whether he had got himself drunk to muster the courage to die that day though he was quite keen to let me help him away from there. As part of my job, I have listened to people who wanted to end their lives, didn't and have gone on to have lives that they feel they are getting something out of, people who have gone on to end their lives and the outcome can be so different. Having worked in this job for over 23 years, I can still not tell how someone's vision will turn out to be. Speaking for myself, I am.robanly in more psychological pain most of the time - but I can think of reasons to survive. But looking back at that young 14 year old teenager that ran away from home, I am glad that I survived and experienced some of the most amazing parts of life such as having children, charity work etc.

Ultimately the decision is yours and if in doubt, please consider trying out the alternatives.

Wishing you all the best in making the right decision for yourself and your future self. Take care.

 

[ijustwishtodie]

Perhaps try to remember what yoi valued before if you don't value anything right now.

The thing is, I haven't ever valued anything or anybody before

 

[Byebyemap]

I'm not sure anyone other than yourself can provide a satisfying answer. Any reason to live is a good enough reason to live, who am I to tell you what is a good reason or not? Whatever you can hold on to that you find worthwhile is, in of itself, worthwhile.

Personally, my reasons are centered around people. Being there for my family and friends. Smiling and laughing with strangers. Dancing. Sharing good food. These moments are the nectar of life--they keep me going. Additionally, I want to live to see humanity breach the technological singularity. I am very curious to see the social and geopolitical affects of incredibly advanced AI, for example. Also, I would love to see more breakthroughs in our understanding of fundamental physics, such as quantum gravity. And aliens, I want to see the world powers admit that there are non-human intelligences that we have been interacting with for decades (and possess their technology).

Bravo! Those are my reasons as well, very good writing…

 

[lamy's sacred sleep]

the fact that anything can happen. there's a probability that a million dollars falls in your lap, and if you commit suicide, that opportunity could never occur. you may not have a purpose now, but its possible you do find purpose if you dont ctb.

what scares me the most about ctb as someone who's young and suicidal is not that i end up in an eternal perdition, or that my attempt fails, its that life has the possibility of getting better. i may not see light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean light doesn't exist.

what about the complete opposite? basically something terrible happening

 

[Shroomsonmyhead]

what about the complete opposite? basically something terrible happening

While it might initially seem inherently biased and unreasonable to verbally prioritize the possibility of positive events occurring in one's future above the possibility of negative events, the opposite is actually the case.

This concept can be best illustrated by breaking down the difference between active behaviors and avoidant behaviors:

Active behaviors can lead to three outcomes:

The experience of suffering (e.g. I ask a girl out and get rejected),

The experience of pleasure (e.g. I ask a girl out and she accepts),

No experience (e.g. I get accepted or rejected, but no feeling occurs).

However, (broadly speaking) avoidant behavior only leads to two outcomes.

Avoidant behavior can lead to the avoidance of suffering (e.g. if I don't ask someone out I cannot possibly get rejected),

Or it can lead to the experience of suffering (e.g. I have to watch someone else take the opportunity that I preemptively gave up on).

But avoidant behavior never results in the experience of pleasure, as satisfying one's physiological needs will always necessitate taking action, and all worthwhile actions inevitably incur some amount of risk.

Suicide is in this sense the ultimate avoidant behavior: the one taking their own life is so insistent on avoiding suffering that they choose to obliterate any and all future stimuli, positive OR negative.

Simply put, any sort of improvement to one's life inevitably requires some sort of action… and since all conscious human actions are premeditated by thoughts, actively choosing to mentally focus oneself on positive outcomes rather than negative ones has a very real effect on our physical behaviors, thereby increasing the likelihood of those outcomes occurring at all.

And since the thoughts a brain automatically generates are relative to whatever a person is currently emotionally fixated on, actively choosing to fixate on one's own positive outlook also increases the likelihood that your brain starts to generate exactly the thoughts you wanted in the first place, therefore creating a "mental snowballing" effect that compounds by itself.

Although it may sometimes appear from the outside as if people who obsess over potential positive outcomes to their actions are just childishly ignoring the (oftentimes more likely) negative outcomes, in reality that voluntary mental choice is exactly why people with positive outlooks are statistically better than their counterparts at… literally everything.

Luckily, we have plenty of scientifically-proven methods to help us move our own minds from having an overall negative slant to an overall positive slant.

But it starts with methods that eliminate negative thought, NOT practices that create positive thought, as trying to "smother out" negative thoughts with positive ones inevitably leads to mental burnout.

The trouble is getting SS users to actually give those methods a serious attempt before instead choosing to suck the exhaust out of their 2014 Toyota Prius.