I recently joined a subreddit to learn a lot of information about my chronic condition. These people all had my condition, and I always liked to validate my feelings with these guys. One person asked, "What keeps you going?" It was an intriguing question, as many people had a lot to say.
Of course, many people do not believe they need a reason to paddle through the waters of life. Their existence appears to be quite enjoyable, given the numerous mundane activities they engage in on a daily basis.
On the other hand, there are people who are constantly reflecting, looking for goodness in even the most difficult circumstances. For people like me and others in this subreddit who have this chronic condition, there are times when we experience mental relapses and it can be difficult to find personal motivation to navigate the difficult waters of life.
It was interesting to see what motivates people. You might think that because people have the same medical conditions, they will think or view life in the same way, but it was surprising to see that everyone had their own preferences. People wanted to see a specific movie, eat at a specific restaurant, adopt a dog, and watch their siblings grow up.
There are people who have nothing to keep them going in life, so they turn to drinking, gambling, or living an unsteady lifestyle. Motivation is a powerful force that creates the illusion of normalcy in the midst of a raging storm. Life is generally an unsteady place; the unfairness and uncertainty, the pain and misery that some people experience, if they do not connect with a purpose, it is easy for them to lose themselves.
I have seen messed up things in life, and there were things that kept me from going insane; however, I recently lost that protection and began to feel unsteady again. Instability is one of the most serious problems that the mind can cause, and if people can not find peace in the midst of the chaos, they can lose themselves.
For one thing, I felt more confident in turning to God rather than denial, excessive obsession, and other practices. It is not like I have completely found stability (I may not, or it may take some time), but it is a process, and it is better than where I was a few months back. I have learned not to be dependent on anyone or to base my mental health on the existence of anyone.
The Bible itself (God's words) simply states that man is not worthy of trust. It is not that you can not trust anyone, but people are prone to change, which is certain.
So, for me, I do not like to point out what keeps me going because I do not want to jinx it. There are some things that we believe will last forever; however, these are only temporary.
However, everyone requires a derived happiness.
What I am saying is that most people have achieved happiness. For example, some people find joy in seeing their children, spouses, and parents. Some people even find happiness in their jobs; they get away from being busy, solve other people's problems, and try to find a new meaning in their lives.
This typically occurs in people who do not derive their happiness solely from themselves, and they may require another form of happiness to fuel their own.
Today, I also saw someone with a chronic condition: my cousin's wife. She was not able to eat the same foods as others. I could see the pain on her face, even though she was generally trying to hide it. She has been through a lot of pain in her life and has spent a lot of money on her condition, and even in the midst of people smiling and laughing, you could tell she was truly sad, and she was attempting to tap into other forms of happiness in order to remain happy.
I have been as sad as she was. I am still sad; I mostly try to ignore it, and I could see how she was doing a lot to cope. Her husband keeps her going; she has fought the condition, and now that she is finally in remission, I am sure she is always concerned that it will relapse again.
That uncertainty is frightening, and she may require the assurance of a loved one to keep going and pushing through those thoughts of uncertainty. She is also passionate about God; I can not say much about her Christian life, but it truly helps her to be happy.
You would not always learn anything from the general public, who are only interested in having fun.
People who are unaware of how you are feeling may not be able to assist you. Sometimes all you need to do is find your own thing. It is not always easy. The world will make you feel insane, and it is most likely just you, but there are people who are truly insane and are trying to regain their sanity.
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