Why do people try?

What causes people to try and accomplish things?

I'm a pre-med in college right now, and I'm working SO hard to try and get good grades, EC's, volunteering, etc., but there's always this little part of me asking myself why I'm trying so hard. I mean, one day, we're GOING to be dead, there is no denying or debating it. And one day, all of humanity will be gone, no matter what, for nothing lasts forever; even if we survive billions and billions of years, we can't hold on forever. No matter how big of an accomplishment we make in our lifetime, in the end it will not matter. So I mean, what exactly is the reason the human race keeps shuffling everyday to try and survive?

 

The only logical answer I could ever come up with for the question would be to achieve happiness, and help others do the same.

Other than that I can't think of any other reason why people try.

 

I try because i don't wana be a bum lol, i wana have a decent job so i can buy what i want and enjoy my life, no point thinking about death untill it hits you, will only make everything seem pointless and get you into a state of depression :noworry:

 

People try hard to have a sense of happiness and achievement i guess..

 

To have a happy life. You work for future benefit, and a better quality of life. To me that's enough, I don't need a deeper meaning than having a good life while it lasts.

 

The glory of life is in the pursuit. Not in the end.

 

Dude i've pondered this very question ever since the moment i learnt of death. It's like WE are only humans. No matter what each of us us accomplishes we WILL all be dead someday. Only those who go on will reap the benefits of what we lay down in our lifetimes. It sucks when thought about, I suppose that all which can be done is to sidetrack your mind with the subtle things in life, the things humans THINK mean something, when in actual fact it doesn't, there will be an end, I won't be there to see it. That chokes me up to no extent. What will it feel like?! What would it be like to be there at the end, would the end in fact last forever, an instant that just goes on, and on?!. Our lives are just a blink of existence, if even. Ultimately when I try to describe it to people it sounds depressing but it's not, it's just realization. It's like....o.o...., ya know?

 

Haha WHY NOT!
If we didn't try we would just kill ourselves. Its trying that gives meaning to life.

 

So by saying that, doesn't that also mean that you agree that life means nothing and we are all just fooling ourselves, and that "We have to" give meaning to life or it is "useless" and we may as well kill ourselves?

Honestly from the responses i've seen. they can see the same perspective, is there someone out there that thinks they have found meaning?

 

If we didn't try, what would the meaning of life be then? Be born, and get your head cut off? No. You try because you have goals in your life that make you happy, and you can actually achieve those things and have a better life. That's why you try.

 

Another thread that shouldn't be here... Clearly opinionated.

My reasoning has already been stated.

 

Meaning is subjective. If making money to buy a cool car and have fun driving it is meaningful to me, who are you to say it's meaningless?

All discussion is opinionated. No opinion is objective. What makes this thread different?

 

Tell me how we can debate this topic without conflicting with different opinions on what keeps them going?

 

The harder you work, the easier things will become for the short amount of time you have to live. To be honest, the only life-long goal I have is to create something for people to remember me by, not happy memories or anything, something that I've contributed. (Like Music, or art)

 

If you are in premed you better hope they dont pass this bill... or just move to a free country.

 

Life is short, and personally, I want to do all I can to ensure I live a happy, succesful and enjoyable life. To obtain happiness, success and enjoyment, work is needed and as Benjamin Franklin once said "The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary." Sometimes, I too have questioned "Why do I bother?" The only plausible conclusion I can think of is the aforementioned, I better stop while I'm ahead or else I can see this turning into a religious debate...
One last thing, a quote I'd like to share - "The definition of a succesful man: One who never gives up!" - And I'm constantly trying to apply that to my life.

 

Personally, I think it's a retarded question. If the answers not obvious to you, then quit "trying" and see how things fair.

General discussion possibly, but garbage in SFA.

Meh, not all questions need be opinionated to make them worth discussing.

 

To feel like I accomplished something, proud of myself.

 

What makes a discussion worthwhile without conflicting opinions? How can you even have a discussion without conflicting opinions?

 

I keep trying because of my son.

I have a son, he's a dumbass, fuck that fucker, I try because of my wife.



It's stating your opinion on what keeps you going.

We don't discuss opinions, we discuss facts.