There are three ways we confront the inevitable: Despair, Apathy, and Hope. Each represents a different response to the absurdity of meaninglessness.
"Nothing matters, so I give up."
When faced with the lack of inherent meaning, despair is a natural response. It is alluring in its logic but offers no comfort. Accepting despair means succumbing to the dark path of hopelessness, where the lights may never come back on.
"Nothing matters, so I can do anything."
Apathy lifts the burden of meaninglessness by rejoicing in the freedom it offers. Without restrictions, life becomes a pursuit of hedonism and worldly pleasures. Yet, it lacks deeper fulfillment, becoming a hollow path despite its surface joy.
"Something matters, even if I can’t prove it."
The most absurd response, hope rejects nihilism’s conclusions and chooses to believe in the possibility of a better world. It offers no guarantees and often demands great effort, but hope is by far the most rewarding response to life’s absurdity.
People will always find their own answer to the absurdity of life. Time allows us to grow into and out of different mindsets.
As for me, I keep my eyes on hope, though despair often pulls me down. In my writing, I explore characters who struggle with these dilemmas, always striving to let hope prevail in the end.