If Life is Temporary, Why Bother? (And Other Fun Existential Questions)

Ever had one of those days where you pause mid-email, stare at your screen, and think, “What’s even the point of all this?” Well, congratulations, you’ve just had your first existential crisis of the day. Don’t worry, they only get more frequent as you get older.

I’m at that age where I realize life’s a paradox—the older you get, the less sure you are about anything. Everything that seemed so clear-cut when you were younger begins to unravel, leaving you with more questions than answers.

So, if you’re like me, you start to dive into books on philosophy and spirituality and sometimes even convince yourself you understand some of it. You read about impermanence, detachment, and other lofty concepts and resolve to live Zen-like.

And then, out of nowhere, a minor inconvenience happens – someone cuts you off on the road, the barista gets your coffee order wrong, or you step into a puddle with your new shoes. And voila, all that wisdom flies out of the window, sending you reeling back into the conditioned existence of a lifetime, and you react exactly the way you have always done.

It’s like a cosmic joke—when we think we’ve transcended life’s minor irritations, something trivial snaps us right back into our old habits, reminding us just how human we are. And so, we cycle through varying degrees of existential crises, wondering if we’ve really learned anything at all.

And if that realization isn’t humbling enough, these famously profound verses Buddhist verses from centuries ago can almost drive us to despair.

Anityam anityam sarvam anityam, (Everything is Impermanent)
Shanikam shanikam sarvam shanikam, (Everything is Fleeting)
Shunyam shunyam sarvam shunyam, (Everything is Empty)
Dukkham dukkham sarvam dukkham. (Everything is Suffering)

First, some explanations of what the verses mean.

Anityam - Impermanence

This too shall pass.

The Buddha emphasizes that everything in existence is constantly changing. Everything is in flux, no matter how solid, secure, or permanent it seems—our relationships, possessions, emotions, even our own bodies.

Shanika - Momentary

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Eckhart Tolle

While impermanence refers to the overall change in things, momentariness zooms in on the fact that each passing second brings transformation. Nothing lasts even for a moment in its original form.

The example often used is that of a burning candle: The flame may appear constant, but it is flickering and changing at every moment. Our thoughts, emotions, and even our sense of self undergo similar continuous shifts.

Shunyam – Emptiness

Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Marcus Aurelius

Buddhist philosophy centers around the concept of void. This does not mean nihilism or that nothing exists. Instead, it suggests that everything lacks inherent, independent existence. Our identity, beliefs, and even physical objects depend on certain conditions; when those conditions change, so do the things we perceive as real or permanent.

Dukkham - Suffering

To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. Friedrich Nietzsche

The word "Dukkha" refers to suffering, dissatisfaction, or the inability of things to provide lasting happiness.

The last verse (Dukkham dukkham sarvam dukkham) is a summary—when we resist impermanence, mistake momentary experiences as lasting, and cling to an illusory sense of self, the result is a foregone conclusion—Suffering.

So, does all this mean we YOLO our way through a life of despair?

Nope. On the contrary, while the above Buddhist verses may seem stark, they are liberating. The underlying promise is that we can free ourselves from unnecessary suffering by deeply understanding impermanence, momentariness, and emptiness. Here are some suggestions.

Accept Impermanence – Let Go of Clinging

The problem isn’t that things change—it’s that we cling to what’s fleeting.

Whether it’s the good times we wish would last forever or the challenging moments we fear will never end, reminding ourselves that “This too shall pass” can help loosen our grip and ease our fear of loss.

Asking ourselves “What are we really holding on to?” can help us question our attachments and prevent us from identifying too strongly with external things—status, relationships, beliefs, or the body itself.

Cultivate Present Moment Awareness

If you truly observe suffering, it’s always tied to events in the past (regrets) or the future (worries). The antidote is to focus on the present. Cultivating mindfulness, avoiding multitasking, and generally getting into the habit of asking our wandering minds to return to the now are ways to stay present.

Life is like a rollercoaster—you didn’t design the ride, you can’t control the ups and downs, but you can decide whether to scream in terror or throw your hands up and enjoy it.

Watch the action as an observer

Have you ever watched a reality TV show and thought, “Wow, these people are overreacting?” Now, imagine you’re watching your own life from that same perspective. Would you laugh at how much you stress over things?

Pausing to ask, “Am I in a soap opera right now?” can give us enough perspective to step back, breathe, and respond instead of reacting. Sometimes, that’s all we need to realize when we’ve made mountains out of molehills.

Finally

From philosophers to tech billionaires, people have been questioning reality for centuries. But here’s the thing—whether life is a grand illusion, a cosmic joke, or an overcomplicated video game, you still have to show up for work on Monday.

Here’s the truth: Life is temporary. Everything we do will eventually fade. So, it’s tempting to ask, “Why even bother?” But paradoxically, that very impermanence is what makes life so liberating.

Because at the end of the day, whether this is all real or just a beautiful illusion…we might as well make it a good one. We’re not here to build eternal legacies. We just need to give ourselves reasons to wake up excited every morning. And that’s more than enough.