To what extent do you believe your existence matters?

My followers take comfort in the knowledge that my life matters (first and foremost to me, subsequently to them).
I have no idea why though.
It baffles me too.

Existing is more interesting than not existing and my existence matters to others only as much as I can add interest to their lives.

To whom? There is a small cohort of people – almost all family – that care about my existence. Outside of that, my presence or absence is unnoted and insignificant.

I don’t. It doesn’t matter at all.

I think the key word here is “matter”. If I look at it as does my life impact others, I believe it does to a decent extent. If I look at it as does it matter on the grand scheme of things…will it be history making…the answer is that it doesn’t.

Only the memories I leave matter. I try to make them good ones.

It only matters to the people we help, love or that touch our lives. Love matters. Did I make the world a better place by existing? No. Did my actions make the world a better place for some? Yes.
It’s an interesting exercise writing your own obituary, to see how you value your life and what you consider accomplishments. Highly recommend it.

Not at all.

I think this question ought to back up and ask itself about what it means by “mattering”. What would it mean to matter or not to matter? Does it “matter” if something matters or not. And if it’s questioning whether mattering to oneself matters or not… when would something “matter otherwise”, and is there a higher level of mattering than mattering to individuals? And what is “existence mattering”? Most of this seems like a trap of thinking, and seems to me more about confusion about what matters to the person asking these questions.

In particular, the idea that there is a universal impersonal quality of mattering or not, sounds to me like a toxic shaming thought pattern, and a set-up. Maybe a sign of depression?

It’s a set-up in that it presupposes there is something called “matters otherwise” that is real and more valid or important than “I care about it” (and that invalidates your own caring if it disagrees), and yet “matters otherwise” is defined by what, if not nasty shaming messages from sour cynical others who would be happy to off-load their worries by validating your self-doubt? But “matters otherwise” isn’t even a defined thing – it’s more like an imaginary cloud of fear of judgement and shame.

I suggesting you ask a contrasting and more affirmative question (of yourself) such as “what do you authentically care about?”

If you’re depressed enough that the answer to that seems to be “not much” or “I don’t know”, then you may want to talk about this with a psychiatrist. (Even though our culture likes to shame even THAT, but it should not. q.v. Depression.)

I believe that @rebbel’s existence matters.

Only in so far as my existence impacts the lives of my wife, daughter, and dogs. I’m also very aware that if it wasn’t me in their life, it’d easily be someone else.

Existence matters for us to ask questions like this. The answers to which are far removed for our tiny brains to understand.

Exactly 31.5%.

If my life mattered, then there would have to be a reason for it, which there isn’t. It is a fluke of nature.

To pay lot’s of taxes so the wealthy don’t have to.
To provide amusement for God he likes to torture me.

That’s interesting squeek. I often find myself feeling that way. And then I take a look around and understand that if He’s messing with me, He’s only mildly amusing Himself compared to the horrors visited on others.

Sometimes I’m the windshield, sometimes I’m the bug.

It’s all part of the same trip.

Pleasant question. My existence matters a hell of a lot to me. Considering the alternative. I’ll try to continue to exist as long as I possibly can.

@JLoon and…“Sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger, sometimes you’re the ball”! 8^D

I would think that it mattered to all that I had helped within my lifetime because without my intervention it would mean loss to them in small ways or bigger ways.

Charities, the homeless, kids kicked out too early from their homes ,blood donations, volunteering and so on have assisted many and continue in any way that is comfortable for me to help.
If my existence were erased many would suffer a bit more without intervention.
So everybody gives a little of their time and efforts to uplift others and it DOES MATTER in the end.

Agreed!