If Everything Is Meaningless - How Do You Keep Going

Have you ever felt like you're the only one struggling with life's hurdles? It's easy to think everyone else has it together. In this podcast episode, I talk about a recent Mark Manson event I attended, where I had a big lightbulb moment about universal struggles and why we're all a bit broken. If that sounds like a downer, don't worry—it's actually a story of hope.

The episode looks at how meaning and hope go hand in hand. Mark Manson’s perspective resonated with me. He said that life’s challenges are universal, which left me feeling oddly relieved. It’s not my unique failing: everyone faces difficulties. Even the person who looks perfect has their own set of issues. In the end, we’re all searching for meaning to keep us going. We just need to decide what that meaning looks like.

Everyone Has Struggles

We’re bombarded with social media highlights that make it seem like everyone else is living a dream life. If you’ve got dyslexia or ADHD, or if you’re simply feeling a bit lost, you might wonder if you’re the only one missing the instructions manual. Newsflash: no one got the manual.

Mark Manson’s big message—one I fully agree with—is that there is no perfect life, and everyone is dealing with something. This can feel crushing at first, because it means you’re not special in your problems. But then you realise it’s actually freeing. If we’re all in the same boat, there’s no need to hide our imperfections. We can just accept them.

One of the best things about hearing this was the pure relief. When you realise nobody’s life is a perfect Hollywood story, you get permission to stop comparing yourself to everyone else. The more we embrace that, the more we come to terms with our own challenges, and the less pressure we put on ourselves to be faultless.

Shaping Our Own Meaning

So if life doesn't come pre-packaged with meaning, where does it come from? Right from us. We get to shape it ourselves, which is both scary and empowering. For me, that’s huge, because I spent years feeling inadequate. It’s the same feeling many adults with dyslexia or ADHD have when they try to navigate a world designed for neurotypical people.

The moment you discover that meaninglessness can be a blank canvas is a real game-changer. “If life has no built-in meaning, that means I can paint my own purpose,” I told myself. Weirdly, it made me feel responsible for my own life, which is exciting but also a bit daunting. There’s no boss telling you what matters—so you can create goals that light you up.

Here’s something I loved from Mark Manson: once you drop the notion that life must have a single, universal meaning, you can pick something that matters to you. Maybe it’s building better relationships, or championing dyslexia awareness, or simply being an awesome friend. It doesn't have to be flashy. It just needs to be genuine and close to your heart.

• Identify what you truly care about.
• Set goals to make a difference in that area.
• Give yourself time to explore—there's no rush to pick your life mission.

The Power of Hope

Hope often flies under the radar. We talk about happiness. We talk about success. Yet hope is something we rarely shine a spotlight on. But without hope, we’re basically stuck. If you don’t believe in a better tomorrow, why bother to do anything at all?

“Hopelessness is the true opposite of happiness, not sadness or anger.”

That quote hit me hard, because hope is what propels us forwards. You might be sad now, but if you’ve got hope, you’ll still push on. If you lose hope, everything else is drained of colour. Having a sense of hope is possibly the greatest motivator, especially when you’re dealing with something that feels bigger than yourself—like dyslexia or ADHD, or any personal struggle.

Think of hope as a powerful fuel that keeps you going even when results aren’t immediate. If you want to learn a new skill or change a chaotic habit, you need to believe improvements are possible. That’s hope in action. If you feel stuck, try turning your attention to a goal that genuinely inspires you. Hope starts as a small spark, but it can become a raging fire once you feed it with meaningful ambition.

Bringing It All Together

So, what’s the big takeaway from Mark Manson’s talk and my own reflections? There’s a priceless freedom in realising we all deal with tough stuff, and that’s normal. It frees you from the silly notion that you’re uniquely flawed. Once that weight is off, it’s easier to focus on building your own meaning and fuelling it with hope.

It’s a bit like seeing the world for what it is and deciding you’ll create the path that works for you. Value is subjective. One person might value money above all else, while another might value creative expression. Neither is right or wrong. It’s up to each of us to decide what matters, adopt that meaning, and find hope in its pursuit.

This approach has helped me stop playing small. I used to minimise my own goals, thinking someone else’s meaning mattered more. But now, I’m shifting to a mindset that my personal vision is valid, even if it looks different from someone else’s. Without meaning and hope, we risk drifting into nihilism, which is like a black hole for motivation. By defining your own purpose, you can steer clear of that hole and move towards something that fills you with a sense of purpose.

• Talk about what you’re passionate about.
• Stop comparing yourself to others—no one’s life is as perfect as it seems.
• Recognise that everyone has their own unique challenges.
• Discover the freedom in knowing you can define your own meaning.
• Hope is critical. If you can nurture it, you can find motivation again.
• Make your goals count so you don’t end up stuck in small thinking.
• We all place value differently, and that’s entirely okay.

We covered a lot, but there’s more to dig into if you want the full scoop. This was just a taste of my spirited chat about what Mark Manson shared and how it connects with dyslexia, ADHD, and personal growth. If you’re ready to dive deeper and hear the conversation in all its glory, check out the episode at the top of this page.

For more insights and support, head over to truthaboutdyslexia.com. You’ll find resources for dyslexia, personal development, and everything in between. You can also join our welcoming community on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/groups/adultdyslexia. Come share your journey, your triumphs, and your hopes—we’d love to have you.

Give the episode a listen to get inspired, maybe have a laugh, and discover your own way of creating meaning in a world that needs more of us stepping up and living authentically.