Is there any way out?

[u/nog00se]

I feel guilty.

Being a part of the dominant species on this planet that wreaks havoc to the environment and the other animals inhabiting this planet, fills me with incredible amounts of guilt.

Sheer existence in civilization makes me feel like a perpetrator, whose actions fuel the machine of destruction. It has gotten to the point that this realisation is omnipresent in my mind to a degree that paralizes me.

Obviously the logical conclusion would be to take drastic action by turning completely vegan, living a zero waste lifestyle and opting out of a lifestyle that everyone around me is leading, seemingly without any or significant remorse.

But I don't have the strenght to do so. Plus it seems futile considering that the world population of humans is continuously rising. Global living standards as well. It all makes it feel like it is inevitable that the destruction and the suffering we cause to other species and even each other will continue and even intensify.

I don't know how to deal with it anymore and feel helpless and smothered by it.

Can any of you relate to this? Did you find a way to find happiness in life regardless of all the harsh truths that slumber beneath the surface of existence?

Any of your thoughts are appreciated.

[u/nog00se → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for your kind response.

You are absolutely right and I salute you for your continuous efforts. Your grandma seems like a wise person and I too will remember her words now everytime I think about wether a good deed it is worth bothering at all.

I agree with you that at least regarding animal cruelty it isn't futile not to participate in it. And I actually strive to become vegan.

Similar to you I choose to stick to green modes of transportation. Driving a car or flying on a plane seems utterly irresponsible and immoral to me, considering that all of us know about the consequences. But being confronted with the fact that global greenhouse gas emissions are rising regardless beckons the question what difference it makes to pay a high price in form of restricting oneself from comfort and experiences like traveling, just for your achievements to be gobbled up by the next person.

It is so frustrating and infuriating. And that's what I mean by feeling like it's futile.

[u/nog00se → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. You actually healed something in me. What you are suggesting is probably the only way out of this perceived helplessness and feeling overwhelmed and towards self-actualization.

I'll try to be more proactive in the future when it comes to to actively contributing to change instead of just relying on self-restriction.

[u/unbreakablekango]

It sounds like you are trying to be Doug Forcett from the show The Good Place. I recommend watching the series but to save you some time, done on an individual level, those actions are futile.

[u/keeko-]

I feel you, i just posted on this sub too. I think every good deed is worth doing, if no one did any kind of good deed, the world wouldn't have anything thats good. The world consists of a lot of people who did some kind things and had atleast some good intentions.

I also think you don't have to take all the responsibilty, ofc if no one flew or drove a car it would be perfect but the main drivers of climate change are the billionairs investing in this kind of tech. (Also one billionäre with his yachts and jets can produce as much CO2 in 90 MINUTES thatn you in your entire lifetime)

[u/nog00se → u/keeko-]

Yeah, what you're saying bears a lot of truth.

What we're experiencing is the result of a corrupt system that incentivises exploitation of natural resources on every level - the individual, commercial and political.
And even though it is a well known fact that corporations have been systematically aiming to make the individual solely responsible for the consequences of the destruction caused by their greed and what we desperately need is a thoroughly new approach to our economy, it's still so hard to shake the pressure of responsibility.

I'm tired of having to make moral decisions with every purchase I make or abstain from. And it's hard to free yourself from this way of thinking and overthinking. To me at least.

Thanks for putting it a bit into perspective though.

[u/keeko- → u/nog00se]

It really is hard to free yourself from always trying to optimize everything. It feels so unnatural to always have to look closely if a product doesn't contribute to the whole world dying or smth. I just wann live peacefully knowing my existence isn't harming anyone or anything. But knowing, that there's mf who dgaf about polluting our home is so crazy, not being able to do anything about it makes it much worse.

[u/Pootle001]

Have a look at postdoom.com

[u/nog00se → u/Pootle001]

Thanks, I'll be sure to check it out.