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Origin of a Thought 

Never Stop Asking Why

Why do we live, and what should we live for, are questions we should never stop asking. The fact that humans are but a speck in the vast universe is a profound conundrum. Yet here we are, trying to make the most of our brief time on Earth. Some argue that the search for meaning is nothing more than an exercise in self-deception because the universe shows no evidence of caring about our hopes, dreams, prayers, or continued existence. In that view, the cosmos is indifferent to what we think or do. Artists, writers, philosophers, and scientists frame the question, making us think about it in a multitude of ways.

 Yet from the earliest days of human consciousness, people have looked at the night sky and wondered why we are here. Almost everyone grapples with the mystery of existence. Religious traditions offer perhaps the most comforting answer: the belief in a creator and a greater purpose. Scientists say that science can explain how the universe works, but not necessarily why we exist or whether life has ultimate meaning. No matter how deeply people probe, there is still no absolute answer.

Modern science and philosophy gave rise to existential thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, who focused on the lived reality of individuals rather than abstract systems. Existentialism examines the concrete, and often uncomfortable, experience of being alive and free. Sartre famously wrote that “we are condemned to be free.” We have no choice but to choose what we do, and those choices define who we become. Albert Camus concluded that while life itself may be without ultimate meaning, human beings can still find dignity and satisfaction in the struggle to live fully.

However, the very act of asking these questions reveals how deeply aware we are of the miracle of life on a small planet speeding through space. The evolutionary journey from single-celled organisms to human consciousness gave us minds unlike those of any other creature. Humans accumulate knowledge, share ideas through language and writing, and continually ask questions that probe deeper into the significance of our existence.

Perhaps the answer is not found in grand discoveries, but in ordinary moments: comforting a grieving friend, watching a child laugh, standing beneath a sky filled with stars, or creating something that did not exist before. These experiences remind us that meaning may not be something we discover once and for all, but something we continually create.

Asking what we should live for also leads into psychology. A sense of purpose is essential to mental well-being. Numerous studies suggest that people who live with purpose tend to be more resilient, healthier, and happier. Purpose brings people together, fosters cooperation, and builds community. It helps us endure hardship and create goals beyond our immediate circumstances.

 Contemporary approaches to meaning-making  focus less on cosmic answers and more on human flourishing. Psychologists such as Martin Seligman argue that a meaningful life includes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. His perspective does not attempt to solve the ultimate mystery of why we exist. Instead, it asks how we can live well while we are here. Increasingly, researchers point to awe, creativity, compassion, and connection to nature as important sources of fulfillment and emotional well-being.

Meaning evolves as we acquire skills, fall in love, raise children, pursue knowledge, perform acts of kindness, and build societies shaped by art and culture. It is through being meaning-making creatures that we continue to evolve, constantly reaffirming both our existence and our place in the cosmos.  Yet circumstances change throughout life, which is why we should never stop asking what we ought to live for. Finding new meaning at each stage of life keeps us creative and resilient.

 Perhaps humanity’s greatest gift is not that we possess all the answers, but that we continue searching for them while creating meaning through how we live, love, and imagine our place in the universe.

 References:

Rodriguez, R. (2026) The one Question That Haunts Every Human: Why do We Even Exist? Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/one-question-haunts-every-human-why-do-we-even-exist-raul-8becc/

Website (2025) The Human Quest for Meaning : Insight from Existential Thought. Philosophy Institute. Retrieved from  https://philosophy.institute/philosophy-of-human-person/human-quest-for-meaning-existential-insights/

Editors (2025) Why Are We Here? The Human Quest of Meaning. Science News Today. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/why-are-we-here-the-human-quest-for-meaning-and-existence

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 My own search for meaning finds expression through art and writing. The novels and essays I create are my way of exploring humanity’s emotional and moral struggles—our fears, hopes, failures, and resilience. Whether writing about environmental conflict, social injustice, or personal relationships, I find myself returning to the same central question: how do we live meaningful lives in an uncertain world? Storytelling becomes more than entertainment; it becomes a way of understanding both ourselves and the fragile world we inhabit.

Eichinger books are available in paperback, ebook, and soon to be audio formats on AMAZON.  For thrillers about social justice and the environment, turn to the Rightfully Mine Series.