Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.
ChrisSenior Contributor
I for one am plagued with negative thoughts. I feel tired of the struggle. I look and sound ok with people.At home its a different story. I'm stuck, big time.Unable to move. Just look at what needs to be done. To say the least its frustrating.
I've heard this phrase in dbt somewhere along the way.But what does it mean?How do make a life worth living.Open to comments.
In response to: How do you create a life worth living?
JTSenior Contributor
One tiny step at a time. Be prepared to do the two step with life. Roll with the ride.
Pick something, one thing that captures your attention or provides you with a glimmer of the end of the tunnel. Hold it with both hands and go for it. As you get closer grab another item of hope.
As with shampoo it doesn't happen over night....but it will happen 🙂
In response to: How do you create a life worth living?
katoSenior Contributor
Hi Chris,
i agree with JT small steps, have some short term goals, nothing major, just some small goals to help point you in the direction you want to travel in, it will possibly take time and sometimes you might find yourself going backwards, when you find that i find addressing it, and then re doing small goals again helps to get me going in the right direction, altho sometimes i need to keep doing lots of small goals just to keep me moving at all.
The hard part is also with the negative thoughts, i know those thoughts well, i find if i write them down and then write the reason why i think that and then challenge what i have written, sometimes helps me to alleviate those thoughts some.
might help with yours, maybe
In response to: How do you create a life worth living?
AonaranSenior Contributor
Hi @Chris ,
I've struggled for weeks to write a response to this post of yours, because I think it's The Question that is worth asking. And because I genuinely value your honesty and openness.
But I've finally acknowledged in myself that I haven't a flippin' clue what to say. I'm struggling with the realisation that I'm a complete failure at life in general, let alone coming near creating a life worth living. Everything I tried to write to you seemed false, pointless, the kind of empty "advice" that itself drove me away from participating in these forums. But maybe it's enough to say, yeah, I want to know too.
I remember hearing a story, probably apocryphal, about Buckminster Fuller, who was a trained engineer who realised in a moment of despair that he had no aspect to his life that made it worth living. So one day he went to a lake, filled his pockets with stones, and walked out to the end of a long mooring jetty with the itnention of drowning himself. And as he stood there gazing at the waters and imagined them closing over his head, it occurred to him that if he had nothing in his life worth winning, then he also had nothing to lose in giving it another go. So he stood there, slowly taking the stones from his pocket and tossing them, one by one, into the lake, as a kind of substitute for himself. And one particularly round one, as it hit the water, seemed to flash an image in his mind. And when his pockets were empty, he turned around, went home, and sketched the geodesic dome that he became most famous for.
Me, I'm still standing on the jetty with my pockets full of stones. No still, small voice for me.
I hope you find an answer, bud. If you do, I'd be happy to hear what it is for you.
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
NikNikSenior Contributor
So nice to 'see' you @Aonaran
I really like that story about Buckminster Fuller.
We're here if you want to share the load of those stones
Nik
In response to: How do you create a life worth living?
Alessandra1992Senior Contributor
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
kristinSenior Contributor
Hey @Aonaran
It's so good to see you! I was worried we had lost you from the forums. Welcome back 
.
It is a huge question, and I really admire you grappling with it so honestly. I agree with Sandy, I don't find what you post false or pointless. I can't comment on all the stuff you thought of or tried to write and scrapped, but I know that I have really appreciated what you've said here in the past. I know what you mean about struggling to respond to @Chris ' post on this. I have not done so either, for somewhat similar reasons - as well as having a heck of a lot of crap going on in my life ATM. It is a question truly worth grappling with.
Thanks for sharing the Buckminster Fuller story.
Take care of you.
Kind regards,
Kristin
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
ChrisSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
BabooSenior Contributor
Chris,
Today is Tuesday- yes? so lets try some thing small.
When im overwhelmed and feel like i have too much on my plate i decide to make 2-5 small goals for the next day and a self care plan for the night. Then i can only concentrate on these two things- and push out all the other yuck for another time.
Tonight ( this is an example of mine) i will...
Brush my teeth
Remember to drink 1 litre of water
Not sleep in the clothes i wore today
Wash my face at least if i dont shower.
Tomorrow:
Eat breakfast
Ring the doctors to make an appointment
Ring a bill to get an extension on the payment
Re-wash the laundry that i forgot to dry 😛
Do you think this will help? Can you write me back a list for tonight?
Baboo
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
BabooSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: How do you create a life worth living?
PeppermintSenior Contributor
Hey @Chris Just checking in. How are you doing today?
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
You’ll soon be able to use one secure login to access all SANE services.
For added security, members are now required to log in with their email address and password - member names are no longer supported for logging in.
If you had a Forums account before 19 May 2026 and haven’t set up your new login yet, you'll be prompted to set up your new secure login when you sign-in.
Fields marked * are required
