Living by your Values in an Absurd World

Feeling lost in a chaotic world? Define your values to help create personal meaning, stay grounded, and live with intention

This is an abridged version of my second article in a four part series about living a Self-Reliant Life. In this article, I reflect that in a universe that offers no clear instructions, values become our personal compass. Please read the full article over on my Substack, and follow to make sure you receive the next three posts in the series direct to your inbox.

When Life Feels Absurd

I often stop and think about how absurd life is. My mind zooms out, imagining our little bodies bustling about on our planet, while it orbits a giant ball of fire and floats in an infinite universe. Mind-blowing, isn’t it?

The absurdity of life was a topic often written about by writer, philosopher, and artist Albert Camus. He was particularly intrigued by the friction between our innate desire for meaning and the universe’s apparent indifference to us and lack of instructions.

How Humans Seek Meaning

Purpose drives us humans. We strive for fulfilling careers, financial stability, families, dreams. But where does this purpose come from? Maybe it’s from religion, or ambition, or family expectations.

Whatever it is, it’s likely part of a bigger story we tell ourselves or a traditional structure we are born into. It’s the meaning we need to keep going in the chaos of life.

But what happens when we lose that sense of meaning? When we sense how small we are and how meaningless our actions seem to be in an indifferent universe. I have experienced this feeling when sitting in a crowd of people for example, scrolling on social media, or dealing with bureaucracy.

In these moments of existential dread, I don’t just sense the absurd. I start to feel detached, flat and my motivation just flatlines.

Read my earlier post on the cost and value of nonconformists living authentically.

Camus, Absurdity and the Power of Choice

So, in the face of existential dread – what can we do to stay motivated, and continue striving forward in an authentic way?

Camus considered this question and suggested that humans should acknowledge absurdity and live with it anyway by creating and living by personal values. Using our intuition to create and commit to guiding principles provides a compass for living. Values also allows you to control your choices and actions, providing a means to create your most authentic life.

How freeing!

My Guiding Values

For a long time, I’ve known that I am motivated by some inner sense of purpose. But it’s only recently, that I have started to realise where that sense comes from – my four values: progress, curiosity, creativity, and peace.

Knowing my values explains how I got here and where I am going.

• Progress — I want to keep learning and evolving, even when it’s hard.
• Curiosity — I try to stay open, even when the world feels alien.
• Creativity — Not just making things, but solving problems with imagination and care.
• Peace — Both internal calm and a belief in diplomacy, compassion, and collective healing.

Living Your Values is a Practice

Values can be a key element in your self-reliant toolkit. But they need to be practiced daily, like yoga or learning a language. Often, you will be tested in your commitment – by your own lack of discipline or the judgment of others.

But, if you can overcome these challenges, you will find that naming and committing to your values will allow you to meet your true self. And you’ll become the calmest, most steadfast captain of the ship that is your life, even when you encounter the stormiest seas.

What Keeps You Grounded?

If you’ve ever felt lost in the chaos of modern life, know this right now:

You’re not alone. And you’re not broken. Maybe you just need your own set of values to navigate by.

What matters most to you? What would you stand by, even when no one else is watching?

This is the second article in my four-part series about living a self-reliant life. In part three of this series, I’ll explore my core value of peace and how I try to embody it in a world full of noise, conflict, and division.