If you were to say chocolate ice-cream sucks, nobody would take that as a universal truth. We all understand what you really mean is you think chocolate ice-cream sucks.

Yet, why do we enjoy hearing blanket statements about the world like life is meaningless or people are mean? Do human laws make life easier to manage, like mathematics? Is there comfort in believing your experience isn’t unique; that you are not alone?

But let’s take a step back.

If you say life is meaningless, you probably think your life is meaningless. It doesn’t mean that everyone else’s is. If you say people are mean, you probably think people in your life are mean. It doesn’t mean everybody is. Like chocolate ice-cream, your subjective experience is purely that – subjective.

When we make a big claim, it’s helpful to consider does that really apply to everyone? Some – like mathematics – might. Some might not. The ultimate irony is, it’s up to you to decide.