In college I studied these people. I was a philosophy major. I had an ineluctable void within myself which I could not identify. I studied world religions in hopes to gain a better understanding of myself. When is got to the social sciences I realized a psychological need for the concept of God to balance the mind, in a way.
In my early twenties. I realized existence was selfish. I had to take water and food to stay alive. What was I giving back? I had merely been doing what I wanted. I was motivated by my own desires and will. I had achieved everything I wanted to achieve in life. I felt fulfilled, but I kept on living. My life got very dark and I struggled to survive. Then came existence outside and beyond myself.
I prefer poetry to philosophy. So much more truth can be conveyed in so few words. That being said, mental health issues and addiction drove me into self-destruction. In recovery I have learned to be of service to others, to give back. After losing my son, I realized, my life was better lived the best I could live it. Observing all of the people my son had positively and profoundly effected in his short life gave me an example to live by and motivation to do more and be more.
I have learned, I am responsible for myself, my experience, my motives and actions. I am also responsible for my attitude or approach to life, the way I think, what I chose to believe and how I am in the world. These are the only real things I have any power over. And that power is limited on my own accord.
To the original point, what makes my existence valuable or justified is my constant progress in becoming more helpful to the people in my life and the world at large. I believe I am spirit having a human experience. I need to learn and grow my spirit and what I do with it. This is practiced through mindfulness, for me.
When I am to serivice for others my existence becomes valuable beyond myself. I think the measure of my existnebce is the measure of positive impact my actions have had on others and the world as a whole. My existence is the net result of the effect I have had on others. If I have more positive impact than negative then that’s a start. Otherwise, it is a constant process of becoming more of my true self so I can be more of who I am meant to be in the world. I find my greatest purpose is in being my greatest self.