I had such trouble with this ideal growing up in a really strict religious home. There is such a severe amount of security in knowing there is an order of things. When I grew up I became so confused and honestly terrified by the idea that it is EXTREMELY possible that life makes no sense, that no matter what I did everything still wouldn't amount to much universally speaking. It was honestly the toughest thing to unlearn and honestly I have to keep working at it from time to time. Although even now I still hold some things to be universally true.
There is honestly only one I really consider universal and that is the respect for life. Even then I question that. I think my belief stems from the idea that if it wasn't some universal principle then I'm saying in some circumstance killing, and the ruining of peoples lives could be completely acceptable. My view on it now is that although we may not be able to protect life in every circumstance there is still some weight, some moral imperative to protect life no matter the circumstance.