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Embracing the Void: The Liberating Path of Positive Nihilism
Imagine standing at the edge of an abyss, peering into the void. Been there, done that. Probably you too.
Now, imagine seeing that void not as a pit of despair but as a blank canvas, ripe with potential. This is the essence of positive nihilism, a philosophy that whispers, “Nothing matters, you might as well write your own story, be productive and do something positive.”
It’s a gentle nudge reminding us that in the grand scheme of the universe, not only all positive things, our friends and family, but more importantly our worries, fears, and societal pressures are but specks of dust. Yet, instead of spiraling into despair over it all, this realization can be incredibly freeing.
For years, I dragged myself through the mire of depression, my dreams of becoming a writer shackled by the chains of anxiety, imposter syndrome, lack of focus and the ultimate question of “what’s the point?” The world seemed to echo back, “None whatsoever,” and for a time, that echo was a source of despair. But then, after reading a whole lot of Nietzsche and drinking way too much mushroom-coffee, I “made up” (and later found out something like it already exists and is talked about) the concept of positive nihilism.
Suddenly my suffering turned into a call to action. A perspective even. A “drive” to get things done.
Choose Your Suffering — Then Enoy It!
Positive nihilism, as I’ve come to understand and love, is the art of finding freedom in the face of the void. It’s acknowledging that, yes, in the grand cosmic ledger, our actions (positive or negative) may not tip the scales. But rather than resigning ourselves to inaction, we’re empowered to paint our own strokes of meaning across the canvas of existence. It’s a philosophy for those who’ve felt the weight of pessimism, a beacon for souls lost in the fog of existential dread. If you got time to sob in self-pity day after day and you are suffering anyways, you might as well get your butt out of the bed and suffer for something meaningful and productive.
