Nihilism: a troubled paradise
While I generally do not write personal pieces I felt compelled to respond to James’ analysis of nihilism. While I cannot speak for everyone, I can speak for myself and House to an extent. There are many points I agree with but I do wish to dispel those inaccuracies from my personal experience.
James argues that nihilism is a never ending cycle of misery. Meaninglessness emerging from an existential crises. Unconcerned with future consequences basically just going through the motions. The nihilist sees himself as a hero enduring the pain to publish the idiocy of society. The truth teller is a guise for the deep emotional turmoil. This attitude is a coping mechanism. Concluding with the answer: generational familial love. Nihilism that sprouted with rampant individualism can be cured with familial collectivism.
James’ analysis is problematic for many reasons. His point about searching for romantic completion to annul traumatic pain is testimonial. Yet I would argue that the heroic warrior is less a brave attempt and instead an honest reflection. I didn’t choose to become the cynical sceptic, it was a matter of reevaluation. Not taking anything or anyone at face value. Digging deeper expanding my horizons and seeing both sides of the aisle. Detaching from ideological holds in pursuit of a holistic picture. It was less proactively intentional and more a deterrent exercise. The “it is too good to be true” paradigm is concurrently reworked.
Yet the biggest query is to the nihilistic generalisation. James is basing nihilism on immediate issues. What about the chronic struggler. Personally, my nihilism has strengthened as hope dimmed. Years progressing with a dismantling body and professional medical incompetence. Nihilism engulfs the experience. Every day is insufferable. Struggling to move around forced to recover regularly impeding progression. The normative societal expectation is unequal and mismatched. Reaching the proper threshold is a journey of noble accounts. Nihilism hurls at the struggler dumbing his way forward.
Nihilism in this phase is less an overreaction and more the cave in. There is no light at the end of tunnel. The exit is blocked and instead must survive in the cave. Optimism weaned and expectations below the threshold. A mode of continuous pressure hounds the struggler as weights on his ankles. He tries to advance as his mind shrivels in fright. Overpowering his mind’s negativity is not a simple task. Day after day perpetually is tiresome. It becomes all consuming and a waste to fight. Friends may scream fight fight fight but they do not understand the battle. They are fans who post on twitter that they could beat a professional athlete in a race. It is a blatant insult to the survivor.
Existentialism is by far the most optimistic solution. See the good in everything. Maximise and positively seek the betterment. Making the most of the situation. This solution is immediate, temporary. It does not last. Circumstantially, it can bypass the daily torture but it is permanently unrecognisable. It is an answer to the brief crisis, not a long term solution. The daily crisis can be overcome emotionally but the physical endeavour breaches the mind’s capacity to ignore. A crisis concerning an upcoming exam or job firing is scary but it is the overreaction that leads to the stress. The chronic pained is in a loop of perpetual torture with no recourse. Endless positivity is difficult and implausibly deniable.
Absurdism is the other possibility. This also has its limits. Accepting the absurdity and rebelling against the normative works but that does not cease the stressful nature. It is an awareness and less a permanent solution. Voiding the phenomenon entirely is genuinely temporal. The pain will surge back and will conquer. The most one can do is just push forward with the chips he has. To make do and do his best. Life is unfair and that is the reality. No crying or pleading is going to change the painful endeavour. The chronic illness is there to stay and need to cope with its trials. There will be moments of freewill and go with it. Let yourself down just be strong enough to get past it move forward. It is proactive positivity but attentive advancement.
Familial love is a good answer and yet it is the biggest struggle. Those who love you the most do not understand. They baby you or push you beyond your limits. They are not objective and fail to properly diagnose the situation. Best friends are the true heirs of guidance through this trek. There is an immense wish to be alone. Loved ones are great but they will never understand the pain and their attempt to do so only undermines this attitude. There is no good way about it. They either overshoot or undershoot because they are unable to feel. Loved ones are the most seduced to aid but fall short in their good intentions. Love for others only briefly ignores the pain but that itself a mask for the dire hurt.
Chronic pain reduces energy quickly. Wishing to be alone from the world more and more. While that increases loneliness it also produces calm serenity. Away from responsibilities and other stressful inductors. Being alone centres all energy on the self. It is not perfect but the comfort of the self is the safest and simplest. No need to act for others or force anything beyond what willing to do. No conformity and no pressure. Romance is an indelible part of life and family is something to stick to but it is not perfect. Their expectations are very strong and drama is not something the struggler cares to indulge in.
So what is the cure for nihilism? Read a book, drink a beer and don’t beat yourself up about it. Don’t pity yourself but acknowledge the limits and unfortunate reality. Life is hard it sucks alright moving on. Fulfil your requirements to the best of your abilities. Graduate from school, find a job and raise a family. For some existential “hope” recommend finding a hobby that encourages perpetual engagement. Continue forward for the sake of moving forward. There is no socratic justification. Living life is sufficient. Just sticking it to the pain. A rebellion against the chronic issues. Giving a big FU to your pain. Not allowing it to coerce the self into suicide. Those feelings were emerge and tempt but push past them. Give them the middle finger and keep walking.
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