Why You Should Seek Power, Not Happiness - Nietzsche's Guide to Greatness

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One of my favourite quotes from Nietzsche (from the 3rd essay in genealogy iirc) goes something like this: man would rather will nothingness than will nothing at all. That is, in nihilism and depression, we will ourselves into a catatonic state of hibernation, the lowest possible state of physical energy to sustain a painful and self-pitying wakefulness -- so strong is the power of our will that we are driven to kill ourselves rather than endure willing nothing at all. I am reminded of this insight everytime I impulsively entertain depressive or suicidal thoughts. Certainly, a creature whose will is strong enough to drive its body and spirit to death is a powerful one. And I say to myself, "if I am powerful enough to kill myself, I must also be powerful enough to live."

I always say this and people think I’m crazy. It’s power you want, internal power, power to be able to get through anything. THAT leads to happiness. Not power to manipulate others but to manipulate your own ego

"The measure of man is what he does with power" -Plato

"All that is bad comes from weakness"-- very true Neediness=desperation Desperation often pushes us past our moral inhibitions.

"Written laws are like spiders’ webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them." ~ Anacharsis

Power over oneself is the noblest form of power there is.

1:48 Power is enhancement of capacity. How to attain power: 3:03 Step 1: Set a goal that is meaningful & challenging, promotes health and well-being, is conducive to attaining personal excellence, and is self-chosen. 3:49 Step 2: Dedicate consistent time each days to accomplishing that goal 5:33 Step 3: Once achieved, put your goal behind you and set another goal.

Its absurd is what it is, that we are getting this kind of life-affirming content for free. We really do appreciate it, kind sir.

One cannot skip the struggle and gain the strength. There must be an opposition in all things.

I find I am the most happiest when constant improvement and success has been scheduled out in a slow constant flow. Too much and I am overwhelmed. Too little and I lose sight. Constant and consistent growth provides a happiness that is real and lasting. The struggle is keeping the flow at just the right rate.

This message was great. Want to also say that some of your member only content is so insightful, allowing to deeply understand the light & shadow sides of life (and integrate them!), that it's totally worth the membership! Thank you for putting out such thoughtful content.

I have never read Nietzsche before but I think he is right. In the case of suffering. I have had the misfortune to always be suffering. Ever since I was little.. later in my teens I developed severe auto immune disease that crippled me.. and also battled with bipolar depression. Until recently 4 years ago I went through a really rough patch mentally.. I really thought I was gonna have to just loose this fight. But one things that I found give me a more calm state and stable is being empowered. By knowledge and strength. being empowered I have notice give me more happiness. Especially with mental problems where I feel I have no control over my emotions. So what I now seek in this life is knowledge and strength. I always looking for ways to make my self more resilient against the battles of life. I always look to nature.. how animals and trees and all other especies have survive this nasty world. You have to be strong. And that is what I seek now. Strength power, Knowledge. Diet is key to strength.

Basically, I think Nietzsche encouraged us to get in touch with our inner power and work it out. Once we acknowledge our own power as something unique, then we work on our goals we're willing to achieve by using our same power. Our talents, skills, inclinations, or whatsoever must be worth discovering, and then putting into practice at the goals we set for ourselves, otherwise, we shall never realize what it's our purpose in life whereas we end up following the herd. Nietzsche called it "The moral of Servants"

"The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

Been studying Nietzsche a lot recently, and this has definitely been one of the most concise and valuable comments on his work I’ve seen

I have watched this numerous times now it is by far the best one. It explains why I still feel a never ending need to keep learning and change myself through physical aspiration. Knowledge and Physical expression something I lost these last 10 years.

The most important object to control in life is you, if you control you, you control the only object that matters to you, you! And you don’t need control anyone else!

Going through withdrawals and it hit me that every temptation is a test and every test I pass I feel joyful and I feel my self getting more powerful. It’s funny I’m enjoying this cycle of battle victory and joy. It’s addicting. This is life indeed

Thanks so much for the content. I've been nurturing short term comfort in favour of long term discomfort for too long now and this has helped snap me out of that trance and be brave enough to get back started. 💪