Absurdism: The Philosophy That Changed My Mindset
It might change yours too
“Nothing good is going on in my life”
A daily thought I used to wake up and sleep to. The days felt all the same and the food started to taste pale. I’ve done everything that I was asked to do.
Got good grades, was admitted into a good university, and landed the perfect job.
“Is this everything that life has to offer”
When I was younger, I felt full of life. Who cares if I scored 60% on my physics exam, I’ll just perform better in the next one. Who cares if a couple of people stopped talking to me, I’ll just make more friends. I studied, played and took time to read books.
As I reach my 20’s, all those things that once did not move a needle, were a lasting cyclone in my mind. The cycle of life started to turn into a mouse’s maze where no matter how much you tried, you could not escape.
Wake up, go to work, come back, sleep.
You repeat the cycle and think to yourself — “Is this it?”
You’ve reached an emotional state where nothing matters but here is what I read that might just help you get a different outlook on life
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion”. — Albert Camus
Absurdism
This philosophy is as simple as it sounds.
Life is absurd.
You are born in a world where the rules have already been laid down. If you try to spread your wings there are people beside you who will cut them even before you learn how to fly. You work, you eat, you do everything but forget to answer that one important question — are you happy?
Absurdism is a philosophical outlook that explores the contradiction between the human desire for meaning and the indifferent, chaotic nature of the universe.
The life you live is irrational and sometimes devoid of true meaning/purpose. We think that life is tragic because it is wretched and constantly find ways to blame others, making us bitter.
Absurdism does not fight to tell you the meaning of life, on the contrary, it just states that there is no meaning in life.
Wait, So How is This a Philosophy?
When you’ve been forced to find meaning in life, you pull your hair out to search for it. You try to find it in hobbies, in your monochrome jobs and sometimes in other people too. When you’re unable to find it, you tend to experience all those negative emotions of nothingness.
So what if I tell you that you don’t ‘need’ to find a meaning? What if there is no meaning and the journey is more important than the lesson it teaches?
I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the benign indifference of the world.
— Albert Camus, “The Stranger”
At its core, absurdism acknowledges the contradictions and irrationalities of the human condition. It recognizes that life is inherently meaningless and devoid of inherent value. You don’t come into this life with a purpose defined — the journey becomes fun when you try to give it meaning itself.
Instead of succumbing to nihilism or despair, absurdism invites us to confront the absurdity of existence head-on and find meaning in the face of chaos.
Too Technical?
Here’s how it helped me. Last year the place I was working at lost their investments and the entire business was shut down. It was my first job and while most of my friends were building their banks, I was fighting to keep myself employed.
“Why me?” was a question that I could not stop asking myself. As a person in despair, I had started spending time sitting on my bed and binging shows to detach myself from reality.
As a person who started embracing the absurd, I thought
- It is not my fault the company lost business. These things happen more usually than I know, I just happened to experience it early in my career.
- It is not the last job in the world, a month or even two — I’ll land an even better one.
The moment I started adding “so what” to these terrible feelings, life started to make sense again
So what I’m earning less right now
So what if I don’t have my own business yet
If not now, then later. If the purpose of life is to create a purpose, I will build mine soon.
This absurdism helped me to start my blog.
“What the worst that could happen, no one would read it?”
Well, yes, when I took that “so what” and started doing the things that scared me the most — I was building a life where I am not afraid to chase after my dreams.
1 year later, I am already getting contract deals and building a following of 50,000+ people who read what I write.
Can This Really Help?
Maybe? But that’s the point. What’s the harm in giving those things a try. What do you have to lose?
- Embrace Freedom
You are not bound to chains and rules. There is no written book that you have to follow. Instead of passively accepting the absurdity of existence, take ownership of your choices and actions. Embrace the freedom to create your own meaning and purpose in life, and take responsibility for shaping your own destiny.
Don’t allow the lack of meaning form creating true purpose
2. Find Meaning in the Chaos
While life sometimes feels like a simulation, absurdism suggests that we have the power to create our own meaning and purpose. Instead of searching for ultimate truths or universal meaning, focus on finding meaning in the small moments of everyday life.
Find joy in the absurdity of existence, and embrace the beauty of the fleeting, ephemeral moments that make life worth living.
Rather than waiting for external validation or predefined milestones, we can find fulfilment in the pursuit of our passions, the cultivation of meaningful relationships, and the appreciation of life’s fleeting moments.
3. Cultivate Resilience
Life is uncertain, and setbacks are inevitable. Somedays you’re gonna feel like conquering a mountain, other days even getting out of bed feels like a pain. But remember, you’re not here to put on a show for anyone. This is your life and you decide how to live it.
Absurdism teaches us to embrace these challenges as natural aspects of the human experience. By cultivating resilience and learning to adapt to adversity, we can bounce back stronger, wiser, and more determined to pursue our goals and aspirations.
At last, it all comes down to two things
- Create your own purpose and rules to live the life you want
- Don’t let setbacks and fear keep you from pursuing your craziest dreams.
Give your dream a chance.
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