One of Nietzsche’s value propositions was that of affirmation. Here is the concept. He recommends that you love that which is beautiful, learn more and see more of what is necessary and the things that cause beauty in your life and in the world. Accept what life has provided to you and relish in it. As a consequence, he advises to not “wage war against what is ugly.” Meaning do not give it any time. Do not accuse those that accuse. He desires that the only amount of time that he would spend in resisting the ugly is to just look away. Negate by ignoring.
He also advises to avoid the “seduction” of concepts like personal providence. You have heard this before. Oh well, everything happens for a reason, everything will turn out for the best. He recommendation for fighting this rallying cry for the mediocre is to “do something and do it again, from morning till evening… and to think of nothing except doing this well, as well as I alone can do it.”
So that is my theme. I will pick something that will change my course, something that I have power over, something that fate has provided me and I will do it well, again and again. That is my true providence. That is amor fati.
Guy Reams
