Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher and cultural critic, had presented the idea of “Eternal recurrence” as a thought experiment.
It was simply for the purpose of creating a metaphor in our heads, to ask ourselves one question. Just one.

Eternal return/recurrence is a concept that the universe and all existence has been recurring and will continue to occur. That too, an infinite number of times. He asks us not to take the idea as the truth, but to ask ourselves one question.
IF this concept, this idea, were to be true, how would you react to it?
Would you be willing to live this life again and again? The good, the bad, the pain, the frustration…
Would you be willing to?
I suggest you pause for a second, and ask yourself this question right now.

You obviously have an answer already. Don’t you?
If you do, you may proceed.

Nietzsche shared his opinions as such…
He assumes that our first reaction would be utter despair. The human condition is tragic, life contains much suffering. The thought of reliving such a depressing life again and again, an infinite number of times is terrible.
Isn’t it?
So clearly, that would mean your answer to the question he suggested you ask yourself, would be a big fat NO.

But he didn’t stop there. He went on…
He assumes another possible reaction. This time, we could welcome the news and embrace it as something that we desire.
This, he said, would the ultimate expression of a life-affirming attitude. To want this life with excruciating pain, boredom, frustration over and over again.
Amor fati.

I think it’s pretty obvious which answer most of you had in mind. I know how I would’ve  answered the same question myself.

To welcome the news and embrace it as something we desire. Do you really have it in you? Do I have it in me?
The most simple and authentic answer would be “No”.

You can do better though. Can’t you? Think again. Again!
Everyone is strong.
We all have an immune system don’t we?
We are all just the same. Like dolls produced by one company. We may be different from one another in so many ways.
But our conditions remain the same.
Like a game, the completion of tasks may get difficult and this will differ with the level or the version of the game you’re playing. But it’s the same game. Same player.
You.

So, is it really possible that some of us end up weak while some of us end up strong?
I don’t think so.
Do you?

It’s all within you. The harder you look for the stronger version of yourself that’s in a deep sleep within you, the sooner you shall find it.
Because it’s a part of us all. Just like defense mechanisms are.
We are all human. Remember?
It’s always been there.
You’re not looking hard enough.
It’s easier convincing yourself to believe you’re not strong.
But that’s not true.

Nietzsche’s theory maybe just a theory. One he asked us not to consider true.
But the belief that you are just as strong as anyone else, it’s not a concept or a theory.
This is the truth.
And it’s high time you realized it yourself.
You are strong!
Own it!

By Minoshi Rodrigo