Seek Power, But Not the One You Are Thinking of…
Nietzsche’s Will to Power
Power allows us to express our true selves — to drop the mask. For some, this can mean getting away with wacky fashion senses, faux pas, insults, or crimes.
But those who seek power to rise above others are weak. It is a dependency on elevating themselves or a desire to put others down. This is not the power I will talk about. True power comes from within, from one’s self-mastery.
In both hemispheres of the globe, in ancient and modern times, we see this idea.
“Man conquers the world by conquering himself.”
— Zeno
“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”
— Confucious
How Do We Tap Into Our Source of Power?
Within us resides finitude and infinitude; beast and spirit; nature and divinity. Just like power doesn’t come from us bending others to our will, power doesn’t come from our spirit bending nature to its will. If we are to seek power, nature, and spirit must reign in harmony.
Nietzsche expands more on this, according to him in The Will to Power, we should express ourselves toward growth and expansion. Our goal should be to express our current finite self and to stretch it to infinitude.
What is self-expression you may ask? Well, it takes many forms and depends on you. If you are a bodybuilder, train; if a pianist, practice; if an orator, improve your rhetoric or eloquence.
By acting upon improving our current selves, we enhance a power we already hold. The best part is that there is no leap of faith. It is grounded in reality —a reality within — and aimed at infinity.
To improve our previous self means to ascend. But for this to occur, our path must meet four conditions.
It must be
- Meaningful and challenging
- Healthy or promote well being
- Conducive to personal excellence
- Chosen by us
If your path has all these prerequisites, it is conducive to power.
Very frequently we don’t know what to do with our lives. Choose the path that fulfills all these steps and you’ll be onwards to self-mastery.
While on our way laziness, self-doubt, and anxiety will all be on the prowl. But that is what we strive for, since we overcome these challenges within, we overcome ourselves.
A good challenge cannot be understated. It is important to have a worthy opponent; they put us up to the test. Just like our bones and muscles need resistance—or else they become brittle and weak — our bodies and spirits must be challenged.
Like an alpinist, we slowly build up to reach that peak. Through consistency, we’ll get there.
No Finality
Once we reach the peak, it is only natural to kick back and enjoy the view. We may be tempted to build a cabin while we are at it. But no matter how much we love our achievements, we must move on.
“Whatever I create and however much I love it, soon I must oppose it.”
–Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
There are new peaks to be climbed, new challenges to be overcome, and new sights to take our breath away.
Philosopher Bernard Reginster agrees that our next step is to overcome what we created. He says that we should not seek achievements but to achieve.
Self-overcoming, like infinitude, is without a finality.
Purposeless Purpose
The truism that we wish to minimize suffering and maximize happiness is a lie. It is overly simplistic. According to Nietzsche, it isn’t suffering that we avoid but meaningless suffering.
“Man […] does not repudiate suffering as such; he desires it, he evens seeks it out, provided he is shown a meaning for it, a purpose of suffering.”
–Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals
Moreover,
“The meaninglessness of suffering, not suffering itself, was the curse that lay over mankind so far.”
–Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals
Meaningless suffering is what wears us down. The antidote for it is drugs, entertainment, or anything to minimize it. Meaninglessness has led us astray and into our Brave New World.
By forging a purpose from within, suffering not only becomes bearable but it turns into a compass. Suffering shows the way to self-mastery.
We approach that opponent within, fight, and come out victorious — more powerful! “Who's next?!” With open arms and sword in hand, we taunt our next challenger. As it approaches, we salute it with a flourish.
Most importantly and finally, the path of self-mastery breeds happiness. According to Nietzsche, joy is a byproduct of power. We should not strive for happiness; we should strive for power. Joy will surely follow.
Bibliography
Academy of Ideas. https://academyofideas.com/2022/12/why-you-should-seek-power-not-happiness. December 8, 2022.
