The Absurdist's Checklist: 7 Things you need to Thrive in the Unknown

Week 9 Experimenting w/Absurdism

It’s hard to name an explicit goal for this project because managing uncertainty is a lifelong process, not an endpoint. The barrage of weirdness only ceases when you die (and even then…idk). There is no happy ending to be had here - only a relentless rollercoaster of highs, lows, and relatively neutral periods that you barely remember in retrospect. However, I’m willing to bet most people aren’t ready to accept that that pit at the bottom of your stomach will always return.

I’m writing for people who have been primed to believe that if they abide by James Clear’s advice or some 12 Rules for Living type shit, they’ll win at life. What they need is probably a combination of David Goggins and Elizabeth Gilbert. I could be their literal lovechild. Sure follow a set of arbitrary rules, but know that those ups and downs are going to keep coming - especially if you aspire to do anything that other people will admire. The goal to paraphrase the great prophet, Ron Weasley is to suffer… but to be happy about it.

To practice my Self Help Guru writing, I’ve made you a checklist for your trip into the Absurd. These are traits that will serve you in this very weird and unpredictable world.

1. A Sense of Humor

Camus opened his philosophical treatise, The Myth of Sisyphus with the question of whether or not we should just kill ourselves. If you don’t think this is funny, your sense of humor is not where it needs to be to do this work. The only thing that we know for sure is that every person who has ever lived has ceased to do so - and you will, too. This should relieve the burden of taking everything so damn serious. If it doesn’t, don’t worry, we’ll work on it. Keep reading.