Amor Fati

Ultimately, everything that we have talked about in this mini-module has led us to this point: Amor fati, loving your life because it’s your life. This term caught traction in 1882, when Friedrich Nietzsche was invigorated by a spirit of acceptance after years of wishing to escape his terrible life circumstances. His formula for greatness invites us to grab hold upon our life as it has been divinely granted to us by fate. This brings you a rejuvenating enthusiasm to seize the present moment, and an increase of virtue that can connect you to your divine role. 

The central themes of Stoicism, such as stoic virtue, serve as a helpful prologue to Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of amor fati. You can see they parallel each other just by remembering Marcus Arelius’ summary of stoic belief: “Objective judgment, now at this very moment. Unselfish action now at this very moment. Willing acceptance--now at this very moment--of all external events.” Stoics understand that because our lives are extremely short, the only option is to live fully in the present moment, meeting each circumstance - even adverse circumstances - with enthusiasm and acceptance. In Marcus Aurelius’s words, he says, “a blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” Embracing life means meeting each moment with passion and openness. A famous story in Thomas Edison’s life serves as a poignant example: 

When Thomas Edison was sixty-seven years old, some chemicals caught fire in his lab, engulfing the entire complex in green, purple, and blue flames. His response to the whole thing? He told his son to grab his mother and her friends because “they’ll never see another fire like this again.” The next day he was back to work. The fire cost him the modern equivalent of twenty-three million dollars; by the end of the year, Edison and his team made two hundred and fifty-eight million dollars. 

Extreme examples like these demonstrate that happiness comes by enjoying the virtue of being alive in the present moment. It is a byproduct of attaining an abundance of virtue, just as oxygen is a natural byproduct of photosynthesis. Virtue can look like cheerfulness, temperance, kindness, good judgment, and helpfulness, and at its core, is in accordance with nature, or after the design of the human role. Nietzsche introduced amor fati as a “fatalistic ‘surrender to God.’” supported by Epictetus’ suggestion that we should conform our desires to the reality we are living. 

As we follow the rest of the Stoic themes, we arrive at the conclusion that our life is - as it constitutes - what we need. The obstacles we face and emotional trials we all go through can be accepted with love and compassion. As we love life we start to see that Marcus Aurleius was right in saying that “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” Obstacles are the way we build virtue, and virtue is the only sure path to eudaimonic bliss. 

Practice: Amor Fati: Love life as it is.

Time:  5-10 min 

Preparation: Plan to complete this exercise as you perform a mundane task (i.e., doing the dishes, packing your lunch, folding your laundry, etc.)

Foundation: “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens, happens the way it happens: then you will be happy.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Description: Our intention here is to transform your mundane tasks into an eye-opening experience. As you begin your task, do so normally, paying attention to typical emotions that arise (ie, anxiety usually arises as I do the dishes). About a minute or two into the task, start looking at your actions with great novelty, as if you have never done it before. Begin to slowly perform each distinct movement with intention and mindful awareness of your body. As you do this, you will begin to witness your once programmed movements with amazement. Your mind will slow down, your goals will become clear, and you will begin to love and accept the miracle of being alive.