Imagine that, when you died, you were born into this life you’re living now, and that you would repeat that forever. This moment and every other would happen again just as they have and will — and you’ll respond to them just as you have and will.
How does that feel?
What would you do differently?
How would you live if you were to repeat this life, as it is lived this time, over and over again for eternity? Nothing changes. You couldn’t make different decisions or take on different attitudes. You wouldn’t be conscious that you’re reliving your life. This life. As it is. Again and again. This is the idea of eternal return or recurrence.
When life is looked at through the prism of eternal return, rather than being ephemeral, fleeting nothings, each moment becomes an immortal brick in the groundwork of your existence. Each moment not only shapes the future, but the present moment for infinite future selves. Eternal recurrence challenges us to inch closer to amor fati — to truly loving our fate.
If you had to do this again and again, wouldn’t you look harder for a way to love it?
Nietzsche resolved to amor fati — to love his fate. He wanted to say yes to life.
