Nietzsche believes that power, not happiness, should be our ultimate value for living a good life.
To attain power, it is important to set meaningful and challenging goals, and consistently dedicate ourselves to achieving them.
Deep dives
The Value of Power
According to Nietzsche, the value we should esteem the highest for maximizing our health and fulfillment is power. However, this power is not about controlling others, but about embodying and expressing power within ourselves through growth and expansion.
Formulating a Meaningful Goal
To attain power, Nietzsche suggests formulating a goal that meets four conditions: it must be meaningful and challenging, promote well-being, conducive to personal excellence, and self-chosen. Once a goal is established, consistent daily dedication is essential to overcome obstacles and resistances that increase our power.
The Cycle of Power
Nietzsche's guide to power revolves around a cycle of setting and achieving goals. After attaining a goal, it is important to put our creations behind us and set sights on the next goal, as the pursuit of power is a continuous process of growth and self-overcoming. This cycle brings joy and happiness through the feeling of increased power.
“…not increase of consciousness is the goal, but enhancement of power.” Nietzsche, The Will to Power In the quest to live a good life, each of us, consciously or implicitly, chooses an ultimate value around which to orient our life. For many this value is wealth, for others it may be status, social-acceptance, happiness, […]