It Keeps You Engaged Without Breaking Your Brain
If you’ve ever looked at the news, sighed deeply, and muttered “What even is real anymore?” Yeah, me too. This is how I took my first steps into the wild world of optimistic nihilism — a mindset that just might keep me sane while the world around us implodes into deeper and deeper absurdity.
So, what is Optimistic Nihilism?
It’s simple: nothing inherently matters, so you get to decide what does. Unlike regular old nihilism, which suggests that life has no meaning and everything is doomed, optimistic nihilism says:
- The universe is indifferent
- Everything is chaotic and meaningless
- You’re totally free to make your own meaning, and most importantly, it’s okay to have fun doing it
Instead of being crushed under the weight of this meaningless cosmos, you get to dance on top of it.
Let’s face it. The last several years have been a fucking nightmare, and it’s getting worse. Between political insanity, reality-warping misinformation, and social media screaming matches, it’s clear that we’re all stuck in an absurdist sitcom that is not at all funny.
But that’s where optimistic nihilism comes in. Here’s why it might be the best mental tool for handling this madness:
- Freedom from Doomscrolling Anxiety — If nothing is cosmically important, then maybe that one awful tweet or that latest headline doesn’t have to ruin your day.
- You Can Define Your Own Purpose — The world’s a mess? Cool. That means you’re not obligated to follow any pre-written script. Go write a book. Start a weird hobby. Befriend a raccoon. The rules are yours to create!
- It Turns Chaos Into Comedy — Once you accept that everything is absurd, the political circus starts looking less like a terrifying dystopia and more like a darkly hilarious Coen Brothers movie.
- It Keeps You Engaged Without Breaking Your Brain — You don’t have to be emotionally crushed by every piece of bad news. You can care, take action, and fight for a better world — without letting the weight of it all destroy your joy. Instead of feeling like a powerless extra in a never-ending political horror film, you can be the protagonist in your own story, choosing where to put your energy.
At the end of the day, optimistic nihilism isn’t about giving up — it’s about realizing you’re in charge of what you focus on.
Yes, things are chaotic. Yes, the world is unpredictable. Yes, the universe is a vast and indifferent place where nothing has inherent meaning.
But that’s actually good news, because it means you’re free. Free to laugh. Free to create. Free to decide what matters to you and lean into it hard.
For more in-depth information about Optimistic Nihilism I recommend this article by Dr. Steve Parker:
Optimistic Nihilism: A Creative Approach to Existence — Provided You Exercise Caution