Introduction

In the previous post I briefly touched upon the Dionysian principle and how it links to irrationality. Irrationality is a necessary counterweight to reason and rationality. Life is fundamentally characterised by the interaction of opposites. Likewise, we need both sides of the Apollonian-Dionysian dialectic to live a fulfilling and successful life.

Without logos, we end up wandering throughout life aimlessly and without direction concerned only with our instinctive urges. However, without irrationality or a reliance on our instincts, we become too rigid and measured. Anxiety is soon to follow, for we become fixated on the future and sacrifice the present for it.

Eventually, we are paralysed by our over-reliance on our farsightedness; it’s at this moment that reason ceases to be useful to us. Embracing absurdity becomes our only option as we move closer and closer to the inevitable black wall that awaits us at the end of our life.

It is as Camus writes in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus:

“Man stands face to face with the irrational. He feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason. [However,] the absurd is born of [the] confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world.”

The unreasonable silence of the world that Camus writes about is the abyss that silently beckons us all. It cannot be ignored nor be avoided and attempting to do so will only increase its pressure on our lives. Rather, we must embrace it and take it into our stride.

For that reason, I’ll highlight 3 ways that will help you embrace irrationality and the Dionysian principle.

Break away from convention

The very elements upon which modern society thrives, i.e. organisation and order, represent the very antithesis of the Dionysian principle. The degree of organisation that is required of every individual in order to function in modern society is bound to takes its toll; we have forced ourselves to become logical and predictable beings at the expense of our humanity.

We can counteract this heavy reliance on Apollonian principles by counterbalancing them with their opposite. A great way to break out of that pervasive, calculating mindset is to give in to spontaneity and reject convention. What’s more, we must allow ourselves to break away from mind-numbing routine so as to unshackle ourselves from the chains of tomorrow.

Being stuck in that conventional mindset and repeating the same routine, day-in and day-out, will ultimately leave us shattered emotionally. So, it’s essential to inject some spontaneity and disorder into our overscheduled lives.

Rousseau writes in The Social Contract:

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they.”

Of course, Rousseau refers to the invisible chains of society – the expectation to adhere to convention being one such shackle. We are all forced to surrender some of our freedom in order to maintain harmony within the state and it is here that cultural norms play a key role.

When we adhere to convention, we sacrifice a key part of our individuality. Although it is a necessary evil to maintain society, convention is ultimately synonymous with stagnation, both physically and psychologically.

It might seem that we need people that conform and surrender their individuality in order to maintain harmony; perhaps this is true. But, in terms of individual growth and the development of one’s psyche, it remains crucial to individuate, that is, to differentiate one’s personality.

Defy your surroundings

It’s hard to notice what’s around us when we are sucked into a Sisyphean abyss. Too occupied by the daily routine, months seem like days. Like Sisyphus, we are bound to push our boulder uphill. Unlike Sisyphus, however, we can choose to stop our labour at any point. It might be time to stop heaving our boulder and take a moment to think.

Though we remain duty-bound to commitments that are simply unbreakable, there always remains room to exercise your will and express your individuality. Rather than going with the grain, seek opportunities in your daily life where you can defy the expectations others have of you.

So, for example, if you are normally a people pleaser, you can exercise your individuality in a healthy way by starting to say ‘no’ to people. Of course, it will feel unnatural and uncomfortable at first, but after all, no pain no gain. Saying no is a powerful tool in the individualist’s toolkit in a society that thrives on convention.

Defy yourself

From a young age, we are taught the proper ways to behave by our parents. More often than not, many of the things we learn become obsolete if not disadvantageous in our adult years. And, in many ways, our inner monologue (whether kind or critical) is the internalised voice of our parents.

As people, we learn from others. The numerous social influences that surround us throughout our lives: parents, peers, partners, and the numerous forms of media, all have their input on the formation of our personality.

It’s not too uncommon for us to have internalised the behaviour of others without realising. Really, we are the people that we surround ourselves with. That being said, often these internalised behaviours or thought patterns can actually set us back.

In order to develop our individuality, it’s critical to identify what is our own thinking and what isn’t. A great way to understand who it is we really are, rather than who we say we are, is to put ourselves in challenging situations – it’s here that we can separate the wheat from the chaff.

That means that we actually have to go out there and put ourselves in some tough positions. Indeed, to truly become an individual one must be become a contrarian, a rebel. After all, it is the friction generated from contrasting elements that serves as a hotbed for inspiration and personal growth.

Seek inspiration constantly

A lack of curiosity marks a descent into stagnation. Indeed, the tunnel vision that accompanies rigid adherence to routine is a big inhibitor of individuality and ultimately, life.

Think of how conscious you are of your surroundings on your commute to work – have you ever taken the time to appreciate the land- or cityscape around you? How many hidden gems may you have missed? Living on autopilot will inevitably paint our minds and the world around us grey.

On the contrary, inspiration serves as a playful spark that ignites the vibrant and lively aspect of our minds and lives. Thus, our minds are set to work; we are energised and come up with creative solutions to problems in our lives.

That burst of motivation you get from being inspired is an unbeatable feeling but doesn’t often last long. So, it’s essential to know where and how to look for inspiration in your daily life. Although it’s different for everyone, the following suggestions may prove useful to you:

Read

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to reach that inspired state of mind is to read inspiring works. Certain authors have a real knack for articulating fiery concepts that are bound to have an impact. Of course, I’m talking about such heavy-weights as Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, Kierkegaard, Sartre, and many, many others. Be sure to check out my recommended reading list (coming soon!).

Go for a walk

Moving is an excellent way to get the brain juices flowing. Not only does movement naturally accommodate thinking (walking meditation is a thing), but it doubles as a source of inspiration as you get to appreciate your surroundings. The key here is to allow yourself the time to get into an inspired state. So, pick a scenic route and give yourself plenty of time to walk, appreciate, and think about your surroundings as well as your thoughts.

For bonus points, go somewhere you haven’t been before. Novelty is especially a great way to get into a state of inspiration. Simply place yourself in unfamiliar territory without any prior planning or any preconceived notions, and let your mind do the rest.

People watch

Perhaps one of the greatest way to obtain inspiration is to observe other people and how they act in their daily lives. As social beings, we are particularly in tune with the way others behave and have a real knack to pick up on the smallest details.

In fact, many artists of all kinds engage in people watching to obtain inspiration for the development of their characters. Sartre was known to frequent Parisian cafés and write his material there; it’s unquestionable that he found it a great source of inspiration.

Though cafés are an excellent location, anywhere with a steady flow of traffic, e.g. stations, airports, malls, and public squares, are good spots to do up some inspiration.

Be wild

As much as our minds want it to be, life is neither black nor white. Instead, it’s a vast chequerboard of interwoven highs and lows that ultimately constitute the fabric of our perception – our reality.

Nietzsche left us with a powerful and empowering philosophy: amor fati. Meaning that we ought to embrace life as it is comes to us; warts and all. Indeed, this way of living is only for the brave. But, are we able to otherwise appreciate life whole, that is, the good and the bad taken together?

In order to live the amor fati way, we must learn to embrace both our rational and irrational sides – the Apollonian as well as the Dionysian aspect within us. Today, it’s all too common to emphasise sensibility, responsibility, and logic in our daily lives; to be considered irrational is derogatory.

Nevertheless, we must lend an ear to our unconscious drives and desires, for they will paint a vivid picture of what it is we really want, and who we really are. And of course, the best way to let these hidden voices speak, is to allow ourselves to be unrestrained.

The art of being wild

Each and everyone one of us lives in a bubble shaped by our perception of the world.

Naturally, our perception contains a multitude of biases. Perhaps we were told by others that we were weak or incapable. Once we internalise such biases, they will continue to wreak havoc in our lives.

It is here that wildness, or a return to a more natural form of our being or personality, is most helpful. We can achieve this by letting go of the numerous ideas and expectations we have in life and allowing ourselves to exist as we really are. This can range from anywhere to spending time alone in nature to taking time off work to think and recharge.

When we allow our psyche to roam wild, we allow our consciousness to become suffused by the boundless unconscious content that exists within it. We are overwhelmed by the potentiality of our instinctive natures. Our horizons are broadened and we become aware of the numerous paths that we can take in life.

By embracing wildness, we grasp the antidote to unhelpful self-depreciating biases. For, being wild means to shake these notions of their hinges – we remove the mental harness that we have been forced to wear for so long. We learn to defy self-imposed limitations.

One of humanity’s key strengths, evolutionarily speaking, is our ability to adapt to a given circumstance or environment. Perhaps it’s time for us to realise that we are not as limited and constrained as we think we are. After all, neuroplasticity is phenomenon that is well documented and that continues into adulthood. We must come to appreciate the potential that we contain within us.

In order to embrace our irrational, instinctive side, we must be willing to let go of convention and venture into the deep recesses of our minds to reclaim those hidden aspects of ourselves that are life-affirming and hence conducive to our growth in life.

Conclusion

What sets man apart from the rest of the animal kingdom is the sapiens in homo sapiens – the wisdom that comes from reason and rationality. Responsible for the transformative nature of the world as we currently know it, our logos has served us well.

However, as per the physical laws of the universe, everything must eventually come to a state of equilibrium, and our minds are no exception. Thus, our rationality, for all the good it does throughout our lives, if relied upon in excess, is bound to harm us if we do not balance it accordingly.

Chronic stress, perpetual anxiety, and other mental conditions are becoming increasingly common nowadays. The helter-skelter nature of the modern world with its incessant stimuli is bound to overwhelm any mind if given enough time.

Foreseen by several philosophers of the modern period, it’s high time we take heed of their warnings and take a stand against the one-sidedness of modern thinking.

Instead of living in a state of perpetual rationality, we should allow ourselves to hear out the hidden impulses and drives that we normally dismiss. Perhaps they hold the hidden clues that might be the key to a better you