Manifesto I: Living Authentically
The Weight Some of Us Might Feel
Over one year ago, my life looked very different, drastically different, in fact. I lived in a home that was not fully mine. Actually, it was more like a place to crash, a space that felt both temporary and disconnected. That time the space felt as temporary as my place in the world. Back then, I sensed a profound feeling of impermanence, as though I was just passing through my life. Today, life seems to have improved in foundational ways. I have a beautiful and stable home, that I can call my own, even if it is rental. Educational opportunities, and tools like my walking pad to support my situation with my back.
By all accounts, I should feel fulfilled. I’ve achieved milestones I once only dreamed of. A better living situation, a path toward better health, progress in life, and overall forward momentum. And yet, despite these changes or perhaps because of them, I still feel a lingering dissatisfaction. I’m closer to my dreams than ever before, so why do I still feel restless? Why does something fundamental seem out of reach? This manifesto is my attempt to unpack those questions. It's an invitation, not just for me, but for anyone who feels disillusioned by the systems we live within. It's hard to find meaning and freedom in a time increasingly polarized, disconnected, and shaped by systems that tether us to debt, rigid social norms, unrealistic expectations, and broken utility structures.
If you haven’t personally experienced the inequality and impact of these failing systems, consider yourself one of the fortunate ones. A temporary failure in one area may be manageable, but when you're bombarded from all fronts, it can be devastating.
The Misunderstood
One topic that has captivated me during my studies is Nietzsche's philosophy, particularly the concept of eternal recurrence. In The Gay Science, Nietzsche presents a profound thought experiment:
“What if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: ‘This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence...
The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!”
This thought experiment challenges us to evaluate our lives. Would we embrace them as they are, joyfully reliving every moment, or would the prospect fill us with despair? Nietzsche compels us to confront the weight of our choices and attitudes toward existence.
Also, Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch carries profound philosophical depth, emphasizing personal growth, self-overcoming, and the creation of new values beyond societal norms. Tragically, this concept, along with numerous ancient symbols, was appropriated and distorted by the Nazis during World War II. Symbols like the swastika, originally a sign of prosperity and auspiciousness in many ancient cultures, were stained by their misuse. Similarly, Nietzsche’s Übermensch was twisted into something far removed from its original intention, an ideal of personal empowerment and authenticity, not oppression or domination.
These misappropriations have left a wrongful stamp on ideas and symbols that, in their origins, were intended to inspire and uplift. We should not let the damage caused by these distortions stop us from rediscovering their true meanings. The Übermensch, at its core, challenges us to transcend limitations, not by pressing others down, but by lifting each other up, fostering growth, and creating a better, more harmonious way of living.
This manifesto reflects my personal journey: an effort to live authentically, challenge societal expectations, and build a life that embraces empathy, sustainability, and harmony with nature and others. By reclaiming these ideas and reflecting on their original purposes, we can uncover valuable lessons for personal and collective growth. But let me be clear, this isn’t a guidebook, nor is it a declaration of how anyone else should live. It’s a deeply personal exploration of the tension I feel, between what society tells us to do and what my own values dictate. My hope is simply to share these frustrations, realizations, and aspirations so that others who feel similarly weighed down by societal pressure or who long for a different way of life can reflect on their own paths.
Nietzsche’s Übermensch and the Problem of Interpretation
Nietzsche’s idea of the Übermensch has been debated endlessly and for good reason: it’s open-ended, inviting personal reflection but also rife with potential for misinterpretation. Some read it as a glorification of brute strength and dominance, a view that can appeal to people seeking power or validation. My teacher, for instance, once critiqued Jordan Peterson’s readings of Nietzsche, suggesting that Peterson’s stance glorifies the “might makes right” approach, possibly resonating with those who feel insecure and are looking for a way to feel strong.
But is my teacher correct? Is Peterson correct? Or is the pursuit of a definitive interpretation itself flawed, given that Nietzsche’s philosophy was deliberately left open for individual contemplation?
This is the challenge with philosophies that urge us to question social norms: their meaning is deeply influenced by the reader’s biases, historical background, and cultural context. Like social media algorithms that amplify extremes by prioritizing polarizing content, complex ideas like Nietzsche’s can be oversimplified or distorted to fit quick, attention-grabbing narratives. Such reductionism risks erasing the nuance and depth these philosophies demand, leaving only fragments of their original intent.
For me, the Übermensch concept isn’t about brute power or domination. I see it as a call to self-overcoming and the freedom to create our own values, a rejection of the norms we inherit without question. My interpretation, living authentically, forging our own path, and embracing values like empathy and sustainability. I want to engage these ideas softly, introspectively, and with empathy, even if that approach isn’t algorithm-friendly. By reflecting on Nietzsche and interpreters like Peterson, I’ve come to believe the Übermensch can embody harmony, both with others and the natural world. This idea isn’t about determining who’s “right” or “wrong”. We should start exploring interpretations that resonate with our personal experiences and values. Each of us can draw from these ideas to make our lives even a little better. It’s not our place to judge someone else’s interpretation as “wrong”, it may simply not align with our own perspective.
As long as interpretations do no harm, what truly matters is whether they inspire and elevate individuals in ways that feel meaningful to themselves.
Urban Life and Emotional Overload
As I’m reflecting on these concepts, I can’t help but notice how they intersect with my own challenges of modern living, particularly in urban environments. Life in a city often feels like an emotional battleground. Every day, I encounter people who seem angry, frustrated, stressed, or simply disconnected, projecting their tension onto others. At work, at home, on the internet or in public. Sometimes it’s in the way they treat retail workers or bump into each other on the sidewalks without a second thought. Other times, it’s in the way they rely on shopping therapy as an escape from underlying unhappiness. Even though each interaction might be small, together they accumulate into a heavy emotional load.
Because I’m deeply empathetic, these daily encounters can sometimes be overwhelming. I absorb the emotions swirling around me, frustration, sadness, anxiety, and it leaves me feeling drained, disheartened, and sometimes even hopeless. The constant noise, the density of people, and the relentless pace of city living magnify these feelings of disconnection. I’ve noticed how urban life can transform me into someone I don’t want to be: so burdened by sorrow that I shut down.
I dream of a quieter, more peaceful environment, but moving to a rural area sometimes seems like an impossible leap. As a former home owner, I acknowledge that traditional homeownership involves significant financial risk. In the country side you invest in land and build a home, only to discover you might not enjoy living there, or you can’t adapt to the lifestyle. That dilemma creates tension between my yearning for peace and the barriers that make achieving it feel so daunting. This tension nudges me toward envisioning a different way to live.
Empathy and the Cost of Misplaced Frustration
One of the most painful realities of city living is watching how people treat those in vulnerable positions, particularly retail workers and people in customer service, whether online or at a store. Having worked in retail for more than a decade, I’ve witnessed countless moments where customers project their frustrations onto employees, treating them as if they exist solely to soak up their bad moods. These workers, who are often more precarious financially and socially than the customers they serve, bear the brunt of misplaced anger.
This isn’t just unfair, it speaks to a deeper crisis of empathy in our society. What if, instead of lashing out, someone would say:
“I’m not in a good mood today, so I’d prefer minimal interaction.”
“I’m feeling really overwhelmed right now.”
Such small acknowledgments of emotional states could bring honesty and kindness into routine exchanges like shopping or customer service interaction. Living authentically, for me, means rejecting norms that perpetuate frustration, anger, and disconnection. It means striving to understand and empathize with others, even those we interact with briefly. This mindset aligns with how I interpret Nietzsche’s call for self-overcoming and the Übermensch: pushing beyond the default settings of an impatient, stressed-out culture and embodying a new set of values that emphasize empathy, openness, and mutual respect.
A Vision for Modular Housing and Freedom
Between the frustrations of urban living and the potential difficulties of rural life, I’ve found myself pondering an alternative that might merge the best of both worlds: modular housing. A movable, self-sufficient home, placed on a rented plot of land. If you enjoy the location, you can stay, if you realize it’s not for you, you can move on, no massive mortgage, no irreversible commitment, no single lifestyle forced upon you for decades.
This idea perfectly aligns with my desire for experimentation, sustainability, and independence. You get to test the waters of rural living without sinking a life’s savings into property you might regret. Or, if you do want to remain near a city but not locked into urban chaos, you can place your modular home on the outskirts. This kind of housing fits the values I see as central to my own Übermensch ideal: questioning traditional systems and norms, like burdensome mortgages and rigid living situations, and choosing a path that resonates with personal authenticity and respect for nature. Modular housing also points to a potential shift in how communities might form. Instead of being locked into sprawling cities or isolated rural homesteads, people could gather in places that reflect shared values, sustainability, or simple neighborly spirit. The flexibility encourages new models of connection and potentially eases some of the pressures that make urban life so stifling.
Living Authentically: Balancing Work and Joy
One of the greatest pressures most of us face is the expectation to work endlessly. Jobs can become all-consuming, leaving little room for joy, personal growth, or meaningful relationships. Debt overall and mortgages can be huge drivers of this relentless cycle, tying people to a single location and lifestyle for decades, forcing them to work more than they might want just to stay afloat.
I’ve come to realize I don’t want to live that way. I want to work enough to support the experiences and relationships that truly matter to me, like traveling, spending time with friends, enjoying nature, or simply going to a salon for self-care. I don’t want all my money and energy poured into paying off an expensive mortgage or living in a cramped apartment surrounded by noisy neighbors with whom I share no sense of community.
By removing or reducing the financial weight of traditional homeownership, modular housing creates more space for balance. It could let me to focus on what truly matters, rather than on never-ending payments. This isn’t just a financial choice, but a deeply value-driven one, aligning my life with the ideals of empathy, self-determination, and emotional well-being.
Breaking Free: My Personal Journey
For many people, the term Übermensch might remain abstract. But for me, it’s a bit more clear now. By transcending the scripts society hands us, scripts that tell us what success looks like, how we should live, what possessions we need, and whose validation we should seek. I aim to create my own set of values, guided by empathy, sustainability, and freedom.
Does that mean I think I’m “right” and others are “wrong”?
No, In fact, part of the lesson I’m learning is that there may be no single right way to interpret thinkers like Nietzsche or Peterson. Everyone can and should be encouraged to explore and interpret these thinkers the way it benefits them. It might give them something that they feel they are missing. There is no single right way to build a life. The act of questioning, of seeking out how these ideas might help me grow, is what matters. It’s this refusal to settle for borrowed beliefs or hollow norms that embodies the process of becoming an Übermensch, at least as I see it today.
On a personal level, that translates to tangible choices like exploring modular housing, questioning whether city life actually serves my well-being and striving for deeper empathy. I refuse to view success as purely material. This doesn’t make me better than anyone else. It’s just me trying to become better for myself, to challenge my own fears and limitations. Self-discovery and awareness is also about recognizing that others will have their own paths to follow.
A Call for Reflection and Connection
This manifesto, sprawling as it might be, is more than a venting of frustrations or a list of dreams. I’m inviting readers to step back and reflect on the systems, attitudes, and expectations that shape our lives. As the Christmas and holiday celebrations begin, now is the perfect time to pause and ask yourself: What genuinely matters in your life? Are you content with our norms or do they leave you anxious, indebted, and disconnected?
Would you embrace living your life on an eternal loop, as it is now?
Or is it time to explore alternate paths, even if they challenge the status quo?
For me, the answers revolve around empathy, harmony, and freedom: rejecting polarization, anger and discontent by searching for meaningful connection. Living in a way that honors both personal well-being and the natural world around us. I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I don’t expect anyone to agree with me. But I hope that by sharing this very personal manifesto, complete with its struggles, realizations, and evolving vision, I might spark reflection in others.
We each possess the power to create our own values, live authentically, and map out a path that resonates with who we truly are. That’s the core of my journey toward becoming my own life’s Übermensch, or something similar.
What will your journey look like?
Warmly,
Riikka
