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You might know the lyrics from Kurt Vile's song 'Pretty Pimpin': "I woke up this morning, didn't recognize the man in the mirror..." Many of us feel this way in our daily lives, where days blend together, stress piles up, and vacations seem distant. We start thinking that maybe life doesn't have a big purpose, and that's called nihilism.

Today, we want to introduce you to 'Cheerful Nihilism' on Instagram. It's a place for people who understand that life might not have a clear meaning, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it fully. Join us on this journey as we explore life's big questions with a smile, showing that even when things seem uncertain, we can find happiness, friendship, and wonder.

Nihilism is the belief that life doesn't have any true meaning, purpose, or value. It became well-known in the 19th century, mainly thanks to Friedrich Nietzsche, who thought it could challenge moral and social norms. But not all nihilism is negative, and there are different ways to see life through this lens.

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"Nihilism" is a word that most people have heard but struggle to explain. When they do, it often boils down to something like: "Because nothing really matters, you can do whatever you want." Or even more positively: "Since nothing has a meaning, you can create your own." Many people, especially in the Western world, agree with nihilism's main idea that ultimately, nothing has a true purpose. Though they try to make it somehow positive.

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Smiley MG
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awe..... He's going to be the stoopidest boi there ever was!!! And loved to the moon and back.... This tiny-whiny willtle stoopid boi

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Cheerful nihilism is all about finding happiness in the idea that life doesn't have a set meaning. It encourages people to release the stress caused by societal pressures, the fear of failing, or the pressure to go on a specific path of success and fulfillment. Instead, it suggests that we should savor life for what it is, without looking for a fixed meaning.

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Debbie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this one. If you have anxiety of entering a new place, this is the thought that should be going through your mind.

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In this way of looking, no purpose doesn't lead to a bleak or pessimism. Instead, it offers the freedom to create our own purpose. Even though nihilism can seem negative at first, looking at it with a cheerful attitude can actually be good for mental health.

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In this perspective, the absence of a predefined purpose doesn't lead to a bleak or pessimistic outlook. Instead, it offers the freedom to create our own purpose and significance. Even though nihilism can seem negative at first, looking at it with a cheerful attitude can actually benefit mental health.

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The Doom Song
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure my neighbours thought my "bf" was a sexaholic coz my dog had a people name and all they could here was "stop! Get off me!" And "Don't lick!"

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Zoe Vokes
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Photo taken before Twitter became X. I loved the little blue bird logo. I loved the name Twitter. I loved the verb to tweet. I barely used the platform before but don’t at all now. I hate the X logo and name.

Bex
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Instead of being cheerful and welcoming it's douchy and self aggrandizing, like it's new owner

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Dr Robert Neville
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pft, my little girl is lying next to me in bed currently, she's got her back paws on my arm and I'm holding her belly after bug rubs.

UpQuarkDownQuark (he/hey you)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, but the other day I was singing to Oliver, “If you see a kitty cat, you must squish it! And his little belly’s fat, you must squish it! Squish it good!”

Garth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To your dog you are a best friend... to your cat... you're just staff...

Nykky
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those of you who think this is all cats, take a look at Yoshi and Eevee on YouTube. They're two ragdolls owned by the same person and they're adorable.

Sara
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then there are the cats who “flirt flop” and chihuahuas!

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Firstly, it takes away the pressure and anxiety when trying to meet society's expectations. Instead, it lets you live life on your terms. It also encourages you to be yourself and express who you are. In this way, you get to decide what matters most in your life. Lastly, cheerful nihilism lives on the idea of being mindful and grateful, which can make you feel better mentally, reduce depression and anxiety.

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Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher who lived from 1844 to 1900, is sometimes thought of as a troubling figure. While Nietzsche is often linked with nihilism, and he did have a solid grasp of it, in reality, he was far from being a true nihilist. In his own words: "He that speaks here, conversely, has done nothing so far but reflect . . . as the first perfect nihilist of Europe who, however, has even now lived through the whole of nihilism, to the end, leaving it behind, outside himself."

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michael Chock
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This event started in Switzerland back in 1863 when two brother told their neighbors that they could beat them down the hill. It has since escalated into this.

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Agfox
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago I worked with a colleague who spuddled so well they were awarded a Departmental Medal, only one of which was awarded each year in an organisation with more than 3,000 employees

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Nietzsche believed that nihilism was bound to happen in history, and looking at our world today, it seems he was mostly right. Nihilism broke through as a result of the falling of Christianity and traditional values.

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Just like Jacobi, Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Camus, Nietzsche saw nihilism as a major problem, one of the biggest crises. In simpler terms, Nietzsche didn't like nihilism. His solution was to break down our old values, and then build new values to replace them.

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michael Chock
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two questions. Is the priest going to be animating the Muppet as if it's actually doing the eulogy. Will there be a musical number.

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As we deal with the tricky idea of finding meaning, let's not avoid the tough questions brought by nihilism. Instead, let's confront them bravely. We should see that without a set purpose, we have a great chance to build our own paths, fill our lives with significance, and, in the end, discover joy in the act of making our own way in the world. Check out our previous editions on nihilism and how it can be cheerful.

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michael Chock
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you don't do something quick you will have a whoopsie-daisy chain going on.

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HeavyMetalHeart
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All of my colleagues, while I am here foolishly being good at my job and being rewarded by getting more and more work.

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Floeckchen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is it with medieval painters and babies? They actualy have seen one, yes?

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cerinamroth
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister was halfway through a home birth and realised her husband had added a terrifyingly upbeat song to her playlist. So not only did she have to carry on, filled with a growing rage at her husband, she had to do it to the music of the unfailingly cheery UK pop group S Club 7.

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V
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Non-binary from a different winery? That was the only rhyme I could come up with off the top of my head...

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Zakaar Bovus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life."

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Debbie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

....I didn't know I was doing this, but I do this, and now I know why.

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80 Van
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I’m feeling imposter imposter syndrome. Everyone will think I’m good at being an imposter, but I know the truth.

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Caramello
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always felt that those meetings could be summed up as, “How we expect you to act, while we exploit you.”

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Will Cable
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How to screw up a perfectly clean and respectable search history by looking up one word

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would willingly forego the former, if it guaranteed the latter.

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Stephen Smith
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did not know that. But I do know with an old type writer, on the hammer heads the upper case was above the lower case. And it's sad I can remember using one :(

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Floeckchen
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well you can't be sad when you are dead... unless your name is moaning myrtle

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michael Chock
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always thought they should do this with Curious George, where George accidentally sees a mob killing attended by a senator. Of course the man in the yellow hat is too drunk to help George, like always, why did you think George is never supervised.

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Nicola Roberts
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yesterday I started making a Bolognese with turkey mince (because it's good for me). I didn't like the way it looked so I added two beef stock cubes. So now it's extremely salty and I need to google how to make it less salty. Add fresh herbs, the only one I had to hand was coriander/cilantro. To be fair it was kind of working. Next suggestion add more liquid. I have no idea what I made by the time I had to thicken it up with more veg and even some vege mince, but, I have to eat the leftovers tonight. My life in 100 words or less.

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The Doom Song
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Number 1 would most certainly get me fired at work but hey we all have fantasies right?

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afia kooma
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excess of "staying-alive" hormones can actually do that in our mundane everyday lifes. You need to be scared, have sex or play/dance it out ot your system.❤️

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David A Paterson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I used to think that life was sane with small patches of insanity. But after giving a series of talks to businesses, I've realised that life is insane with small patches of sanity. It's a whole other paradigm". John Cleese.

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keyboardtek
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wouldn't it be amazing if we were all to suddenly find out all the superheroes are just made up comic book characters?

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David A Paterson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

(checks web). Dialectical materialism is Marx's euphemism for "doublethink", holding two contrary opinions at the same time.

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