Life is cold and cruel. But that is okay!

Expect the worst

You can be an optimistic pessimist. A pessimist:

Always be prepared for the worst.

Then once you’re able to steel yourself against that– then everything in life is upside!

Become a Philosopher

Dictate your meaning and purpose in your life with ZEN OF ERIC:

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Philosophical Essays

• Tomorrow is Never
• Life is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
• EMBODIED REALITY
• BLACK SWAN
• THINGS WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE
• What are you *really* afraid of?
• HAPPINESS ISN’T THE GOAL
• Philosophy is King
• Why is Selfish Evil?
• YOU’RE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF BECOMING
• ENTITLEMENT A SIN?
• NARCISSISM
• BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF
• WHY FREE WILL?
• OBEY YOUR OPINION
• EGO IS GOOD.
• WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE INTO YOURSELF
• Seek the Good Pain
• Anti-Perfection in Photography, Art, and Life
• Can You Become an End into Yourself?
• WHY I LIVE
• Why I Hate Decline
• Why I Eat
• Why am I So Positive and Optimistic?
• EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT
• Never Stop Gaining
• TRUST YOURSELF
• A Life of Maximal Personal Independence
• What Do You Desire to Become?
• What Do I Want from Technology?
• Stratified Society
• Do You Love or Hate Reality?
• On the Brian, Body and Mind
• I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?
• Care over Fame
• ACTIVE NIHILISM
• Never Stop Subtracting
• How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life
• A Risker Life is a Better Life
• Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity
• How to Maximize Your Happiness
• Influence
• The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring
• Meditations on Meaning in Life
• There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
• Is Hope a Vice?
• EGO
• Why Be Unique?
• Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength
• You’re the Hero
• Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?
• Why Do We Prize the Rare?
• The Joy of Uncertainty
• How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?
• A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn’t a Life Worth Living
• Free or Unfree?
• What Do You Really Care For in Life?
• Anti-Satisfaction in Life
• Why Think?
• The Eternal Return
• Only Do What is Best for You!
• Truthiness
• Why Be Happy?
• Permissionless Living
• In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
• Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
• Happiness
• Beyond Freedom
• Idolize People, Not Stuff
• What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?
• Why Hate?
• The Secret of Happiness
• You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming
• Life is about Choices, Not Obligations
• Anti-Nihilism
• First, Do What is Best for You.
• Live Dynamic
• How to Prosper
• Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?
• SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.
• How to Become more Idealistic
• Thrivival 101
• Create Yourself
• Non-Small
• Inspiration
• How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!
• Human Augmentation
• Prune
• Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don’t Do What You Don’t Want to Do)
• Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life
• Modern Slavery
• Kill the Leeches
• Wisdom Augmentation
• Why We Need Friction in Life
• Straight Line Philosophy
• What’s Your End-Game in Life?
• Create Your Own Happiness Today
• Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life
• Try the Impossible
• SELF-RESPECT
• Anti-Social Extrovert
• Never Blame Anybody But Yourself
• Human Flourishing
• Simpler, Not Better.
• How to be Free
• Embrace the Extremes
• Cultivate Your Own Culture
• COURAGE.
• Thrivival
• Inner Power
• How to Live a Purposeful Life
• My Definition of Happiness
• Why Change is Good
• Why Work?
• How to Live the Happiest Possible Life
• The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life
• You Always Have Another Option!
• INFINITISM
• Never Stop!
• What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?
• Live Today Like it Were Your Last
• Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?
• ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER
• Live Life to the Fullest!
• In Praise of Selfishness
• Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life
• Why I Love Walking
• Live Life Like a Video Game!
• Simple Luxuries in Life
• Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!
• Only Prove it to Yourself
• You Don’t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
• Life is Too Short to Be Bored!
• Money Cannot Destroy Boredom
• How to Find Inspiration in Life
• Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life
• An Active Life is a Happy Life
• My Simple Joys in Life
• Never Stop Striving
• How to Motivate Yourself in Life
• How to Be Optimistic in Life
• How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life
• In Praise of a Dynamic Life
• PURPOSE.
• How to Enjoy Life
• Photography Therapy
• How to Conquer Regret
• Take Your Play Very Seriously.
• How to Prosper
• Memento Vivere
• Destroy in Order to CREATE
• Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
• Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
• Seek Knowledge, Not Information
• The Purpose of Human Life
• How to Overcome Impedence
• Why I Love Death
• How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
• How to Be Happy
• Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
• Why I’m Happy
• Why?
• Why I’m So Prolific
• How to Reduce LAG in Life

Masters of Philosophy »

• Seneca
• Marcus Aurelius
• Publilius Syrus

Personal Philosophy »

• You Are the Light of the World
• Your Soul is a Diamond in the Rough
• Why Live?

Stoicism »

• How to Be a Stoic Street Photographer
• How to Use Photography as Self-Therapy
• How to Free Your Soul From Disturbance

Zen Philosophy »

• How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
• Zen in the Art of Street Photography
• How to Find Tranquility in Your Photography

Life Lessons »

• How to Conquer Your Fears in Life
• Conquer Yourself
• How to Focus

Learn more: Start Here >