The Eternal Recurrence of Dreams

Nietzsche, the inimitable philosopher, once wrote of the eternal recurrence.

The eternal recurrence is the idea we are fated to relive our lives in the exact same way an infinite number of times in this endless universe.

Nietzsche’s point wasn’t really about whether the eternal recurrence is real.

Rather, it was a thought experiment.

What caliber of life could weather the scrutiny of its every moment being repeated an infinite number of times?

And I think it was an appeal for action.  

What kind of remarkable life would you aim for if every decision you made was one you’d have to repeat an infinite number of times?

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Today, I offer my own, smaller idea within the family of eternal recurrences. The eternal recurrence of dreams.

These are not dreams of sleep but waking dreams, compulsions and desires of the grand, radical and irrational kind.

Have you had those dreams?

Things that you keep telling people you will one day get down to, when everything else is sorted. 

Or perhaps there are ideas you never speak of that noodle around in your mind?  

What if this dream is fated to return again and again and again in your lifetime?

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Before I get ahead of myself, I should say that most of our dreams are not eternal or significant. Many dreams really are empty fantasies, reflecting only the reality we wish to escape.

But I think — without any proof — that there may be a more substantial kind of dream. A dream so deep that it threatens to return decade after decade after decade if not given its due.

Sometimes we may choose to leap for this eternal dream. At other times it may be better just to listen closely and understand where the desire is coming from.

Its not my place to say what you should make of the particular idea within the chimneys of your mind.

What I can offer is the thought experiment:

What if this thing you dream of never really goes away?

What would you do if you realised you were at the mercy of an eternally recurring dream?

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Writing was my eternally recurring dream until I committed to the pursuit of big ideas. Now, I want to share them with you.  

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