Why Nihilism, Anarchism, and Narcissism Are More Human Than We Admit

There's a strange habit people have: the moment you say nihilism or anarchism, they jump straight to destruction, immorality, or chaos. As if these ideas automatically turn someone evil. They don't. They're belief systems. Perspectives. Lenses. And confusing belief with action is where most conversations fall apart.

Nihilism Is Not Evil - It's Honest

Nihilism doesn't mean you want to destroy the world. At its core, it simply questions whether meaning is inherent or constructed. That's it. And here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us become nihilistic at least once in our lives, whether we like it or not. For example: If you - Lose someone you love. Experience a heartbreak that rewires your brain. Face job insecurity, financial instability, or a future that suddenly feels fragile. In those moments, tell me honestly - do you not question reality? Your existence? The point of it all? You do. Even if just for a second. That second is nihilism. Nihilistic feelings can also emerge in situations of prolonged suffering - especially during abuse, bullying, discrimination, or systemic injustice. When someone's daily reality is shaped by pain or powerlessness, the mind naturally begins questioning meaning, fairness, and even existence itself. In environments where life feels defined by survival rather than possibility, people often find themselves standing at the border between nihilism and anarchism - questioning both meaning and authority at the same time. That reaction should not be ignored or dismissed. Most people, at least once in their lives, have had a moment where they thought: "Life feels unbearable." "Why does existence have to be this way?" "Sometimes it feels like life is hell." These thoughts are not a desire to destroy the world. They are expressions of emotional overload and existential questioning. In many cases, they are part of processing pain. Nihilism, in this sense, can be a psychological checkpoint - not a destination. Questioning reality, meaning, and fairness can actually be part of growth. Without that questioning, people might accept everything that happens to them without reflection - including injustice, bullying, or corruption. They might begin to believe suffering is simply "how things are" or even "what they deserve." That mindset is far more dangerous than questioning meaning. There are different ways people respond to hardship: Some respond with nihilistic questioning Some respond with endurance philosophy ("suffering leads to strength or success") Some respond with resignation, believing they deserve their suffering The last response is often the most harmful, because it removes both self-worth and the motivation to change reality. Nihilistic questioning, by contrast, still contains awareness. It asks: "Why is the world like this?" "What is my place in it?" "Can meaning be rebuilt?" That questioning is philosophical, not destructive. It's also important to separate thought from action. Humans can think dark, uncomfortable, or forbidden thoughts without acting on them. Thinking alone does not harm society - actions do. As long as those thoughts are not turned into violence, coercion, or harm toward others, they remain part of normal human psychological processing.Having nihilistic thoughts does not make someone dangerous. It often just means they are trying to make sense of suffering. So pretending nihilism is some rare, edgy ideology is dishonest. It's a human response to pain and uncertainty. Denying it doesn't make you stronger; acknowledging it makes you self-aware.

Anarchism Isn't Chaos - It's Skepticism of Power

Anarchism gets the same unfair treatment. People hear the word and imagine lawlessness. But philosophically, anarchism is simply about questioning authority and institutions, especially when they fail people. For creators, this becomes very real. Algorithms decide visibility. Policies change overnight. Platforms govern livelihoods without transparency. When that happens, it's natural to lose faith in institutions. That doesn't mean you want society to collapse - it means you're no longer blindly loyal. Protest itself often comes from anarchist thinking. So does reform. So does progress. Anarchism also appears in everyday psychological development - not just political philosophy. It isn't necessarily about rejecting reality itself (as nihilism sometimes does), but about becoming skeptical of authority - governments, institutions, social hierarchies, or rules that feel unjust or arbitrary. In fact, most people experience some form of anarchist thinking at least once in their lives. One of the most visible stages where this happens is adolescence. During the teenage years, people naturally begin questioning rules, power structures, and expectations. This period is a transition between childhood and adulthood, when emotions are intense, identity is forming, and moral instincts become sharper. Teenagers often react strongly to perceived injustice, hypocrisy, or unfair authority. That reaction is not necessarily a problem - it can be a healthy part of psychological growth. Rebellion, in moderation, is often part of emotional development. It allows people to test values, express frustration, and understand fairness on their own terms. Suppressing those reactions entirely can sometimes lead to unresolved emotions later in life. Adults often learn emotional regulation and compromise, but teenagers tend to respond more directly and honestly to what they feel. That impulsive honesty can look chaotic from the outside, but it often comes from a raw sense of justice. This doesn't mean anarchism is about destroying governance or rejecting all rules. It means challenging power when it feels unjust. You can see this in protests against corruption, resistance to authoritarian systems, or people speaking out against institutional unfairness. These actions often come from the same underlying instinct: a refusal to accept authority blindly. In that sense, anarchist thinking can serve a purpose - it pushes people to question whether power is legitimate, not just whether it exists. Like nihilism, anarchism becomes dangerous only when it turns into violence or the rejection of all responsibility. But when it remains a form of critical thinking about authority, it can help societies correct themselves. A world where no one questions power would not be stable - it would be submissive. And questioning power does not mean wanting chaos. It means wanting accountability. Anarchism isn't about rejecting all structure forever. It's about refusing to worship power just because it exists.

Belief Is Not Action

Many of history's greatest philosophers held nihilistic or anarchist beliefs - in thought, not in violent action. This distinction is crucial. You can: · Think nihilistically without becoming immoral · Think anarchistically without destabilizing society · Question everything without destroying everything Thought is where ideas evolve safely. Action is where responsibility applies. People who collapse these two are usually afraid of ideas themselves.

Let's Talk About Narcissism (Because No One Likes to)

Here's another uncomfortable reality: everyone has narcissistic traits. Yes - everyone. Ego is part of survival. Jealousy exists. Competition exists. If you see someone doing better than you and feel a sting - congratulations, you're human. The difference isn't presence. It's degree. Some people are low in narcissism. Some are moderate. Some are high - loud, visible, and destructive. The people we label "narcissists" are often just the ones who lack awareness or control. But pretending we're all egoless beings is self-deception. A little ego can fuel ambition. Too much turns into insecurity, gatekeeping, and domination. Most people believe ego should exist only in mild form - and there's wisdom in that. Personally, narcissism is the one topic here I don't feel strongly attached to. Nihilism and anarchism are intellectually interesting to me. Narcissism is different - it's more psychological than philosophical, and often uncomfortable to talk about. For a long time, I thought narcissism simply meant selfishness - believing you're superior, that others don't matter, that you alone deserve recognition. That is the core definition in many ways. But reality is more subtle. You can find narcissistic traits in ordinary behavior, especially in competitive environments and even on social media. Sometimes these traits appear unintentionally. Sometimes people hide them well. Sometimes even the person experiencing them doesn't realize it. And that doesn't mean everyone is a narcissist. It means narcissistic tendencies can exist quietly in people - including ourselves - without turning into harm. As long as they don't become manipulation, domination, or cruelty, they remain part of normal human psychology. The real risk appears when ego becomes extreme. That's when it begins to overpower judgment. When ego takes control, people may act in ways that damage relationships, reputations, or opportunities - even if they were previously respected or kind. And ego isn't always easy to control. Sometimes it simply overwhelms us. That's not unusual - it's human. At the core of many narcissistic reactions is something simpler: jealousy. Jealousy often begins with comparison. And comparison is everywhere - in school, careers, creativity, technology, social life, and even friendships. Two creators can support each other, but if one suddenly succeeds while the other struggles, jealousy can appear naturally. That feeling doesn't make someone bad - it makes them human. The real problem begins when comparison becomes unrealistic. Comparing a fiction writer to a nonfiction writer, for example, may not make sense if their audiences, topics, and growth patterns are completely different. Growth can be early or late, fast or slow - and those differences don't reflect personal worth. Everyone has different strengths, timing, and circumstances. Some people rise quickly. Others rise later. Both paths exist. When expectations become too high - especially the belief that "I must be better than everyone" - disappointment becomes inevitable. And that disappointment can feed ego and frustration. A healthier mindset might be simpler: We are not better than everyone. We are better together. That mindset protects us from unnecessary comparison and emotional damage. Jealousy, if left unchecked, can slowly grow into stronger narcissistic thinking - the belief that others' success is unfair, that you alone deserve recognition, or that your effort is uniquely overlooked. Thinking these things occasionally is human. Acting on them destructively is where problems begin. Frustration doesn't disappear by being denied - but expressing it impulsively to the wrong people can make things worse. Talking with trusted friends, family, or even a counselor can help release that pressure without causing harm. Narcissistic traits can be managed through awareness, not denial. And in small amounts, ego isn't always harmful. Some people even believe jealousy can motivate improvement - though not everyone agrees with that idea. What matters most is balance. Just like nihilism questions meaning and anarchism questions power, ego relates to how we protect identity and self-worth. None of these are inherently dangerous. They become dangerous only when they control us instead of being understood.

Why These "Uncomfortable" Traits Matter

Here's what people don't want to admit: Without nihilism, you don't question meaning. Without anarchism, you don't question power. Without ego, you don't protect yourself. These traits aren't flaws by default. They become dangerous only when unexamined or unchecked. Growth doesn't come from rejecting perspectives - it comes from visiting them, understanding them, and deciding what to keep. Ignoring a worldview doesn't make it invalid. It just makes you uninformed.

Loyalty to Yourself Comes First

There's a lot of pressure to be loyal - to systems, to institutions, to ideologies, to people. But here's the truth: your first responsibility is to yourself. That doesn't mean selfishness. It means honesty. If reality fails you, you're allowed to question it. If institutions fail you, you're allowed to doubt them. If meaning collapses, you're allowed to rebuild it. Blind loyalty isn't virtue. It's avoidance. Independent Thinking vs Peaceful LivingNot everyone wants to make an impact - and that's okay. Some people just want to live quietly, avoid conflict, and exist peacefully. That's not weakness. That's a choice. But if you do want impact - real impact - you can't outsource your thinking. Independent thought is the cost of influence. You don't need to hate reality. You don't need to reject society. But you do need the freedom to question everything without fear.

Final Thought

Nihilism, anarchism, ego - these aren't enemies of humanity. They're parts of it. The problem isn't thinking differently. The problem is refusing to think at all. Respect every philosophy. Examine every side. Reject blind hatred - including hatred of ideas. That's not dangerous thinking. That's honest thinking.