A German philosopher named Nietzsche once commented on an idea that was around far before he was: Eternal return. The idea is that the universe began with a great big bang and has been expanding ever since. Ultimately, the universe will continue to expand until it stops and begins to contract into near nothingness again. Once contracted, it will bang open again and the whole cycle will repeat… eternally.

The universe will eternally contract and expand, and so we are perpetually and eternally going to live life after life over and over again. Because there are finite particles in the universe (like a lego set with only 100 pieces), we can only come back differently a finite number of times. So, the implication of this is that we will live this very exact same life over… eternally (because life will keep occurring eternally and this life is one of those cycles).

After explaining this, Nietzsche asked if this was good news or bad news to hear. He suggested that if it is anything but good news, then maybe we need to change our experience in this life.

So, I ask you, if you were told that you would relive this very same life over again – eternally – does that fill you with joy or sorrow? And, if you sense any sadness over that idea, maybe it’s time to consider how you can change your life so that the idea of eternal return is something you would greet with joy and enthusiasm. If you would like to talk to someone about how you can make positive changes in your life, please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced mental health counselors.