Worldly Connection - The Necessity of Belonging to the Global Community for Happiness
In his book "Surrender Reclam", radio host Wilm Huffer delves into the importance of community and devotion in achieving a fulfilling life. Priced at 24 Euros, the book is a comprehensive critique of a society that has lost its way, persistently destroying what gives people stability and confidence.
Huffer asserts that we are communal beings who rely on others for a fulfilling life and for self-realization. He argues that true selfhood is not achieved through an autonomous, individualistic pursuit but through embracing vulnerability, openness, and relational identity formed within communal bonds. This surrendering is framed not as a loss but as a transformative process enabling deeper fulfillment and meaning.
Huffer traces the roots of our current issues back to René Descartes' famous statement, "Cogito ergo sum", which he believes has contributed to the modern ideal of self-realization as radical individual autonomy. He suggests that the formula "Everyone is the blacksmith of their own fortune" is closely tied to the confusion caused by Descartes' statement.
The term devotion is considered outdated in today's society, but Huffer argues that it is essential. He believes that complete devotion to a cause, ideology, or state is a crutch in life for many people, relieving them of the burden of finding meaning in their own lives. Instead, he suggests that surrender gains its greatest value when it opens a common chance of success and awakens a communal responsibility for the whole.
Huffer's book touches on the topic of trust and how widespread egoism and the belief that everyone has the right to assert their interests at all costs immediately brings about things like mistrust and fear. He also explores the union of the "inner image" of what we want to be and the external conditions that enable what we can be.
Moreover, Huffer examines the fates of failed heroes in world literature to show how the pursuit of happiness can lead to disorientation and a missed life. He criticizes the preachers of egoism for ignoring the communal nature of human development.
In a world where more and more people crave resonance but cannot find it in a world of ego-shooters, Huffer's book discusses the importance of resonance. He argues that without the people around us, we wouldn't have the chance to realize anything important to us.
In essence, Huffer's "Surrender Reclam" is a call to embrace community, surrender the isolated self, and find meaning and fulfillment in the interconnectedness with others. It serves as a critique of individual liberation movements since the 19th century and their misunderstandings of freedom. The book can be seen as a guide for those seeking a more meaningful and fulfilling life, one grounded in the power of community and the act of surrendering to the larger human experience.
Huffer's book emphasizes the significance of relationships in personal growth and self-realization, suggesting that true selfhood is achieved through connecting with others within communal bonds. Additionally, Huffer advocates for education and self-development that prioritizes community, urging individuals to find meaning in interconnectedness with others rather than pursuing an isolated, autonomous existence.
