Becoming a Revolutionary

[Lev Ulyanov]

Fellow Comrades,

I find myself in the horrible position of deeply desiring to be properly educated in the principles of the various tendencies of Marxism yet lacking the necessary determination to do so. Depression has eaten away at my motivation for five years until I can barely be motivated anymore; when I am, it lasts only for a short while, and I soon after give in.

What can I do to pull myself out of this rut? How can I motivate myself to do what must be done, to work tirelessly for the organisation I'm trying to found and to work for the development of a revolutionary intellect?

Lev

[Blake's Baby]

Talking with other people and working with them is the best thing you can do. You might still end up depressed and burned out, but depressed burned and alone is worse than depressed and burned out in company. 'Tirelessly working' I think is a mistake; yes, dedicate yourself to the movement if you wish, but if you do, recognise that you're more use to the working class if you aren't mentally and physically exhausted.

The important thing I think (a comrade patiently explained this to me when I was having a bit of a crisis) is not to mistake ourselves for the whole of the working class. Don't lose heart even if you are tired and depressed. No-one is stong enough to ake a revolution by themselves. The working class will make the revolution; and it will do it, if it's going to do it, with or without your help. You will, at best, help make the process a little smoother. But you can't make it happen. So you shouldn't become depressed if it doesn't seem like you're getting anywhere.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

This might sound like I'm telling you to be self-serving, but I'll clarify after I get out my key point: Don't take on thankless projects that will burn you out.

That is to say, I'm sure you have unique skills, inclinations, and so on. Rather than trying to cram your square peg self into an ideologically correct round hole, find a way to put the things you love doing at the service of a communist project. Whether you're a musician, an athlete, a mechanic, or even just an attentive listener, you've gotta find a way to bring that to the struggle. Trying to fit some ideal of super-activist/cadre/revolutionary is more likely to prevent you from being your most effective than it is to actually make you "super".

[Coatimundi]

I can very much relate to what you've posted, I usually don't even have the energy for my hobbies, let alone reading thick political writings.

[Lev Ulyanov]

Talking with other people and working with them is the best thing you can do. You might still end up depressed and burned out, but depressed burned and alone is worse than depressed and burned out in company. 'Tirelessly working' I think is a mistake; yes, dedicate yourself to the movement if you wish, but if you do, recognise that you're more use to the working class if you aren't mentally and physically exhausted.

The important thing I think (a comrade patiently explained this to me when I was having a bit of a crisis) is not to mistake ourselves for the whole of the working class. Don't lose heart even if you are tired and depressed. No-one is stong enough to ake a revolution by themselves. The working class will make the revolution; and it will do it, if it's going to do it, with or without your help. You will, at best, help make the process a little smoother. But you can't make it happen. So you shouldn't become depressed if it doesn't seem like you're getting anywhere.


This might sound like I'm telling you to be self-serving, but I'll clarify after I get out me key point: Don't take on thankless projects that will burn you out.

That is to say, I'm sure you have unique skills, inclinations, and so on. Rather than trying to cram your square peg self into an ideologically correct round hole, find a way to put the things you love doing at the service of a communist project. Whether you're a musician, an athlete, a mechanic, or even just an attentive listener, you've gotta find a way to bring that to the struggle. Trying to fit some ideal of super-activist/cadre/revolutionary is more likely to prevent you from being your most effective than it is to actually make you "super".

The thing is that a love for philosophy and, in particular, Marxism as political philosophy, is something which is found in the heart of my being. It's not the desire that is there, it's the lack of ability/motivation to transform that desire into action and into self-education. I do have philosophical skill; the problem is adding to it and developing it in such a way as to become a critical political thinker.

[Ele'ill]

to touch on what's already been said, engage in or start projects which have topics that are directly a part of your life already, stuff that you are intimately familiar with


(like not having the energy to begin, that is a thing that a lot of folks struggle with and here you are posting about it and projects, maybe that is your project, locally or regionally)

[Os Cangaceiros]

I can very much relate to what you've posted, I usually don't even have the energy for my hobbies, let alone reading thick political writings.

Could be the result of a mental or physical medical condition

(Unless you're just overworked or something simple like that)

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."-Albert Camus.

Live in the real world, don't be a nerd, and shit.

[Firebrand]

The best thing to do is make some irl friends who share your interest in marxism. It's always easier to actually do stuff when you have someone to do it with, if only so that you feel like you're letting someone down when you don't show up. Also help with feelings of isolation and lack of enthusiasm. Humans are a social animal, it is always easier to find energy for a social activity.

[reb]

Get a job.