The Society of Performance: Are You Just Tired, or Are You Sick?
Many people wake up exhausted, their minds dragging behind their bodies. Despite the appearance of normalcy, a deep weariness pervades their being. The world demands performance, but a crucial truth remains unspoken: it's more than just tiredness; it's a societal sickness.
The Invisible Imperative of Performance
Unlike the overt oppression of the past, today's suffering lacks a clear face. The constant pressure to perform has become an internal voice, urging individuals to "do more, be more, produce more." This relentless drive is what Byung-Chul Han calls the "society of performance," where the illusion of freedom masks a deeper form of entrapment. Every moment must be productive, every action yield results. Stopping, failing, or resting triggers feelings of worthlessness.
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Positivity has become toxic.
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Freedom feels like confinement.
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The ability to do everything has become a curse.
Existential Burnout: The Silent Epidemic
Do you feel guilty when not producing, anxious when not responding, or frustrated when not meeting self-imposed goals? This isn't just stress or fatigue; it's existential burnout. A weekend break won't solve this deep-seated exhaustion. The system normalizes this state, but it's not natural to be at war with oneself.
From Disciplinary Society to Performance Society
Michel Foucault described a "disciplinary society" with clear rules and authority figures. This system of visible prohibitions is fading. The modern world presents an illusion of limitless potential. You can do anything with enough effort, focus, and discipline. However, this message carries a hidden trap: personal failure is solely your fault. This psychological punishment is the essence of the performance society.
The Entrepreneur of Yourself
In this system, you've become an entrepreneur of yourself, constantly striving for improvement. Leisure turns into a goal, reading must be productive, and even sleep becomes a performance metric. You manage yourself rather than living. Bjung-Chul Han states that there is an infinite race with no finish line when you become an entrepreneur of yourself. Failure leads to self-blame. The insidious aspect is the belief that you willingly oppress yourself. Control has entered your mind, making you the guard of your own prison.
The Violence of Positivity
We learn to present a facade of well-being even while falling apart inside. This stems from a new kind of violence: the violence of positivity. According to Bjung-Chul Han, this era is not defined by "you can't" but by the oppressive "yes, you can." Excess stimulation and the demand for constant positivity lead to depression, ADHD, anxiety, and burnout. Instead of being a victim, you are made to feel guilty, leading to a motivational caricature while everything collapses.
The Forgotten Essence: Silence and Boredom
Behind the energy and productivity lies a forgotten essence. In recent years, everything has become a continuous improvement project. There is pressure to develop, sell, and reinvent yourself. Pressure no longer comes from a visible structure of power; it comes from within. You have become a product of yourself, your own executioner, engaging in what Bjung-Chul Han calls "self-exploitation." The overload is not just physical; it's existential.
Rediscovering the Value of Doing Nothing
When was the last time you simply did nothing? The challenge is to allow yourself to exist without constantly justifying your existence. Trained to always be active, any moment of pause is quickly filled. Leisure becomes waste, silence discomfort, and boredom an enemy. However, deep boredom can be a portal. Bjung-Chul Han explains that in the past, boredom was fertile ground for creation and reflection.
The Revolutionary Act of Not Being Able
True freedom begins when you reclaim the right not to do, not to act, not to be useful, to simply not be able to. While society values achievement, strength resides in refusing excess and overload. Saying no to the world is saying yes to yourself. This "not being able" breaks the logic of infinite productivity and returns to the human being the ability to exist without constantly proving their worth.
Burnout: A Symptom of a Failed Way of Life
The burnout you're experiencing is not just tiredness; it's a symptom of a failed way of life. It's a response to a system that demands the impossible and labels those who can't deliver as failures. You've been pushed into a model that consumes your energy. As Bjung-Chul Han says, burnout is not an anomaly, but the most evident symptom of a collective existential crisis, based on self-exloitation and the disdain for inner life. The first step is to recognize, feel, and look within without filters or justifications.