Through the constant darkness Andrew faces from Fletcher, he finds a way to not be entirely consumed by it. Or does he? The ambiguity in the end leaves us wondering: Has Andrew achieved greatness but lost himself in the process?

Did Fletcher’s isolation, torture, and abuse shape Andrew into greatness? Could greatness have been achieved without such destruction?

Or perhaps Andrew was playing a different game the entire time. Maybe Andrew saw Fletcher not as an unbeatable darkness but as an opportunity for growth—a challenge to overcome.

Andrew could only posture himself in a way that allowed him to deal with Fletcher’s darkness without giving up, by having a reason to fight and to keep pushing.

Nietzsche’s quote, “He who has a why to live, can bear almost any how,” is relevant here. Andrew’s love for drumming and his passion to be one of the greats was his ‘why,’ which enabled him to bear any ‘how’—even Fletcher’s abusive methods.

But sometimes, we can be so obsessed with our ‘why’, that we impulsively dive into any ‘how’, and it’s an unhealthy ‘how’ that can ruin the entire point and meaning of your ‘why’.

So as we aim to achieve our most ambitious goals, let us be wise about which path to take and how we get there, ensuring we don’t lose ourselves in the process. Let’s make sure we strive for greatness. But at the same time, asking questions like these can be useful:

• Is this ‘how’ going to make me hate my ‘why’?

• Is this ‘how’ worth my ‘why’?

• How can I turn this chaos into an opportunity for growth and transformation?

• What is my ‘why,’ and is it meaningful?

  These questions can prompt us to be more aware and conscious of where we’re heading & why. But it’s only when our ‘why’ transcends the individual, and exists outside of our material and superficial desires, that we are able to truly instil our lives, with fulfilling & genuine meaning.