Man’s Search For Meaning Book Review
“What man actually needs is not just a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task” - Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor E. Frankl was a professor of neurology and psychiatry. He was also an Austrian Holocaust survivor. Despite being imprisoned in Auschwitz and having no control over what was happening to him, the only freedom he had was how he chose to respond to the situation. Viktor had a choice in how he would feel despite the horrendous circumstances he faced.
Viktor saw three possible sources of meaning to life which is to pursue work that is meaningful, in love and in having courage during difficult times.
“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.” – Viktor E. Frankl
The first part of the book is about Frankl’s personal experience in the concentration camp. When Frankl arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp, along with all the other prisoners their possessions were taken from them. Frankl’s manuscript of a scientific book was confiscated which was his life’s work. Frankl made a promise that he would survive the concentration camp and publish a new manuscript. To Frankl, writing the manuscript was his meaningful work, he wanted to share his knowledge, skills and life experiences that would be his contribution to the world. In his darkest days in the camp, Frankl would hold onto a picture of the wife and this love gave him the strength to keep going. Despite all the suffering, sickness and close to death experience, Frankl was determined to complete his work one day and had a vision of himself doing it.
The second part of the book is Frankl’s work on logotheraphy which is a therapeutic approach that helps people find personal meaning in life. It is a form of psychotherapy that is focused on the future and examines our ability to endure suffering through a process in a search for purpose. Logotherapy tries to make the individual/patient aware of their own responsibilities and to discover a meaningful life in three different ways as follows:
1) Create your own work or by doing a positive deed
2) Having a particular life experience or encountering someone
3) Adopting an attitude in dealing with unavoidable suffering
Unfortunately, the prisoners of Auschwitz concentration camps did not have a choice as their lives and family were taken from them and those that did survive had a long psychotherapy process towards healing.
I have taken a lot from reading this book and have applied this new insight to my own life. Often at times we are the prisoners of our own mind. Reflecting on the past that we cannot change or worrying about a future event that has not happened yet and may never happen.
All we have is the now and the power of choice in how we respond to a particular situation. How we respond will determine our experience. To me, becoming a Millennial Coach is worth the struggle. I am living true to my own values by helping people and doing my best to help them discover their authentic life. The struggle is the process in working towards the reward which is living true to myself and making a positive contribution for humanity.
Man’s Search for Meaning does provide hope and finding greater purpose to our lives if it is the work we pursue, the relationships we have with the people we care about and becoming aware that we actually have a choice in how we want to live our life. This is a must read and Frankl has made a positive contribution to the world with his work and sharing his experiences.
