The Timeless Question
At some point, many of us ponder: What is the meaning of life? For some, this question brings a sense of emptiness, making life seem meaningless. Others find it offers a clear purpose to pursue with hope. In contrast, some people avoid the question altogether, feeling overwhelmed by its weight.
Viktor Frankl: A pioneer in the search for meaning
Early Work and Youth Counseling
Frankl’s experiences with deeply depressed and suicidal patients led him to develop a youth counseling program in Vienna. His goal was to help individuals, especially those on the brink of despair, rediscover meaning in their lives. He observed that finding meaning could counteract feelings of emptiness and purposelessness.
The Birth of Logotherapy
By 1942, Frankl’s ideas began to crystallize into what he later called logotherapy. This therapeutic approach is based on the belief that finding meaning is the most powerful force in human life.
A Heart-Wrenching Choice
As World War II approached, Frankl, a Jewish doctor, received an offer to escape Nazi-occupied Europe with a visa. He chose to stay in Vienna to care for his aging parents, letting the visa expire. Tragically, Frankl and his family soon faced the horrors of the Holocaust. He was sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps, where he lost most of his family.
Finding Meaning Amid Suffering
Despite these dire circumstances, Frankl did not abandon his search for meaning. His experiences in the camps led him to profound insights about his work.
Frankl observed different reactions among prisoners. Some managed to endure, while others lost their will to live. He concluded that the key was not physical strength or luck but the ability to find meaning, even in suffering.
Three Psychological Phases
Frankl identified three psychological stages experienced by prisoners:
- Delusion of Reprieve: Initially, many, including Frankl, clung to the hope of escape.
- Apathy: Next, prisoners fell into emotional numbness, which was crucial for survival.
- Post-Liberation: Finally, survivors faced the challenges of freedom after years of dehumanization.
The Source of Meaning
Frankl discovered that meaning does not lie in external conditions but in how we respond to them. Even in the bleakest situations, one can find meaning in how they face life’s trials.
In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl writes: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
The Legacy of Viktor Frankl
After surviving the Holocaust, Frankl dedicated his life to sharing his insights. He founded logotherapy, a form of existential analysis that emphasizes the importance of finding meaning, especially in times of suffering. His work has helped millions worldwide discover their sources of meaning, regardless of the challenges they face.
Frankl’s life demonstrates the power of meaning. Even in the darkest times, meaning can be found. It provides the strength to endure, survive, and even thrive.
When we ask ourselves, “What is the meaning of life?” we should remember Viktor Frankl’s lesson: Life’s meaning is not something we answer with words but through our choices. It is created moment by moment by how we live.
Frankl, V. E. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.