Man's Search for Meaning

Sometimes a book can literally change who you are. One such book, for me, was “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. I was absolutely riveted by the insight and wisdom contained in this book.

Frankl imparts his experience of laboring in Nazi concentration camps over a five year period. He was a successful man and then, one day, absolutely everything was taken from him. His very identity was stripped away; a number was tattooed on his arm giving him his “new” identity. His parents, brother and pregnant wife were all killed. This complete dehumanization is such an appalling thought that my mind cannot grasp it.  But Frankl goes on. He survives years of unimaginable physical and psychological torture. He holds on to the only thing he has left: himself. He makes a choice to stay strong and search for a meaning in his new life. He allows his mind to take over and keep him sane on a journey through hell.  

Frankl shows that you often can’t avoid disastrous circumstances, but you are the only one who can choose how to adapt, find meaning and continue on your path. In the book, Frankl discusses other men, and how they dealt with these horrors. Some gave up hope and wasted away. Some turned into animals. It’s hard to imagine how one would respond; you couldn’t know if this torture would ever end and I think it may be easy to lose hope, to perhaps even hope for death. Frankl argues that one must dig deep inside and find a reason to live, a meaning to every suffering.

Most of us will never experience this type of absolute low point in life, but I believe that this type of circumstance is when you truly know yourself. No one can give you an ultimate purpose and meaning, this is a journey that only you can take. I see so many people going through the motions of life who seem to have no purpose. I have a strong belief that my purpose in life is to accept suffering, to love others and myself and to learn and find meaning every day of my life. Frankl says “He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How.”

Read this book. I honestly don’t see how anyone could not be profoundly impacted by Frankl’s moving work.