Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning - Essay Example

Part Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning The notion of “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl relates to persons getting their psychological freedom and being able to determine their feelings and views. Frankl states that there is not even a single thing in the world that he ventures to say that would so efficiently assist an individual to survive even the worst situations as the idea that there is existence of meaning in one’s life. A man’s search for meaning of life is an important mission of his or her existence; nevertheless, meaning requires a profound personal understanding of an individual’s history and future aims (Frankl, Viktor 86). Contrarily, the incapability to acquire meaning in life causes distress, addiction, boredom, aggression and even depression. Now this is what brings us to what Frankl describes as the state of meaninglessness. Psychological responses to the worst experiences are never predetermined by any given circumstance, no-matter how strong or weak it is. Meaning of life comes from within an individual in spite of the existing despair. Personal responsibility is always the best way for an individual to gain meaning. And this is considered likely if the person does not surrender to negative mind-set of others and be true to him or herself. Frankl states that it is possible to be frequently exposed to death and misery of Auschwitz, yet still get a way of discovering meaning in this grief. Even while death seems to be unavoidable, Frankl thinks that individuals have the central capacity to reflect positively on the all the good things they have achieved in their entire lifetime and to put in perception the current meaning of their grief (Frankl, Viktor 87). When a fella apprehends that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to consider his grief as his task; his only exceptional mission. And normally this is what is considered to be the state of meaninglessness. A person will have to live with the fact that even during suffering he is alone and experiences a unique situation in the universe. And that no other person is capable of relieving him or suffering for his or her sake. His or her unique opportunity depends on how he or she carries the burden. Frankl describes the diverse phases of psychological response that were common to all the prisoners. These stages are alleged to have ensued in a sequential way, from shock to apathy then to freedom readjustments. He states that he was able to witness the grace even in the worst case scenarios. Frankl quotes “we who stayed in the concentration camps can never forget the men who went past the huts consoling others, giving them their last taste of bread. There might be a few of them, and they gave enough proof to show that a man can never lose freedom. A man has the Freedom to pick his attitude in any particular set of situation or in his own way.” A description of Frankl’s several experiences within the German Concentration Camps is considered to have had great effects on his rational. It was mostly composed of immeasurable suffering and the life meaninglessness (Frankl, Viktor 93). All these experiences at the camp made Frankl think about meanings and their psychological gains, particularly in relation to dealing with suffering of life. For illustration, it is clear that individuals own several meanings that give sense and purpose to their lives and apart from death, lack of approval of personal peers, good love-life, comfort, family relations and happiness can be considered as some of the causes of meaninglessness. For instance, when none of the common meanings of life is available, like concentration camp, and instead there is only bad health, sorrow, denial, inhumanness and lack of wealth, then life becomes meaningless. In Frankl’s experience, several persons simply lose hope in life under these circumstances and decide to commit suicide in one way or another. Nevertheless, not all people do this. Frankl’s query was then the difference between these two people. What force drives some persons to go on fighting for their life, while others just lose hope? Frankl’s response to this was that some people had Purpose or Meaning of existence. “A person who has a reason to live for can survive almost any pressure. “ Part 2: How Logo-therapy deals with the existential loss of meaning In the second part, with respect to Frankl’s thesis of Logo-therapy, an individual is capable of satisfying his or her existential loss of meaning in his or her life by performing deeds. These deeds majorly involve experiencing things or conferencing somebody, or by relating your attitudes to the problem-solving. The particular avenue for meaning relies on the character’s mentality, selection and history. Therefore, there is not even a single method or technique of finding a sense in life, and no precise grouping can be identified to be the most pleasing avenue for everyone. Apart from the method of the bottom-up approach of realizing an objective to live for, there are other methods of re-establishing the meaning of life (Frankl, Viktor 99). These comprise, and the first method involves performing a deed, the second one involves experiencing something or meeting someone, and the third method involves demonstrating a particular boldness towards suffering. Logo-therapy, According to Frankl is a form of psychotherapy concerned with finding meaning in an individual’s life. One of the key principles of logo-therapy is that several forms of psychopathology, for instance, mental illness are rooted in a simple lack of meaning of life. Thus, the main work of a therapist is to control or cure these mental illnesses. In simple words, psychoanalysis maintains that the psychotherapy involves unravelling the dealings of the past, a kind of archaeology. Logo-therapy, in contrast, maintains that psychotherapy involves getting an orientation toward the future, particularly toward meanings to be ascertained in the future, this is a type of teleology. For Frankl, the issue does not simply involve coming to an abstract meaning of life, but a concrete purpose that one really lives out, hence the emphasis on the notion of responsibility. And Frankl further considers the basic objective to be “Will to Meaning,” which is more concrete than a “Will to desire,” or “…to power.” For instance, it is clear that several people will suffer and even pass on for their values. Nevertheless, the “Will to meaning” can sometimes be exasperating. It is known as the “Existential Frustration.” And this is a section of everyone’s involvement, so it is not pathological itself. Conversely, a strong and persistent pattern of existential frustration can cause “Noogenic Neuroses.” These are forms of mental illnesses caused by lack of meaning of life. Generally, Frankl regards being human in relation to “Noodynamics,” and this is the pressure between one’s targets and his or her achievements. Part 3: Benefits of reading the book “Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning.” A positive outlook is most important to the mental health. It is also considered to be a truism leaning on cant. I am so convinced of the proselytizers of positive rational, for example, the “search for meaning of existence,” which considers the intentions readily decided on then effectively implemented. The decision to try to realize the meaning in life requires a constant persistence and some level of skill that comes only from practice and adoption of cognitive strategies. These strategies are aimed at out-thinking your style of pessimism, fear and despair. For others with stern medical disorders, treatment and specialised aid might be appropriate (Frankl, Viktor 103). This book thus provides the necessary aspirational goals that are necessary for the determination of the meaning of life. A single advantage of this book is that at least a single man while in hell, still had hope, dignity, optimism, and belief in meaning of life. Identifying that things can be done is the initial step of beating the challenge. I am so sceptical of systematic approaches, but the problem-solving starts with identification of defeatism, pessimism and fatalism, and that they can be solved. The will to wage war against them, and that of discovering your meaning of life is personal and depends on your motives. References Frankl, Viktor E.. Mans search for ultimate meaning. New York: Insight Books, 1997. Print. Frankl, Viktor E.. Mans search for meaning. Boston: Beacon Press, 2006. Print. Interview: “Tuesday With Morrie” Part 2. ABC News. Web. 9 Oct. 2014. 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