Meaning Making

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

Occasionally I read a book that really makes me think and leaves that lingering feeling of satisfaction that my life has been made better or will soon be made better simply because I read a book. Last week I had just such an experience and it has left me thoughtful and introspective. This book was not new in my life nor was its author. I have long known about Viktor Frankl and his theories of logotherapy. Not only have I read some of his work and philosophies, I have used them in papers of my own and in my own teaching. I make a point of teaching nursing students about logotherapy as in my mind the idea of meaning making plays an integral and oft neglected role in medical professions. And then at some point recently I realized ashamedly that I have either never read Viktor Frankl's most popular work or have little memory of reading it (given my memory quite possible). I am happy to say that reading Man's search for meaning was akin to first eating chocolate souffle when you already adore chocolate. 

So what about the book so moved me? I think it was partly my awe of Frankl's ability to apply his theories so honestly but objectively to such personal suffering and so soon after it had occurred. It is not often that a famous psychiatrist ends up surviving four years of concentration camps and is then able and willing to use that experience professionally to help others. Also, he wrote the entire book in nine days which would have been incredible on its own. The book really makes you look deep into human nature and the elements that make our lives worthwhile (hint - its not money or popularity). Frankl focuses on the role of suffering in our lives and ways in which it can enrich us. I like to imagine him and Siddhartha would have been close friends and would have walked beside rivers deep in conversation or silence. And based on this book and the peaceful undertones of Buddhism I am also thinking that maybe growth through suffering and meaning making is undervalued today. Obviously the aim here is not to seek suffering but I think this is about a type of mental resilience that is best achieved when meaning is present. In Frankl's words: "Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for". So here's to living a life of meaning rather than one of acclaim. Now Ive just got to figure out what that means. 

I didn't expect to enjoy watching war planes fly in formation so much but this photo seemed fitting

Why does it make us all so happy when we find a baby orange in our orange?

Norway is wonderful but that girl behind the cookie is really something else