Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in life… Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
I just completed, for the second time, Man’s Search for Meaning, by Nazi concentration camp survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl. The book is ranked as the eighth most influential book ever written, and for good reason.
I thought I would post four quotes from the book and end the post with a couple comments.
From the Book
Frankl practiced “…”height psychology” which focused on a person’s future and his or her conscious decision and actions… stressing the importance of helping people attain new heights of personal meaning…” p 155
“… the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” P 62
“Love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire… The salvation of man is through love and in love… Love goes very beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds is deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self.” P 36
“Man’s search for meaning is a primary motivation in his life and not a “secondary realization” of instinctual drives. This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance which satisfy his on will to meaning.” P 93
Thoughts
Although I’ve written on this subject A LOT I was inspired by Vicktor Frankl’s emphasis hope for a future, attitude is a personal choice (no matter the situation), and love.
- Hope for a future. I am a strong believer in hope for future dreams. I exist for dreams. I always have desires for my future. In the Western world you have the privilege to hope for getting or doing something, or being somebody different than you are now. After three years of near death experiences in Nazi concentration camps Frankl never lose his hope for a future. And he helped hundreds of others learn to feel the same way.
- Attitude is a Personal Choice. Frankl is determined that you can choose your attitude as you pursue your hopes for the future (and your attitude when that future doesn’t come to fruition). From above, “… the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude…”
- Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which any man can aspire… I don’t know how a man can says those words during his three years in a Nazi concentration camp. I guess it demonstrates the importance of love in our life. Your key relationships will stay with you till you die.
Hope for a Future
And Live Today As If It Has Arrived!
Photo courtesy of brickrena at istockphoto
