Purpose Unveiled: Man's Search For Meaning

Are you searching for your life's purpose? Look no further than "Man's Search for Meaning." This book unveils the gold in logotherapy and teaches how to implement its principles in your life.

“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather one must recognize that it is they who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life, and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life, he can only respond by being responsible.”

- Viktor E. Frankl -

Book Information

Title: Man's Search For Meaning

Author: Viktor E. Frankl

Publisher: Beacon Press

Genre(s): Psychology, Biography, Autobiography, Personal Narrative

Pages: 180 pages

About: Logotherapy

Advantages: Includes real-life stories (the first part is the writer's experience in concentration camps), light read, easy to understand.

The story of Viktor E. Frankl, founder of logotherapy, is a testament to the human desire for meaning even in the face of unimaginable suffering. Unlike Freud and Adler, who believed that life is a search for pleasure or power, Frankl believed that life has meaning, and it is our responsibility to discover it. He argued that suffering is a relative experience, much like the behavior of gas, which fills any container entirely and evenly, regardless of its size.

Spiritual Freedom

Frankl believed that we have the power to maintain our spiritual freedom even in the most challenging circumstances. He argued that everything can be taken away from us except our last freedom - the freedom to choose our attitude in any situation. We can choose to submit to those who threaten to rob us of our inner freedom, or we can refuse to become the playthings of circumstance. Under any circumstance, we can decide what shall become of us, mentally and spiritually.

For Frankl, how we bear our suffering is an inner achievement that gives life meaning and purpose. Suffering itself is meaningless, but how we respond to it gives it meaning. Therefore, suffering is an amplifier that adds profound meaning to our lives. While there are some things we cannot control in life, we can always control our reactions and responses.

Success and happiness are not to be pursued; instead, they ensue as the unintended side effects of dedicating oneself to a cause greater than oneself. Having a rich inner life and spiritual freedom allows us to seek comfort and retreat when needed. Despite difficulties, maintaining a high moral standard and moral values may allow us to forgo the opportunity to achieve something through our suffering. Finally, having a goal or a future set in our minds, what Frankl called "inner time," can give us direction and purpose.

The Meaning of Suffering

The book discusses the meaning of suffering and how it can help us gain inner strength to push through and find purpose in life. The author shares a story of their time in a concentration camp, which can be relatable to those who feel lost or without direction in life. The book emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility to find answers to our problems and fulfilling the tasks assigned to us at each moment. It also highlights the significance of having a purpose, hope, or faith in something to look forward to. The reader is encouraged to gain a new perspective and mindset towards life, which can help them gain inner strength to face challenges. Life expects something from us, and we must fulfill that purpose to find meaning and fulfillment.

We can find meaning in life by taking responsibility for our problems and fulfilling our assigned tasks. The author mentions the concept of "provisional existence," where one lives without a goal or a future, leading to a decline in mental health. Instead of dwelling on the past, we can cultivate inner strength by setting goals for the future. As quoted by Spinoza, we can overcome emotional suffering by forming a clear picture of it. We must never lose hope or courage, as these are essential to our mental well-being. The book also discusses the importance of suffering and how it can help us gain inner strength.

New Perspective

We all experience emptiness, inner void, and meaninglessness in our lives, especially in this era of technology, where life presents us with overwhelming options. I, too, felt empty despite having a jam-packed schedule. I felt bored with my work and questioned its meaning in my life. I often felt stressed and lost, pondering why my existence seemed meaningless. As a result, I procrastinated, wasting my days on my bed watching movies I wasn't even interested in while aimlessly scrolling through my social media feeds, feeling more unmotivated as time passed me by.

This book shed light on what I was experiencing and helped me understand my feelings and what actions to take. It also gave me a new perspective on suffering. The book explains that humans' search for meaning often creates inner tension rather than equilibrium. We often think that we will feel at peace once we know our purpose in life. However, the author of the book, Frankl, contends otherwise. He argues that some degree of inner tension is essential and is, in fact, an indispensable prerequisite for mental health. It helps one survive any situation by giving a reason to live, as quoted by Nietzsche. By reading this book, we can gain a new perspective and mindset towards life, which can help us develop our inner strength to tackle life's challenges. Life expects something from us, and it is up to us to fulfill that expectation by finding our purpose and having faith in the future.

Many of us believe that the purpose of life is to discover a single, universal meaning. However, according to Frankl, the meaning of life is constantly changing. It varies from day to day and from person to person. What's important is not the overall meaning of life but rather the unique significance of each individual's life at any given moment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the book not only delves into the philosophy of suffering but serves as a guide to finding purpose, maintaining hope, and navigating the complexities of life. It bridges the gap between existential questions and practical solutions, providing tools to cultivate inner strength and resilience. Ultimately, it reminds us that life is not about what happens to us but how we respond to what happens to us.

I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to find meaning in their life. It's constructive for those who have lost their passion for what they do and those who feel overwhelmed by the prospect of starting a new chapter, such as graduating from school or changing jobs. Additionally, it is excellent for anyone dealing with procrastination, feelings of unfulfillment, boredom, and meaninglessness and looking for ways to become more productive and motivated. It can also provide a different perspective on suffering, purpose, and life. Anyone seeking to overcome an experience or find the courage to face upcoming challenges may discover valuable insights from this book.