Finding Meaning in Life Despite the Challenges

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Pg. 105 The quote was made in the concentration camp to depict the devastating conditions. There was a feeling of indifference to death, and that made the prisoners protect their lives of terror. Frankl, wrote the words with the aim of encouraging himself and others. The words mean a lot to me as it depicts a situation in which an individual is not able to cope up with what is happening in the environment and due to that they must change themselves to adjust to the current situation.

The words, however, may motivate an individual to focus and continue working towards enduring any form of suffering.

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.” Pg. 19 Everybody thought about suicide, and I believe that was driven by their sheer hopelessness. The constant thought of death looming over the people every minute made them have abnormal thoughts.

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The quote given by the author justifies the thoughts of suicide that they had in the concentration camps. The people had an abnormal reaction to the situation however it should be treated as normal behavior because the situation was also abnormal. In my understanding, people tend to behave depending on the situations and the conditions in which they are subjected to. Conditions justify the behavior portrayed by an individual.

“We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed” pg 105 I believe the quote above is based on the aspect of logotherapy which makes the patient aware of the responsibility towards their life.

That gives the patient with the option of deciding what is best for them, the patient should focus on interpreting life tasks as either a responsibility to his conscience or society. How I see it, the quote is meant to motivate the people to find meaning in life despite the condition that they are facing as they are a responsibility of the society.

“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him. By his love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized. Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities.” Pg. 104 Frankl used the quote to depict the aspect of mental health by stating that the search for meaning by man may arouse inner tensions rather than equilibrium. The tension is basically between what an individual has achieved and what they are about to accomplish and that brings the aspect of love. Love makes an someone realize their potential and also portray the essential traits. In the concentration camps, it was necessary for the people to show love to others as they lost of people through death. In my opinion, love is a great thing based on what it makes an individual do. It is imperative that we love each other as that makes us realize our potential.

'No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same.' Pg 45 Frankl used the quote to justify the actions in which the people in the concentration camps were focused on keeping themselves alive rather than taking care of their friends too. The mental turmoil that the people went through made them leave the values that they held. This particular quote reinforces the aspect of not judging people unless you are in their shoes. It’s used to protect oneself after they have deserted their values due to several factors that the society might not understand. It is important to focus on the challenges an individual is facing before judging them.

“At such a moment it is not the physical pain which hurts the most; it is the mental agony caused by the injustice, the unreasonableness of it all.” Pg 22 In this instance, the quote illustrates the case of the prisoner who had passed from the first phase to the second. The prisoner achieved emotional death as there was a boundless need to be at home with the family. The feelings of the prisoner were blunted, and that best fits the quote. The mental agony caused by injustice is what hurts most compared to the physical pain that an someone may experience. The experiences a man and or woman undergoes majorly affect their mental well-being compared to their physical being.

“Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time wrongly as you are about to act now! Pg. 102 Frankl explains more information on the logotherapy by highlighting the case of the men in the concentration camp. The concern of an individual even during the times of distress is a mental disease. I think the quote puts the patient in the right context as it makes him aware of what he wants. The patient should live his life as if it is the second time and the first time was wrong. Based on my analysis individuals should focus after undergoing traumatizing situations. That means they should not focus on what has happened but rather make the best out of their current situation.

The book majorly focuses on the theme of finding meaning in life despite the challenges that we undergo. The author presents the situation of a concentration camp in which the people are facing lots of challenges. The people are mistreated and face devastating life conditions. Despite all the situations that they face the author encourages them to find meaning in their lives and focus on their future goals and fulfill their desires (Frankl, Kushner & Winslade, 2006). The book fits in the study of positive psychology as it encourages the people to thrive and achieve the best despite their life situations and the difficulties that the face. Positive psychology is formed on the aspect that individuals want to achieve the best and lead meaningful lives.