REALIZE YOUR WILL TO MEANING

Welcome "home" to the PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS conversation series!  As part of The Meaning Difference Blog, we want to devote space (and time) to a discussion of each of the meaning-centered principles described in my book, PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS.  In an earlier post, we introduced you to the first of Viktor Frankl’s principles, "Exercise the Freedom to Choose Your Attitude"  If you missed the post, I think you will benefit from reviewing it (even would like or need a refresher) as we move on to the second principle:

PRINCIPLE 2: REALIZE YOUR WILL TO MEANING---commit authentically to meaningful values and goals that only you can actualize and fulfill.

Unlike Sigmund Freud’s belief that as human beings we are driven by what he called the Pleasure Principle, known also as the "will to pleasure," and unlike Alfred Adler’s belief that, because human beings are born with feelings of inferiority, we are therefore driven by an innate need to strive for superiority over others (and our environment), know also as the "will for power," Frankl considers our main concern as people to be fulfilling a meaning and actualizing values---what he refers to as the will to meaning.  This primary, intrinsic motivation, in Viktor Frankl's view of human beings, stands in stark contrast to both those of Freud and Adler, who effectively reduce human behavior simply to the gratification and satisfaction of drives and instincts (a kind of "Who Moved My Cheese?" approach). 

In Prisoners of Our Thoughts, I cite a number of business examples we all recognize for each of these principles:

· Will to Pleasure – Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski’s $2 Million birthday bash that he threw for his wife at company expense.

· Will to Power – Ken Lay (Enron) and Bernie Ebbers (Worldcom).

· Will to Meaning - Those CEOs, who although they may also want (or seek) pleasure and authority, demonstrate that the primary motivation for their existence is neither.  Bill Hewlett and David Packard demonstrated Frankl’s will to meaning principle, building Hewlett-Packard from a one-car garage into one of the world’s most admired success stories.  It was a particular set of meaningful values, known as "The HP Way" that guided them in identifying and meeting their objectives, in working with one another, and in dealing with customers, shareholders, employees and others.

Besides these and other examples in my book, of course, there are many others that could be mentioned.  In this regard, I'm sure that you can identify illustrations of each of these principles from your own experience.  And let's not forget the examples that, especially of the will to pleasure and the will to power, that are "exposed" by the mass media.  The recent revelations of the sexual escapades of elected officials, such as former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, underscore that both of these principles continue to trump the will to meaning among those responsible for managing the public's business!

"A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any ‘how’.”
--- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

PUTTING MEANING INTO THIS CONVERSATION...
I'd really like know what you've experienced...and observed in your work and everyday life in regards to these different motivational forces.  Recall a situation in your personal or work life where you were challenged to examine your commitment to meaningful values or goals.  This may even be your current situation.  Perhaps it was or is a relationship or a job assignment that isn’t lining up with your personal values.  Perhaps you were or are just unhappy with the work you are doing.

Consider these questions…
· How did you first recognize this challenge?  What were the first signs?

· What, if anything, did you do? What would you like to do?

· How do you ensure that you remain committed to meaningful values and goals, thereby realizing your will to meaning in your life and work (or in your workplace)?

I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences.  I  look forward to learning about how you have recognized and continue to realize your will to meaning.

Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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Comments

[Paul Maurice Martin]

The recent move of Jeff Bezos to force small publishers to use Amazon's POD press, BookSurge, accompanied by a PR campaign that’s clearly disingenuous to anyone familiar with their company, would not appear to fall in the category of a will to meaning. See, for example, Victoria Strauss's recent blog posts at http://accrispin.blogspot.com/ - she's a HarperCollins author, but she’s at least as well known for her interest in author's rights.

PMA and the Author's Guild have both released statements against Amazon’s action. For me, and no doubt many others, long story short is that it's no longer clear my book can see the light of day. As it was, we were breaking even; we just can't afford to take a loss on every book sold. We're still scrambling to try to figure out a way forward, along with no doubt hundreds of thousands of others who are affected by this effective monopoly by Amazon on the whole printing/production/publishing process as far as small press goes.

No one imagines there's anything to be done. This isn't exactly an era of government oversight of big business.

In recent decades, we first moved to a situation where trade publishers would no longer consider submissions, at least for nonfiction, unless the author had a marketing platform – no matter how excellent the writing or how well qualified the writer. The fixation on increasing profit margins allowed for no more taking chances, ever, on a new author simply because of the quality of the work. As LMP states: "If you are submitting a nonfiction book proposal without a marketing platform, you are wasting your time."

Now we appear to be moving into a situation where even the remote chance of success represented by publishing a book oneself or via a small press is being removed.

Personally, it took 25 years to complete Original Faith under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I kept at it because it truly felt like a calling. It looks, however, like I may need to start reaching for the real depths – fathoming how to celebrate the meaningfulness of meaninglessness! I’ve clearly written a good book – excellent endorsements, despite my lack of renown – but the point of writing is, finally, communication.

I fully agree with your suggestion that we need, desperately I would add (consider global warming and the growing world-wide rich/poor gap), enlightened leadership in major corporations. Over the last 30 years, through campaign financing and concerted lobbying efforts, leaders in big business have truly become the leaders of America whose interests our government officials now represent.

[Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.]

Hi Paul,
As with all authors (ideally, at least), the "point of writing" has MEANING even if their works do not receive the "market distribution" and exposure that they would like. I commend you for completing Original Faith and hope that you still feel like it was "meaningful" to you (even if it is no longer a "calling" for you). Ask yourself: would you rather NOT have written it?! Don't give YOUR power away to others by externalizing the true value and deeper meaning of YOUR creative expression and by "pointing fingers." If only one person, i.e., YOU, read your book, it still has MEANING--for it is an expression of YOU!

[Paul Maurice Martin]

Alex, I whole-heartedly half agree!

That is, yes, I've thought about this, and you're certainly right: I wouldn't have done anything different. The intrinsic meaningfulness of writing creatively is undeniable.

At the same time, I think anyone who has seriously committed him or herself to writing and brings it to successful completion intends to communicate. The act of writing has social/external as well as internal references – a purpose as well as an inherent satisfaction.

Of course, there remain at least a couple of perfectly legitimate ways to obtain the requisite marketing platform: a position in higher education or journalism. Unfortunately for the purpose-aspect of my own writing, the intervention of serious illness made it impossible to go on for my doctorate and a professorship, which would have been the most likely avenue for me.

I do appreciate your reply; there’s no doubt about the reality of inherent meaning.

- Paul