The Meaning Difference

No One Left Behind: Searching for Meaning in Education

“The beginning of every government starts with the education of our youth,” Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher and mathematician, advises us. 

The official end of summer is nearing and with it comes the beginning of the new school year.  Back to school sales are a familiar sight and last minute family outings try to hold on to time quickly passing by.  Whether anyone likes it or not, it’s time to get back to the books, parent-teacher conferences, academic standards, career planning, extracurricular activities, and, hopefully, the joy of learning (as well as an uneventful flu season)! 

Yet with all of the attention being paid to the health care reform, or as some would prefer to call it, the “health insurance,” debate, there does not appear to be much concern about reforming another massive human service system that also isn’t working as well as it should.  I’m talking about education reform.  And one would think, along the lines suggested by Pythagoras, that a focus on improving the quality of education in America, along with an investment in “educating” the public about the fundamental importance of education in creating and sustaining a democratic society, would be no-brainers.  Unfortunately, I’m afraid that we have not yet realized­-and perhaps do not fully understand­-the true meaning and implications of Pythagoras’s profound words.

Last year, I contributed an essay to a book with the powerful and provocative title, Responsibility 911: With Great Liberty Comes Great Responsibility.  Importantly, the 56 authors in this anthology make a strong and diversified case for the role that responsibility plays in a free society.  The contributors, moreover, represent the gamut of political perspectives, as well as come from the diverse worlds of business, government, and nonprofits, including religion and education.  Besides my chapter, for example, this book includes contributions from the likes of George W. Bush, Jack Canfield, Howard Gardner, George McGovern, Barack Obama, John McCain, Pope John Paul II, Ross Perot, Tom Peters, Christopher Reeve, Anita Roddick, Norman Schwartzkopf, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Desmond Tutu, and Oprah Winfrey.  You get the picture!  The issue of personal (and collective) responsibility is examined from multiple, diverse points of view.

Let me suggest now that the ideals of education reform are closely tied to the responsibility issue.  Moreover, unlike the debate surrounding health care, which is treated, more often than not, strictly as a matter of “entitlement,” the aims of education can never be achieved without personal responsibility on the parts of students/learners, parents, teachers, and other involved stakeholders, in addition to the collective responsibility of families, local/state jurisdictions, and other levels of community and society.  To be sure, there are also elements of personal responsibility at work in the health care arena, such as those that require “preventive” action to reduce health care costs and counteract the illnesses, diseases, and accidents that require primary care intervention.  This said, in a “managed care” and “disease management” culture, health care in America still is based more on a “take care of me,” sickness, entitlement model than it is one based on the notion of personal responsibility for health and wellness.

In the education arena, a “teach me,” ignorance, entitlement model has less chance of observable or sustainable success without a measurable dose of responsibility by those seeking access to and services from the “system.”  In other words, while you, as a patient, don’t necessarily have to be “engaged” with health care service providers in order to achieve the benefits that they offer, you, as a student (or parent), do need to be engaged with education service providers, especially teachers, in order to achieve the benefits that they offer.  The education process, in the final analysis, is a two-way street.  Minus some kind of brain implant like those depicted in science fiction, which is probably something that we would not want to see become reality, the true benefits of education derive as the “return on investment” that is made in yourself and in your future.  And this kind of “ROI” can only occur when you become fully engaged and demonstrate that you are responsible for the investment.

I’ve had the good fortune of sharing my meaning-centered message with public school systems and other educational entities and speaking at conferences where the pursuit of excellence in education was the primary theme.  For example, I’ve keynoted the National Quality Education Conference in the USA, as well as addressed some 10,000 teachers in Canada.  Most recently, I had the opportunity to be the convocation keynote speaker and conduct in-service training for teachers and administrators representing an independent school district in Texas.  Importantly, the topic of my engagement with the local school district was “Meaningful Improvement: Engaging Minds, Achieving Results.”  In other words, education “reform,” to be truly effective and sustainable, needs to be both meaningful and engaging.  And the power of full engagement, in all of life’s pursuits, stems from the search for meaning, which is the primary, intrinsic motivation of human beings.  This basic tenet, moreover, applies to everyone involved in the educational process­-students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community-at-large. 

No person can be left behind if we really expect to see meaningful improvement in our education “system,” broadly-defined, become a reality.

Meaningfully,
Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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Adapted and reprinted from Alex Pattakos, Huffington Post

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Can You Deal with Life’s “Crises”?

Faced with an economic crisis, a housing crisis, a healthcare crisis, a global warming crisis, and a “war on terror” that appears to have no end in sight, it’s no wonder that Americans are becoming increasingly stressed out!  To be sure, life in the 21st Century is much more complex and complicated than what I had imagined when I was growing up.  By the time we reached that magical year, “2000,” I visualized and assumed that we all would be living in a utopian world much like “The Jetsons,” the popular animated television show of the 1960s (by the way, a live-action adaptation of The Jetsons, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Brothers, is set for release in 2009!).

Alright, so the future is here and what I had imagined as a child--that is, my utopian, “Jetson-like,” heaven on earth vision--did not come to pass.  And, yes, we live in uncertain, volatile, fragile, and undoubtedly, stressful times.  But life goes on, does it not?  Why is it, however, that some people appear to have an easier time dealing with complex and challenging situations than others?  And why do some people seem more capable of coping with stress, life challenges, and even “crises” outside of their control, than others?  One could say that through our various life experiences and from the investments we make in our own personal growth and development, our repertoire of coping skills can and usually does change over time.  In other words, when we invest in ourselves­-through, for instance, such things as training, counseling, and various methods of self-discovery--the return, we figure, is going to be a renewed effectiveness in dealing with life’s situations and, ideally, a more healthy and fulfilling life.

Naturally, this sounds pretty good.  I’m afraid, however, that good intentions are not enough to get us through the myriad of life transitions that we all must face.  Let me propose further that it’s simply not enough to have a repertoire of coping skills (or, put differently, a “toolbox” filled with coping mechanisms) at our disposal, no matter how much we may have “paid” for them, when confronting life’s formidable challenges and when dealing with stress.  There is actually something more fundamental that, ultimately, must precede the use of such mechanisms if we really want to build and sustain our “coping” and stress management capabilities.

I was blessed to have as a mentor, the world-renown psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl, whose personal story of finding a reason to live in the most horrendous of circumstances­Nazi concentration camps­has inspired millions of people all around the world.  In my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts (which I wrote at Dr. Frankl’s personal urging), you’ll find his philosophy and therapeutic approach applied to life and work in the 21st Century.  In this regard, here is an important passage from my book that relates directly to building one’s capacity for dealing with stress even under unimaginable conditions; it describes Frankl’s thoughts upon his arrival at Auschwitz:

Unless there was a 100% guarantee that I will be killed here on the spot, and I will never survive this concentration camp last part of my life, unless there is any guarantee, I’m responsible for living from now on in a way that I may make use of the slightest chance of survival, ignoring the great danger surrounding me in also all of the following camps I had been sent.  This, as it were, a coping, not mechanism, but a coping maxim I adopted, I espoused, at that moment.
(Emphasis Added)

In Frankl’s case, had he not adopted his coping beliefs upon his arrival at Auschwitz, he might not have been able to sustain his optimistic and passionate view about his chances of survival. Importantly, by choosing his fundamental attitude, which he called his “coping maxim,” the coping mechanisms in his psychiatrist tool kit then became more meaningful and effective, not only for himself but also for his fellow prisoners, who were trying against the odds to survive the inescapable horrors of the Nazi death camps.

What lessons, we should all ask ourselves, can we learn from Dr. Frankl’s experience?  Think about difficult situations in your own life or work in which your attitude played a defining role in how well you were able to cope.  Think about the coping mechanisms that were at your disposal.  Did you choose to use them?  Why or why not?  How effective were you in coping with the situation and the stresses that may have been associated with it?  Now ask yourself a more fundamental question: What guides your coping skills?  In other words, what principle or principles underlie your decision-making during crises and in complex, challenging, and stressful situations?

Now ponder the times when you observed people who were guided by their coping skills in difficult decision-making situations.  I am sure that you can identify cases of extraordinary resolve by your family members, friends, and co-workers during times of hardship­personal or occupational.  Although these situations may not have been as catastrophic as that experienced by Viktor Frankl, they may still have been formidable and highly stressful, and perhaps even inescapable, challenges to overcome or survive. 

• What can you learn from these people and how will you “grow” from their experiences? 
• As a result, what principle or principles will underlie and guide your decision-making in complex, challenging, and stressful situations, including crises, now and in the future? 
• What is your coping maxim?

All the best,
Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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Finding Deeper Meaning in the 2008 Olympics

We have the Baron Pierre de Coubertin to thank for bringing back the ideals of Olympism and for giving us the chance to experience one of the most universally recognized events and symbols of peace in the world.

As we experience the final week of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, it seems important to remember the meaning behind them described in the fundamental principles in the Olympic Charter.

"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will, and mind. Blending Sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example, and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

To add even deeper meaning to your 2008 Olympics experience, I invite you to learn more about the rich history behind it and The Original Meaning of the Olympics, an article I recently shared in my new column for The Huffington Post. You can find my "Living with Meaning" column regularly in the Living Section.

What have you learned in experiencing the 2008 Olympics?

What has been most meaningful?

What ideas do you have for keeping the Olympism "philosophy of life" one that we can live by?

Hope to hear from you.

All the best,
Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Learn more

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International Bestseller! PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS is included in the national Top-10 bestseller list for nonfiction books by EL PERIÓDICO, a national newspaper of Spain! 

The Spirit and True Meaning of DIALOGUE

In his keynote address to more than 50,000 people during the Seeds of Compassion Conference in Seattle, Washington, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, urged everyone to have hope for the future and called for a “century of dialogue.”  Trying to avoid direct reference to the situation in Tibet at this essentially nonpolitical event, the Dalai Lama's message still sought to replace the current period of civil strife and what he called “constant war” with one that had dialogue at its core.

I think that you would agree with me that the Dalai Lama’s message not only is a reflection of the “audacity of hope” but also is a manifestation of his authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals, that is, what I refer to in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, the “will to meaning.”

What and Why of DIALOGUE
Yet, I also believe that hope is not a strategy and that the pursuit of meaning takes much more than words alone.  So what is dialogue and why is it so difficult to do?  We all hear the word “dialogue” battered around rather loosely, used indiscriminately (like the boy who learns how to use a hammer and then finds that everything could use a bit of hammering!), and referred to in ways that would seem to make it an easy thing to do.  Besides suggesting that we all need to use the process of “dialogue” in group settings as a way to resolve conflicts, solve problems, and even promote innovation, we also are frequently called upon to have an “inner dialogue” with ourselves.  Perhaps in this way, we’ll actually get to “know” ourselves better and increase the likelihood of achieving our highest potential!

This brings us back to the basic question, “why is dialogue easier said than done?!”  Let’s begin to answer this question by first seeking to understand what is meant by the word dialogue at its “root” level.  The word dialogue actually comes from two Greek words--dia, meaning “through,” and logos, most frequently but only roughly translated in English as “the meaning.”  Upon closer examination, the various translations of the word logos, a common Greek word, reveal that it has deep spiritual roots.  In fact, the concept of logos can be found in most of the great works describing the history of Christianity, as well as throughout the literature on religion and Western philosophy.

In this regard, one of the first references to logos as “spirit” came from the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, around 500 BC.  The logos of Heraclitus has been interpreted in various ways, as the “logical,” as “meaning,” and as “reason”; but, as the German philosopher Martin Heidegger has pointed out, “What can logic…do if we never begin to pay heed to the logos and follow its initial unfolding?”  To Heraclitus, this “initial unfolding” viewed the logos as responsible for the harmonic order of the universe, as a cosmic law which declared that “One is All and Everything is One.”

The doctrine of the logos was the linchpin of the religious thinking by the Jewish philosopher, Philo of Alexandria, who, while not always consistent in his use of the term, clearly established it as belonging only to the “spiritual” realm.  Indeed, Philo sometimes suggested that the logos is the “highest idea of God that human beings can attain…higher than a way of thinking, more precious than anything that is merely thought.”  For Philo, the logos was Divine, it was the source of energy from which the human soul became manifest.  Consistent with the logocentric character of Philo’s thought, “it is through the Logos and the Logos alone that man is capable of participating in the Divine.”

Moreover, Philo’s confidence in the human mind rests on the self-assurance that the human intellect is ultimately related to the divine Logos, “…being an imprint, or fragment or effulgence of that blessed nature, or…being a portion of the divine ether.”  To Philo, the origins of logos as “spirit” were clearly well documented in the writings of the early Greek philosophers and the theologians of his era.  This kind of interpretation of logos also has received attention most recently in Karen Armstrong’s bestseller, A History of God, in which she notes that St. John had made it clear that Jesus was the Logos and, moreover, that the Logos was God.

DIALOGUE with Deeper Meaning
Interpreting logos in this way, that is, viewing it as a manifestation of spirit or soul, carries with it significant implications, both conceptual and practical.  Dialogue, as a concept, takes on a new and deeper meaning when it is perceived as a group’s accessing a “larger pool of common spirit” through a distinctly spiritual connection between the members.  This suggests more than “collective thinking,” although dialogue certainly is a determinant of such a holistic process.  Spirit flowing through the participants in dialogue leads to collective thinking, which, in turn, facilitates both a common understanding and a common “meaning.”  Furthermore, authentic dialogue enables individuals to acknowledge that they each are part of a greater whole, that they naturally resonate with others within this whole, and that the whole is, indeed, greater than the sum of its various parts.

Herein, however, lies the difficulty associated with engaging people in “authentic” dialogue--it cannot and will not happen if we are “prisoners of our thoughts.”  True dialogue will only occur if the participating stakeholders are willing to enter the spiritual realm of the logos and “converse,” if you will, on this deeper level.  Cognitive, so-called “knowledge-based,” interactions are not sufficient for authentic dialogue to occur.  One must be open and willing to entertain a diversity of thought and discover a common ground by going to a higher ground.  And, to be sure, this is extremely difficult, if not seemingly impossible, for most of us to do, especially when the “stakes” are high.          

I don’t believe that we have to become a “Dalai Lama” to have hope for the future.  I also don’t believe that we have to become a “Dalai Lama” to engage in authentic dialogue with others (and with ourselves).  The Dalai Lama’s call for a “century of dialogue” is not only possible but is within our reach, should we choose to pursue and authentically commit to such a meaningful value and goal.  Once again, this requires that we discover common ground in and through our relationship with others. 
However, “You can never enter into relationship with others if you believe that you have a monopoly on truth.”  I’ll never forget this profound statement, made in the summer of 1996 by the late German Catholic Bishop Hermann Josef Spital at “Mountain House,” the international conference centre in Caux, Switzerland (above Montreux).  At the time, I was President of Renaissance Business Associates, an international nonprofit association of people committed to promoting sound business ethics and elevating the human spirit in the workplace, and was facilitating a dialogue session with participants from some 80 countries at Mountain House. 

To say the least, my entire experience at Caux was transformational and I learned more about the process of authentic dialogue in action during my stay at Mountain House than during any other time of my life!  And because I saw firsthand the process working and the positive results that ensued from it, I’m pleased to report that the Dalai Lama’s vision is not as far-fetched as it may initially appear.  (By the way, I was fortunate to be at Mountain House when the Dalai Lama visited and was a speaker!)

So, I ask you:
What are you going to do in your life and work to demonstrate that there is hope for the future, as well as to help create a “century of dialogue” in the world around you?

FOOTNOTE: It is not mere coincidence that Viktor Frankl’s System of Logotherapy, as I describe in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, intends both to “humanize” and “spiritualize” psychotherapy.  Like with the word, dialogue, the root of Logotherapy contains the now familiar to you Greek word, “logos.”

All the best,

Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Learn more

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International Bestseller! PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS is included in the national Top-10 bestseller list for nonfiction books by EL PERIÓDICO, a national newspaper of Spain!

Dancing in the Footsteps of Zorba!

I just returned from Crete, the largest of the Greek islands.  For those interested in world history, Crete, among other things, was the center of the Minoan civilization (2600-1400 BCE), the oldest civilization in Europe.  Although I had been to Crete before, this time proved to be one of the most meaningful life experiences for me. 

Just in case you haven't read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, or haven't figured out the ethnic origin of my last name, "Pattakos," let me help you.  It's Greek.  And more importantly, it's Cretan!  Proudly, I can also say that the Pattakos clan, whose roots are deeply embedded in the "soul" of Crete, has been actively engaged in the political arena throughout Crete's history, long before it became an official part of Greece.  In fact, my great-great-grandfather, Apostolos Konstantinos Pattakos, was a member of the First National Assembly of Crete (the equivalent of the U.S. Congress or a national Parliament) and was a leader in the "Great Cretan Revolution" against the Ottoman Empire.

Indeed, my Cretan ancestors were true revolutionaries in mind, body, and spirit.  Their passion for freedom, in effect, can be traced to their DNA.  Importantly, in this regard, the Pattakos clan originated from the Sfakiá region of Crete, a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island that is one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers.  Hence, to them, "freedom or death," a notion that was eloquently described in a book, Freedom or Death, by the world-famous writer, novelist, and poet, Nikos Kazantzakis (himself a Cretan), was a way to realize in no uncertain terms their will to meaning.  The prolific Kazantzakis, I should add, is best known for two novels that eventually became award-winning movies: Last Temptation of Christ and Zorba the Greek.

How many of you have seen the movie, Zorba the Greek?  The title role of "Alexis Zorba" was played by the late, great American actor, Anthony Quinn, who received a "Best Actor" Academy Award nomination (the movie, by the way, won three Oscars).  And if you haven't yet seen the movie (it's available on DVD), I'm sure that you are familiar with the movie's classic song, "Zorba's Dance" ("Horos Tou Zorba"), if not the entire soundtrack! Just thinking about this song makes me feel like dancing a la Zorba--and breaking a few plates! 

Watch "Zorba's Dance" with Anthony Quinn on YouTube!
Click HERE

Well, folks, during my recent time in Crete, I did something very special in honor of my Cretan ancestors, in honor of Nikos Kazantsakis, and, of course, in honor of Alexis Zorba (aka Anthony Quinn).  I not only visited, but danced, on the same beach, the same sand, as did Anthony Quinn in the movie, Zorba the Greek!

O.k., right now, your're probably saying, "how silly, is he crazy or what?!"  But wait a minute.  Remember Zorba, and the purpose and meaning that dance had in his life, especially when he found himself going against the wind and facing formidable challenges?  Dance proved not only to be a "release," or way to manage stress, but also an "inspirational force" that guided him through the stress so that he could confront--and ideally overcome--the challenges that he was facing in life and work.  This, my friends, is not just part of a storyboard that can be used in a movie scene.  On the contrary, the longstanding tradition of Cretan dance is well-known and well-documented as a way of life, an authentic integration of mind, body, and spirit.  Indeed, especially during hard times, such as those involving foreign occupation and oppression, the Cretans viewed and used dance as a vehicle for creative expression and inspiration; in other words, as a source of authentic meaning.  It was the "dance" that helped my ancestors and their fellow Cretans not become "prisoners of their thoughts," even when they were prisoners of foreign powers.  And it was the "dance" that enabled Alexis Zorba to see through the fog of everyday life and inspire himself and others to achieve their highest potential.

Only a very short time ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to practice the "dance" in the very footsteps of Zorba the Greek!  In the process, I also connected with my ancestors, with my family roots, like never before.  How can that not be meaningful?! 

Now, what about you?
What kind of "dance" are you practicing in your life?  In your work?  How might (does) the "dance" help you discover the seeds of meaning that represent your life?  Moreover, how have you been able to connect with your ancestors?  Do you believe that such a connection can be a source of meaning for you? 

If you are willing to share any experiences or thoughts about this topic, please do so. 
I'd all love to hear from you, so that we can practice the "dance" together!

All the best,
Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

VIKTOR FRANKL: A Legacy Remembered

RELATED COMMEMORATIVE ONLINE EXHIBIT
at the Global Dialogue Center
Viktor Frankl: The Man, His Message, His Principles
2005 Tribute to commemorate his 100th Anniversary
Visit now

On September 2, 2007, it will be ten years since Dr. Viktor Frankl passed on.  It was the same week in 1997 when Princess Diana was killed in a tragic automobile accident (on Sunday, August 31st) and when Mother Teresa died (on Friday, September 5th).  Dr. Frankl's death occurred in the middle of this week--on Tuesday.  Indeed, it was a very strange week for the world, a week of significant loss when one considers the humanitarian influence that each of these individuals had brought to bear during their respective life times.

Beyond the Media Infatuations
As we approach each of these three milestone dates and reflect upon the lives and legacies of Princess Diana, Dr. Frankl, and Mother Teresa, it is worth noting that only Dr. Frankl's memory and contributions to humankind seem to get overlooked by the mass media.  For me, it is a case of "deja vu" all over again!  During the first week of September 1997, the death of Princess Diana was the news, overshadowing the deaths of both Dr. Frankl and Mother Teresa.  Ten years later, not much has changed.  The infatuation with the life and death of Princess Diana has, once again, moved to center stage in both the printed and electronic media.  On television, for example, one can now watch "Diana's Last Day" or, for those who would like a more longitudinal view, "Princess Diana: The Legend and Legacy."  From a conspiracy perspective, there is even a television program that purports to document "The Murder of Princess Diana."

In death, Mother Teresa has also caught the media's attention as we approach this historic week of "anniversaries."  Most notably, Mother Teresa graces the front cover of the September 3, 2007, issue of Time Magazine, and is the subject of a much debated cover story entitled, "The Secret Life of Mother Teresa," wherein it is reported that she had, at times, questioned her faith.  Interestingly, this same issue of Time also includes an essay on "The Diana Effect."  Let's face it, you can't escape the near obsession that the media has with the late Princess!

As I write this posting, I am still waiting to come across some media coverage of the life and legacy of Viktor Frankl.  I think that it will be fascinating to see what kind of attention to Dr. Frankl and his life/work may surface in the various "mass" media.  In this connection, I call on everyone who reads this blog to keep your eyes open for such occurrences and please-please-please let me and everyone else know what you find by contributing to this forum.

A Legacy Remembered
If there was ever a time to remember and pay tribute to the life and work of Viktor Frankl, we're living in it now.  Indeed, the search for meaning has been called a "megatrend" of the 21st Century, a time when the inherent value of human existence seems to be held together by mere threads.  We live in world that seems to be in delicate balance with impending disaster poking its head around every corner.  Even the resiliency of humankind is at risk, along with the survival of the humble planet upon which all humans take their sustenance. 

Not wanting, however, to sound entirely like a messenger of gloom, let me resurrect the wisdom of Viktor Frankl and offer an antidote to the existential dilemma that now plagues our postmodern world.  It's time to live and work, individually and collectively, with an explicit focus on meaning.  As Dr. Frankl has firmly established in his System of Logotherapy, and as I have argued persuasively in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, it is the will to meaning, not either the will to pleasure or the will to power, that ultimately must be realized if we are to create a better world for ourselves and a better world for all. 

It is important to underscore that the notion of meaning, as used here, is derived from the ancient Greek word, "logos," which, not coincidentally, is the root of both Frankl's "Logotherapy" and the key word (and powerful communication process), "dialogue."  Because the concept of logos also has deep spiritual roots--besides being commonly referred to as "meaning," it also can be translated from the Greek as "spirit"--both Logotherapy and the process of dialogue can be interpreted as practical tools for spiritual transformation.  To a great extent, this is why I have proposed that Dr. Frankl not only "humanized" psychotherapy (and, for that matter, the practice of medicine), but also "spiritualized" it as well.

Viktor Frankl, to be sure, leaves a profound legacy.  Throughout his life and his work, he reminds us that we all have important work to do, that whatever we do is important, and that there is meaning everywhere, all the time.  Each of us, however, is personally responsible for discovering the seeds of meaning in whatever our circumstance, whatever our challenge.  And remember, these seeds of meaning--as opposed to strict reliance on pleasure and power principles--hold the promise for a better world for all. 

In the final analysis, whether or not the mass media chooses to acknowledge the tenth anniversary of Viktor Frankl's passing, I sincerely hope that YOU do.  Please, pay attention and remember the significance of Dr. Frankl's life, work, and legacy at this critical time in our world's history.  In particular, I would love to hear from you about what his meaning-centered message "means" to you and to your life.  And, of course, if you do happen to come across some media coverage of Dr. Frankl at this time, please let us all know about it!

All the best,
Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

FEELING RICH

I was struck the other day by a front-page article that I read in The New York Times (August 5, 2007), entitled "The Millionaires Who Don't Feel Rich."  The article focused on people living in Silicon Valley who are called "working-class millionaires"--members of the digital elite who find themselves toiling in the "Silicon Valley salt mines" because, as one person interviewed described, "a few million doesn't go as far as it used to."  And even though these folks obviously are among the fortunate few who don't have to worry about living from paycheck to paycheck, they still don't think of themselves as particularly fortunate.  The article points out that this is partly the case because they are surrounded by people with more wealth than they have!  My, my, I feel sorry for these poor (no pun intended) souls, don't you?!

One person interviewed, who estimated his "net worth" at $10 million, actually made the following observation (over a glass of pinot noir at an upscale wine bar no less!): "You're nobody here at $10 million."  Indeed, if you ask me, this is a sad commentary on the state of humanity in Silicon Valley.

Is real "net worth" simply a function of money?  And how much money is "enough," any way?  What happens when our desire to keep up with the Jones becomes an obsession--or a kind of addictive behavior--that we seem unable or unwilling to control?  Listen to how one of the people interviewed in the above-mentioned article described what looks like a marathon without a finish line: "Here, the top 1 percent chases the top one-tenth of 1 percent, and the top one-tenth of 1 percent chases the top one-one-hundredth of 1 percent.  You try not to get caught up in it, but it's hard not to."

The Will to Money? Or Will to Meaning?
If anything sounds like a manifestation of the "will to money" at work, this must be it, don't you think?  In my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, I point out that Viktor Frankl viewed the will to money as a primitive form of the will to power.  I also underscore that when people are replaced by money as the primary force behind decision-making, we have no choice but to become aware of the implications and do something about it.  In this regard, by refusing to be held a "prisoner of our thoughts," we can bring meaning out of the shadows of our lives and into the light.  Our lives will then mean something and our "net worth" will no longer be held captive soley by a dollar figure.

Remember, our will to meaning, not our will to pleasure or our will to power (including its primitive form, the will to money), is what illuminates our lives with true freedom.  Remember also the Greek hero, Sisyphus, who was ordered by the gods to push a big rock uphill only to see it slip out of his hands in the last moment.  The will to money, like running a "marathon without a finish line," also becomes an endless--and joyless--undertaking if not kept in check.  To keep this motivational force in check, however, requires that we go inward, not "out there" where both the will to pleasure and will to power have their genesis.  No, the path to realizing your will to meaning runs in the other direction and is not easy to follow if we choose--yes, choose--to be held  "prisoners of our thoughts."  Listen carefully to the following lyrics of Rodney Crowell from his song, "Time to Go Inward":

It's time to go inward, take a look at myself.
Time to make the most of the time I've got left.
Prison bars imagined are no less solid steel.

I suggest that it is time for the "working-class millionaires" of Silicon Valley to go inward and discover the seeds of meaning that may help them feel truly "rich."  Perhaps there is something more important to them then money, power, or pleasure per se.  Perhaps, by not choosing to be held prisoners of their thoughts, they will be able to redefine their notion of net worth and begin to make life/work decisions that are based on meaning-centered principles--things that truly matter to them.

What about YOU?
Think about your own life experiences.  Do you know, or have you ever known, anyone (this may even be yourself) who "felt rich" without the fortune of monetary wealth?  Why do you think that this is/was so?  What kinds of "things" do you have in your "portfolio" and assessment of net worth that you would consider priceless?  Now, ask yourself: Do you feel "rich" as a result?

All the best,
Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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Read the entire article:
The Millionaires Who Don't Feel Rich
The New York Times (August 5, 2007)

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

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LEADERSHIP and MEANINGFUL INNOVATION

I would guess that most of us see the need for change in almost any direction we look, but how do we begin? What's needed? What does it ask of us?

Here are a few thoughts...

There needs to be a purpose that drives (or pulls) change so that it adds value. This often comes from the vision or mission. However, even a compelling vision or strategy may not be enough if we do not learn and grow from the change that accompanies it. Change for change's sake will not necessarily allow us to achieve our personal or collective aims. Reflect for a moment on the following assertion: you can change without growing but you can't grow without changing. Truly meaningful change must involve some kind of development. Since organizational development cannot occur without personal development, leaders at all levels must be willing to embark on a path of self-discovery - especially if they want to lead their organizations through transformation effectively and with integrity.

Why is our ability to engage in transformational thinking important?
What can we do about it?

Elaine Dundon, in her book, The Seeds of Innovation, demonstrates that core
competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes) in transformational thinking form the baseline for effective innovation to occur. Dundon underscores that without (a) seeking greater awareness of ourselves and others, (b) igniting and sustaining personal passion, and (c) taking meaningful action (referred to collectively as the seeds of transformational thinking), the corollary seeds of creative and strategic thinking cannot take root and flourish. As a consequence, there can be no innovation harvest no matter how creative the ideas being considered or how 'on strategy' these ideas may be. Those leading innovation in any organization must continuously develop and employ their transformational thinking capabilities to fully realize the return on innovation that everyone expects and deserves.

Recently, I recorded a Moments of Insight Series at the Global Dialogue Center audio learning program. It includes six mini-podcasts related to Discovering Deeper Meaning in different aspects of work and life. Although, each episode has a meaning-focused message with ideas for applying its principles, I highlighted the one on Meaningful Innovation below. It offers additional perspective and specific recommendations to help you put meaning-full innovation into practice in your organization.

1 - In Search of Meaning
2 - Living a More Meaningful Life
3 - Meaning in Your Work
4 - Meaningful Innovation *  Listen in now
5 - Meaning in Politics
6 - Meaningful Sustainability

A few closing thoughts...
When we miss the meaning in our work life, we miss the life in our work. And when we miss the life in our work, we can't help but become a "prisoner of our thoughts", confined, as Viktor Frankl would say, within our own inner concentration camp. Sadly, by doing so, we effectively lock ourselves away, albeit unconsciously, from the prospects of realizing our capacity for authentic leadership and meaningful innovation.

How are you realizing your capacity for authentic leadership and meaningful innovation?

I hope you'll write to share your story.

All the best,
Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

Reflections on MEANINGFUL VALUES

Some years ago, I wrote an article in the Journal for Quality and Participation called "Reflections of a (re)evolutionary."  It is interesting to look back on life and work to see where you were, what has changed , and also what has stayed the same.  In this article I wrote:

Time and experience certainly tend to influence what seems worth having and doing.  In my case, however, these influences have been tempered by the fact that I have maintained over my adult life a set of core values or principles to guide my thoughts and actions.  In effect, these values, which have manifested themselves in different ways over the years, comprise the foundation of my character and emanate from the essence of my very being--my soul, if you will.  It is as if my growth and learning have spiraled higher and higher over time above the very same point.  With the experience of being able to view oneself from a distance, I can now "see" more clearly the contours of my life's journey, with all of its zigs and zags, in some orderly fashion.

This said, my "worth ethic" has always centered on the notion of service, especially public service.  More than 20 years ago, I was committing to causes greater than myself.  To be of service to others, especially to those less fortunate than I, became a "calling";  and the opportunity to challenge the status quo, no matter how much conflict was involved, became a quest worth doing.  From participating in the anti-war effort with SDS [Students for A Democratic Society] during the Vietnam era to helping to fight the "war on poverty" in the inner cities and rural areas of America, my notion of "worthiness" revolved more around the "doing" or experiencing of something of value than it did the "having."  Driven by a core value in which self-fulfillment was always more important than material success, I found myself submerged deeply in what Professor Peter Vaill has termed the "permanent whitewater" of change.  Indeed, I eventually learned, oftentimes the hard way, that you can change without growing but you cannot grow without changing.

Since writing this piece, I recognize that the "permanent whitewater" of change has been ever present.  One reaffirming experience that has deepened the meaning of this earlier message, came when my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, was published. It started what has become a MEANING MINISTRY that is reaching out across the world, one meaning-full experience and opportunity at a time.  As I have written often here, it is a book based on the wisdom of my mentor and teacher, Dr. Viktor Frankl, world renown psychiatrist, holocaust survivor and author of the classic, Man's Search for Meaning. Again, I realize that much has changed in this discovery of deeper meaning and purpose in my life through my connection to his meaning-focused message and legacy, and much has stayed the same. Over the years, I have been able to reaffirm over and over again, like I wrote in the above-mentioned article, that my growth and learning have spiraled higher and higher over time above the very same point. From this vantage point, I believe that it is the authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals (i.e., will to meaning) that has enabled me to navigate, as well as discover the seeds of meaning within, the permanent whitewater of change around me. Who knows, perhaps this is what is meant by the notion of the "path to enlightenment!"

As I travel the world, carrying my message of meaning to and for others, I find myself reflecting upon and learning about my own life in meaningful ways as well. In Prisoners of Our Thoughts, I quote something from Viktor Frankl that is relevant to this very point: "I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system." [Page 25, Emphasis Added]  Put differently, there is a humanistic concept advanced in South Africa called "UBUNTU" in the Zulu language. UBUNTU can be translated roughly into English as "A person is only a person through other persons."  As I also write in Prisoners of Our Thoughts, UBUNTU is not about relationships per se; rather, it is about human-ness and how only human beings can truly establish the human-ness of others (that is, our human-ness can only be truly expressed as a "reflection" of others). Insofar as Viktor Frankl's humanistic (and existential) philosophy is concerned, we must be able to extend beyond ourselves (Principle #7) so that we can fulfill or realize more of ourselves. 

Reflecting on my article in the Journal for Quality and Participation, this is what I meant by having a "set of core values or principles to guide my thoughts and actions."  In the midst of the permanent whitewater that surrounds us all, ultimately, it is our will to meaning that guides us through the labyrinth of life and enables our growth and learning to light the way.  And while this may not appear to be a "revolutionary" concept, because it happens continuously over our life times, it is "(re)evolutionary!"

So, now, ask yourself...
As you walk the labyrinth that is your life, what set of core values or principles guide your thoughts and actions?  Furthermore, how are you applying the concept of UBUNTU so that you can fulfill and realize more of yourself?

All the best,
Alex

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

NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

Celebrating a Life of MEANING

I recently returned from another European trip--this time to England and Germany.  In short, it was a very wonderful, productive, and, once again, meaningful experience.  Indeed, having the opportunity to share the Principles in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, with people around the world can be nothing but wonderful, productive, and meaningful!

News that rocked the foundation of my being
When I returned to my home town of Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, I was struck with news that, quite frankly, rocked me at the very foundation of my being and placed me in a situation where I had to "walk the talk." 

It was the morning after my late night arrival when I learned that a friend of mine in Santa Fe had been killed in a hit and run accident by a drunk driver! Reading about this tragedy in the local newspaper and seeing my friend, Sara's photo on the front page with a caption confirming that she was the victim was, at best, a surreal experience for me. My first reaction was to cry in disbelief. This was followed by a wave of anger driven by the larger social problem and its dire consequences. Then, I felt an emptiness in the pit in my stomach as I recalled the last time that I had seen Sara in town, which had not been that long ago. And because her life partner is also a friend, the agony of the moment seemed to get worse as I reflected on his plight and that of their respective families. 

The next couple of days were filled with feelings of sorrow and compassion, not only for Sara and her immediate family, but also for all of those who had effectively become the "collateral damage" of this unfortunate tragedy, including the community of Santa Fe. It was as if the entire community (Santa Fe means "Holy Faith") had been put to the test, since Sara had been a lifelong resident, was a well-known business entrepreneur, and had established a credible reputation as a social activist, especially in regards to environmental concerns which are core to the spirit of Santa Fe. 

A week of deep self-reflection
The week that followed was also a time of deep self-reflection, both individually and collectively.  Among other things, there was a celebratory gathering in Sara's honor in the Santa Fe National Forest, a place that she held dear and for which she had become one of its most defiant protectors. In a weird way, I guess that I was fortunate to be in town at the time of this gathering, so was able to be present among Sara's family and "community" of friends and kindred spirits. The gathering proved to be a true celebration of Sara's life and legacy as told through many "stories" of her meaning-full approach to living.

To be sure, Sara's life was tragically cut short. Her loss will be felt by those who were fortunate to have been touched by her grace, and she will be missed. I am blessed for being one of those who will feel her loss and who will miss her. You see, Sara (and her partner) was very familiar with my meaning-centered work and my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts. Moreover, I would even say that she resonated with the Principles that I espouse and, more importantly, she practiced them naturally in her daily life. She lived her life with meaning and viewed life as being inherently meaningful. So, as I reflect upon her loss, I also see how her legacy of meaning can never be really lost. 

Practicing what I preach
Upon my return from Europe, I was faced with an opportunity to "walk the talk" and "practice what I preach" in real time.  Believe me, I found myself digging deep, in an existential sense, and relying at different times on all seven Principles that I describe in Prisoners of Our Thoughts as I struggled with Sara's death. It was not easy; it never is.  At the same time, I've gained an increased appreciation for the meaning of life's moments (Principle 3) and, because of Sara's living example, am now even more committed to a life of meaning and practicing what I preach.

Questions for you          
Have you ever felt a loss or tragedy similar to what I have described here?  How did you respond? 
What did you learn from the situation and, more importantly, how did you grow and develop from the experience? 

I would be interested to hear your thoughts and feelings on this matter.

All the best,
Alex

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

Buy a copy of PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS:
Viktor Frankl's Principles at Work
by Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.