The Meaning Difference

MEANING IN EDUCATION: No Person Left Behind

The search for meaning has been called a "megatrend" of the 21st century. This should not be surprising since the drive to look for and discover meaning in life, including our work life, is effectively built into our DNA--in fact, it helps to define our "human-ness."  It was the world-renown psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl, who argued that the search for meaning is the "primary intrinsic motivation of all human beings."  So, it's now time to ask ourselves: what are the implications of this meaning-centered megatrend for education? 

This is a question I’ve been thinking about myself as I prepare to do a keynote presentation at the Calgary City Teachers’ Convention Association in a few weeks.

In my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, written at Frankl's personal urging, it shows how, by discovering "The Meaning Difference," each and every one of us holds the keys to unlocking our inner mental prison. In other words, we do not have to be prisoners of our thoughts, if we do not want to be! Our common search for meaning can help turn life's challenges into beacons of hope, no matter what our personal circumstances are or where we work. When it comes to education, we must recognize that being "prisoners of our thoughts" adversely impacts our roles and responsibilities as teachers, students, staff, and parents in spite of our best intentions.

Viktor Frankl’s lessons affirm that by committing authentically to meaningful values and goals, both inside and outside of the classroom, educators at all levels will be able to realize their full potential as catalysts for continuous learning and development. It also is clear that it is teachers who must lead the way in the pursuit of meaning---not only by discovering the deeper meaning in their own work and personal lives---but also by inspiring others, especially students, to do the same.

Today we live in a world of many formidable challenges. At the same time, there is a call for hope and a cry for meaning that can be heard loud and clear. Only by meaningfully engaging students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community-at-large in the continuous learning and development process will we be able to turn hope into reality and co-create a better world for all.

In the ongoing Viktor Frankl Personal Responsibility Dialogue online at the Global Dialogue Center (see link below), people all over the world have been sharing their experiences and observations. Many of their stories demonstrate how each of us has something meaning-full to contribute. Below are two examples that illustrate how we can discover deeper meaning in education in ways that may not be so obvious --- one is a businessman's personal story of developing young entrepreneurs and the other is an observation someone made of a student’s innovative idea that is making a difference:

“While I am working to set up my own business, I’m also helping students learn entrepreneurial skills. We need more projects in schools that introduce students to entrepreneurial ideas and thinking at an earlier age then most of us learned. They need to learn how we all achieve more by working together.”

“I was touched by the actions of a high school student. When he realized that all the left over food was being thrown away by his lunchroom, he found a way for the food to be saved for hungry people in our community.”

As you can see, if we work together to co-create an environment where every student, parent, teacher, staff member and member of the community recognizes they have a meaning-full role to play in making the world a better place for all people, it will ensure no person is left behind.

In what ways are you seeing meaning in education emerge in new ways?

How do you think we can ensure no person is left behind?

All the best,
Alex 

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

Put your mark on history...share your perspective on PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

WHAT MATTERS IN LIFE? The Search for Meaning

I received a meaningful comment from Joe Raasch in response to my message, Discovering the JOY in any season. I wanted to share both Joe's comment and my response to him with all of you. As we move into a new year, our exchange offers all of us an opportunity for a new level of discovery of deeper meaning in our lives and work. It also opens the way for a broader dialogue.

JOE RAASCH COMMENT...
Dr. Alex, I just finished a second read of your book. It is becoming clear to me that our society doesn't possess bad intention and not want to find meaning. We just forgot how. Much the same in our search for joy during the holiday season. I celebrate Christmas and see the extended commercialism that some try to use to get that joy. We want it, we just forgot how to find it.

MY RESPONSE TO JOE...
Dear Joe,
Thank you for letting me know that you've read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, a second time!  And thanks for posting your insightful comment on my meaning blog.  I agree with you that our society doesn't "possess bad intention and not want to find meaning."  As you astutely point out, somewhere along our path we seem to forget how to realize our will to meaning.  And since you've read my book twice, I suspect that now you can see why it was written primarily as a practical, "how-to," guidebook on the search for meaning.  Indeed, I am blessed to have been able to stand on the shoulders of my mentor, Dr. Viktor Frankl, whose life and legacy will forever bring light to darkness by underscoring what really matters in life--the search for meaning.

Remembering "how" to do something, however, is not sufficient cause to bring about authentic and sustainable change.  We must first acknowledge and embrace the "why" of what we intend to accomplish, and this includes our "want to find meaning."  And it is our personal (and collective) responsibility to remember "why" the search for meaning is so important, much in the same way that it is our personal (and collective) responsibility to remember "why" the search for joy (and discovering the deeper "meaning" of joy) during the holiday season is so important. 

To be sure, in a world that is so fast-changing and increasingly complex, it is both more difficult to remember what really matters in life and easier to abdicate our personal responsibility for doing so.  We can always find something or someone else to "blame" for our circumstances and therefore rationalize our attitude or behavior, can't we?!  To truly look within ourselves  and to cut across the grain of something like "extended commercialism" are not especially easy, let alone desirable, paths to follow in the postmodern era even if we supposedly "know how." 

In the late 19th Century, the German psychologist, Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneer in the field of human memory (although studies of memory can be traced to the Greek poet, Simonides, in 477 BC), introduced what he called the "Law of the Forgetting Curve."  In effect, all human beings are prone to forget and unless they actively do something to alter the forgetting curve, the dual challenge of retention and recall quickly becomes formidable.  In fact, studies have demonstrated that the "average" person is bound to forget about 75% of whatever material is presented to her or him within the first 24 hours and over 90% over the course of only 30 days, unless something is done to retain the information in one's consciousness!  So, Joe, you can see that we all have our work cut out for us!  Whether we are seeking to alter the forgetting curve of "how" to find meaning and/or joy (during the holiday season or not), or we are looking to alter the forgetting curve of "why" we need to find meaning (and authentic joy) in our lives, the onus of responsibility falls again upon us.

We must more than "want" something in order not to forget about it.  In fact, if we really know what we "want," that is, we "know" the deeper meaning behind the intention, according to Dr. Frankl, we are more likely to achieve our intention by "forgetting" about it!  In Chapter 10 of my book, I try to illustrate how this logotherapeutic principle actually works.  Although it may seem counter-intuitive to some, our search for joy during the Holiday season--or at any other time in our lives--is not something that we can pursue; rather, it is something that ensues by "extending beyond oneself."  If this doesn't make sense, it may be time for a third reading of Prisoners of Our Thoughts!

Let me know what you think and thanks again for sharing!

What thoughts do you have to add to this dialogue?  Hope you let me know.

...and to all of you, Happy New Year!

All the best,
Alex 

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

Meaning-Full SUSTAINABILITY: The Power of Dialogue

RELATED PODCAST:
KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio presents...

HABITAT JAM: The Rest of the Story
with Charles Kelly, Commissioner General of the World Urban Forum III (WUF) joined by Dr. Alex Pattakos and Debbe Kennedy, founder, Global Dialogue Center meet to talk about the remarkable story of turning talk about sustainability of our cities and planet into action.  LISTEN NOW

There are meaning-full moments one doesn't forget. Especially, those where you get to both, witness and personally experience, some pioneering first. So it was with the Habitat Jam, a groundbreaking online dialogue that brought 39,000 people from 158 countries together for an historic 72-hours as a preparatory event for the World Urban Forum III. The visionary idea came to life through an innovative partnership of the UN-Habitat, the Government of Canada and IBM. IBM's JAM technology and a multi-talented team that made it possible for tens of thousands of global citizens, rich and poor alike, to come together in the largest ever public dialogue at the Habitat JAM last December. The ultimate goal was turning ideas into action for six of the most critical issues of urban sustainability.

During the Habitat Jam, I remember some provocative discussions and some of the questions that were raised about how we could engage others and whether or not the dialogue would really be turned into action. One exchange I remember went like this (excerpts from the Habitat Jam):

I RAISED A FEW QUESTIONS:
Don't you think that the "whole is greater than the sum of the parts?" Hence, rather than focusing on the limits per se of government, business, or the nonprofit sector, why not focus on enhancing the relationships between them? For example, isn't "good government" really more about "partnership" rather than "partisanship?" The future of cities (and humanity, for that matter) will require more people to span the boundaries, i.e., limits, and forge meaningful relationships between people, organizations, nation-states, and so forth. Do you agree?

How can we get shareholders, i.e., "people," to commit to meaningful values and goals, rather than simply pursue the will to money? Don't you think that a dialogue on "humanity" should presume that people are not simply mice looking for more cheese?! In other words, what makes us "humans" and how can we tap into the human spirit so that we can effect meaningful change on an authentic, deeper level? Isn't punishing shareholders (like rewarding them) like putting on a small bandage on a large wound? And, more importantly, aren't these conventional approaches to behavioral change somewhat "de-humanizing?" Food-for-thought!

BRIAN ANSWERED: 
I believe getting people involved is a fairly complex process that takes time. Two of the primary motivators I've seen as most successful have been the successful creation of images and hope. Images whether with pictures or word create something concrete that people can understand. Most people are attracted to symbols of hope.

IVANA CHIMED IN:
I suppose if we knew answers to your questions we would not have reached the point we are facing now. I suppose that one of the goals of this JAM is to discover how to handle the problems we face today. However, my answer might lie in the fact that there are many enthusiastic individuals that are concerned for our environment. They usually act in their community, sometimes being misunderstood and rejected. What if we create a strong network for those individuals - for mutual support and exchange of ideas and experiences... But perhaps this is what JAM is all about! I am very interested in the outcome of it!

I OFFERED UP IDEAS AND ASKED NEW QUESTIONS:
Indeed, I hope that we're all interested in the outcome(s) of the JAM and, most importantly, don't allow the positive energy and "synergies" that are developing as a result of this dynamic process to end. When I refer to the notion of "meaningful sustainability," I'm also applying it to the human dimension, that is, sustaining the meaning-full connections between all members of our broadly-defined "community of stakeholders." In this connection (no pun intended), how do we ensure that the participants in this JAM remain meaningfully engaged in the process after the JAM closes? What recommendations might we offer to the JAM organizers and those planning the 3rd World Urban Forum to keep the connections alive? The JAM is offering the world a unique opportunity to participate in a transparent and authentic process for the sharing of ideas. Now that the window of opportunity has been opened, what can we do, both individually and collectively, to prevent it from closing?

THE REST OF THE STORY

"I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world
rather than within man ..."  --- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Well, indeed, the dialogue that started at the Habitat Jam mattered. It resulted in over 4000 pages of dialogue, reports from outreach activities and a list of 600 potential ideas. From those ideas 70 exemplary ideas, which were selected because they were  practical, represented ideas from various parts of the world, had relevance to the World Urban Forum 3 agenda, and held promise for having high impact on urban problems.

Learn more about the Habitat Jam and World Forum 3, as well as, the forum results and the innovative follow-on work underway, particularly the Global Urban Sustainability Solutions Exchange. It was particularly meaning-full to meet up with Charles Kelly, Debbe Kennedy and KSFR host Diego Mulligan on THE JOURNEY HOME to share the REST OF THE STORY. I invite you to listen in and also to learn more about the Habitat Jam and World Forum 3 results.

Let me know what you think?
What could we do to bring more people into the dialogue?
Would you like to participate in a JAM?

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Santa Fe, NM USA  www.themeaningdifference.com

Visit me at my "virtual office at the Global Dialogue Center www.globaldialoguecenter.com/alexpattakos

Listen to and support the award-winning KSFR Public Radio in Santa Fe streaming on the web around the world.

The LABYRINTH is Like Life

Because of my Greek family heritage, I've always been fascinated with the Cretan labyrinth, a classical seven-circuit labyrinth dating back more than 4000 years ago. Learn more.

In the Middle Ages, there was a period of rebirth of the labyrinth that brought a new more complex design than the Cretan seven-circuit. One of the oldest remaining labyrinths in the world that came during this time of renewed interest is at the Chartres Cathedral near Paris. Built around 1200, it is one of the ancient eleven-circuit designs, divided into four quadrants. See it and learn more about its history.

The historic labyrinth became meaningful to me, because I saw its close connection to the journey of life itself. A favorite chapter in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, is entitled Labyrinths of Meaning. It is there that I introduce how a labyrinth is like life:

"A labyrinth is not a maze. It is not a puzzle to be solved but a path of meaning to be experienced. Its path is circular and convoluted but it has no dead ends. When we walk the path, we go around short curves and long curves; sometimes we are out on the edge, sometimes we circle around the center. We are never really lost, but we can never quite see where we are going. Along the path we sometimes move forward with ease and confidence; sometimes we creep ahead cautiously; sometimes we find the need to stop and reflect; and sometimes we even feel the urge to retreat.

In so many ways, the labyrinth is like life. The center is there but our path takes us through countless twists and turns. Sometimes we are at the heart of our life experiences, sometimes we are at a playful turn, sometimes we share our path with others, sometimes we don't. No matter what, we are still on the labyrinth. It holds all our experiences in life and in work."

The labyrinth is also a metaphor for what is sacred in our lives. Through its twists and turns, its ancient spaciousness holds everything we experience---our minds and emotions, our physical beings and our spirits, our losses and our gains, our successes and our failures, our joys and our sorrows.  When we walk the path inward, we carry our burdens with us. When we meditate or pray in the center, we ask for grace, forgiveness, and understanding. When we walk the path outward, we are lighter, more joyful and ready yet again to take on life's challenges. As my teacher and mentor, Viktor Frank said...

"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."

Where has the labyrinth of life taken you?

What moments of meaning mark your path?

These are meaning-full questions to ask yourself. Have I piqued your interest? If so, I invite you to learn more about discovering deeper meaning on your personal journey in my book---and of course, I welcome hearing from you.

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Santa Fe, NM USA  www.themeaningdifference.com

Visit me at my "virtual office at the Global Dialogue Center www.globaldialoguecenter.com/alexpattakos