The Meaning Difference


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LOVE IS THE ULTIMATE AND HIGHEST GOAL

Ap3b_3This seems a timely topic to revisit.

"Love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire....The salvation of man is through love and in love.  I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the comtemplation of his beloved."  Dr. Viktor Frankl wrote these words in his classic bestseller, Man's Search for Meaning, a book that was first published in German in 1946 under the title, Ein Psycholog erlebt das Konzentrationslager (From Death-Camp to Existentialism).  For good reason, Man's Search for Meaning remains one of the most important books of modern times (the Library of Congress named it one of the ten most influential books in America).  Indeed, Frankl's personal story of finding a reason to live in the most horrendous of circumstances--Nazi concentration camps--has inspired millions.

So, it is against this personal backdrop that Dr. Frankl's quote about love must be considered.  And considered very seriously.  You see, although Dr. Frankl was blessed with surviving his horrific ordeal in four different Nazi death camps, including Auschwitz, his mother, father, wife, and brother were not so fortunate.  And even though he had been stripped of everything, down--literally--to the bare bones of his humanity, Viktor Frankl experienced moments of bliss, especially when he thought of his beloved--his wife, his parents, his brother, and others who were dear to him.  In no uncertain terms, Frankl learned unequivocally that love was his salvation and that, among all of the values that offered him a source of personal meaning, it was love that proved to be the "ultimate and highest goal to which he could aspire."

I would like all of us to reflect seriously upon the above passage from Man's Search for Meaning, along with Dr. Frankl's personal, love-affirming experience--today, tomorrow, and forever.

There are two online self-learning exhibits at the Global Dialogue Center that help to bring Viktor Frankl ideas to life:

  • Viktor Frankl: The Man, His Message, His Principles
    at the Knowledge Gallery. Also be sure to watch the excerpt from
    Joel Barker's Power of Vision video filmed in Auschwitz.
  • Light in the Dark: A Tribute to Viktor Frankl
    with a poem by Sara Robinson

Consider these questions...
What do you think about Viktor Frankl insight?  How does it make you feel? 
How and in what ways are you bringing and weaving love into your life?  Into your work?

Why not make now the time to affirm too that "love is the ultimate and highest goal" to which we all can aspire?! For more information about this topic, and to learn how it relates to the Will to Meaning, see Chapter 5, "Realize Your Will to Meaning," in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work.  And, of course, let me know--either through this blog or directly--if you have any questions or comments!

Meaningfully,
Alex

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

Learn more

Poot2020pbNEWEST EDITIONS: 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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New Audiobook Digital Download Now Available! The digital download version of PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work can now be obtained from both iTunes and Audible.com, which means you can listen to it on your computer, iPod, or other MP3 player . Here is the direct link to Audible.com: Prisoners of Our Thoughts Digital Download
Also available on iTUNES. 

May 03, 2009 in Books, Current Affairs, Life, Self-Help, Values, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: books, life, love, meaning, Viktor Frankl, work

Can You Deal with Life’s “Crises”?

Ap3Faced 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.

IStock_000006416445Small-APsmallest 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

Learn more

Poot2020pbNEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Learn more

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

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

November 10, 2008 in Books, Current Affairs, Innovation, Leadership, Life, Money, Self-Help, Values, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: books, economy crisis, personal development, self-help

Finding Meaning in the Financial Crisis

ApbYou don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to uncover clues that our country is going through difficult times.  Most recently, the unfolding drama on Wall Street looks like a scene from “Extreme Makeover” and does little to instill public, let alone investor, confidence in our financial and regulatory institutions.   Fuel prices, which skyrocketed over the summer, continue to create both pain and panic at the pump.  The cost of groceries is also rising at an alarming rate, making it more difficult than ever for families to put food on the table.  We’re now all too familiar with the mortgage meltdown, with the housing and credit crises, with bank closings, as well as with the steady loss of jobs, including the all-too-frequent draconian job cuts, in corporate America.  The U.S. economy, according to many observers, is derailing and on the brink of a recession.  And to complicate matters further, the political landscape, domestically and internationally, and the global economy are uncertain and volatile.  To say the least, we are living in a highly stressful environment.  And within this environment, more and more people are facing formidable challenges in their personal and work lives as they struggle to make ends meet.

It is probably fair to say that most children in America today have never witnessed such hard times, let alone have had to experience this kind of situation before.  And although we may hate to admit it, our children (o.k., many parents too!) have become spoiled, for lack of a better term, by what they now “expect” from life in the contemporary era.  Increasing societal affluence has brought with it more choices, especially in the material realm (for example, think about the constantly-changing trends in fashion and the continuous barrage of technological “gadgets” that apparently one cannot live without these days!), most of which carry a high price tag not only in financial but also in emotional terms for American parents and their families.  Indeed, the disturbing implications of both the “paradox of choice” and what is now being called “affluenza,” a new disease-like phenomenon of epidemic proportions, have become so ubiquitous in society today that you can even find books with titles bearing these exact words in your local bookstore and library!

It is against--and in response to--this increasingly complex backdrop, with its pervasive symptoms, that Americans, both individually and collectively, now find themselves looking for answers.

Many of you may remember the words uttered not too long ago by former U.S. Senator and economist, Phil Gramm, who downplayed the idea that the nation was in a financial recession; instead, he “diagnosed” the situation as a “mental recession,” likening the country’s (and its citizen’s) ills to what we all know as mental depression.  In this regard, Gramm provocatively said that “We have sort of become a nation of whiners,…complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline.”  Although I don’t happen to agree with Senator Gramm’s diagnosis, I do believe that Americans, like all people, must consciously and deliberately resist the human tendency to become “prisoners of their thoughts.”  Only in this way may we increase our capacity to cope effectively and creatively with whatever comes our way in life--from the smallest disappointments to the most formidable of life’s challenges.  And this includes our capacity, as individuals and as a nation, to deal with the current financial crisis.

In this regard, I learned not many years ago from Thomas Moore, psychotherapist and author of the bestselling book, Care of Our Soul, that our most soulful times are when we are “out of balance,” not when we are in balance!  In other words, it is when we are facing formidable challenges and when we are dealing with crises, that we are most likely to do some really deep “soul-searching.”  And it is during these especially difficult times when our will to meaning, that is, our authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals, comes into sharp focus and we are prompted to make key choices about what really matters to us and in our lives. 

Even our choice of attitude, I should add, is put to the test!  We must remember that, although we may not be totally free from the various conditions or situations that confront us, we always can choose how we respond to them, at the very least through our choice of attitude.  This means (no pun intended) more than having the “audacity of hope”--for hope, by itself, is not a strategy.  Importantly, it requires that we assume personal (and collective) responsibility for exercising this ultimate freedom by taking action, albeit through a positive mindset focused on the power of intention, rather than resorting to a “poor me” attitude and a “victim” mentality.  Perhaps this is what Phil Gramm really meant, to afford him the benefit of the doubt, by his insensitive-sounding diagnosis!

I also want to underscore that one of the real powers of positive thinking and what the world-renown psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, referred to as “true optimism,” is that it is good for your physical, mental, and spiritual health!  As I describe in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, this intrinsic “power” (a true form of “empowerment”) not only helped Dr. Frankl survive the horrors of the Nazi death camps but also provided a meaningful platform for creative expression and action that he used throughout his life.  By “releasing” himself from a self-imposed thought prison, Frankl was able to open up possibilities for creative action while maintaining a positive vision of the future.  This, in no way, is intended to marginalize or minimize his concentration camp ordeal. 

“Each of us has his own inner concentration camp…we must deal with, with forgiveness and patience¾as full human beings, as we are and what we will become.”¾Viktor Frankl, M.D., Ph.D.

On the contrary, among the many lessons to be learned from Viktor Frankl’s life and legacy is one of hope and possibility.  Dr. Frankl saw the human condition at its worst, and human beings behaving in ways intolerable to the imagination.  He also saw human beings rising to heights of compassion and caring in ways that can only be described as miraculous acts of unselfishness and transcendence.  Indeed, there is something in us that can rise above and beyond everything that we think possible.  Our instinct for meaning, in our personal lives and in our work, is ours right now, at this very moment.  As long as we are not prisoners of our thoughts.

Sometimes it is only when we enter a state of “creative destruction” that the keys to our liberation from our inner concentration camp become visible to us.  Just like we can only recognize “light” by knowing “darkness,” we can only move ourselves (and help others to do the same) towards the light by moving away from darkness.  By the same token, acknowledging the existence of despair is the first step towards meaning and “enlightenment.”  Again, without sounding like I’m trying to marginalize or minimize the significance of the current financial crisis, including the human suffering that it leaves in its wake, the inherent darkness that it brings also provides a platform for taking creative action towards the light of opportunity.

People’s lives will undoubtedly change and be changed.  The existential question, however, remains: is it change that you (and we) can believe in?  Coping with, surviving, and thriving through such times are not only about finances per se.  We also need to remain cognizant of the emotional, and, yes, spiritual, sides of the equation.  As odd as it may sound, there is always something positive that may result from, or at least be associated with, something negative.  Think about it.  As one door closes, another one opens (If, of course, we are “open” to such possibilities and are willing to take responsibility for walking through the door.).  As one door closes, we are given an opportunity to learn even more about ourselves, including our true, core values, than we might have thought was possible (If, of course, we really want to learn and grow from our life experiences.).  As one door closes, we are also challenged to find creative solutions to our plight in ways that may even surprise us (If, of course, we choose not be become or remain a victim of our circumstances.)!

Finding “meaning” in the financial crisis, to be sure, is much easier said than done.  Let’s face it, it’s hard work!  And it often requires making sacrifices; sacrifices that we don’t really want to make.  Who really wants to take a family “staycation,” that is, a vacation spent at home, rather than going away to some exciting vacation spot?  At first blush, it doesn’t sound very appealing, does it?  However, besides creating an opportunity to save money and thereby place less strain on the family’s budget, what else does this creative idea promise?  Well, families who have chosen the staycation route have made a commitment, conscious or not, to spread the “sacrifice” by holding all family members, parents and children alike, responsible for making it happen, as well as for making it happen for the benefit of everyone.  It’s no longer just the parents who must sacrifice something for the sake of living in a postmodern world where the “paradox of choice” and “affluenza” run rampant.  Moreover, going on staycation has actually brought family members together in authentic and meaningful ways.  And I suspect that when the family eventually does plan for a getaway “vacation,” it will be valued more highly and result in an even more memorable and, again, meaningful, experience!  Now start your creative engines and explore other ways in which you can find meaning in the financial crisis, regardless of your personal circumstances!  And how can this new-found meaning guide you in a positive way through the abyss?

On a more macro level, of course, the possibilities for finding “meaning” in the financial crisis are also unlimited.  In this connection, think about how various societal ills, at all levels, may actually benefit from the forces of “creative destruction” that we are witnessing in today’s world.  I know that it sounds a bit far-fetched and perhaps insensitive, but stay with me for a moment.  Have you ever known somebody who appeared to live her or his life on “cruise control” or “auto-pilot?”  You know, unaware of what really mattered?  What was really important to them and to those around them?  And then they faced a major, maybe even life-threatening, crisis--effectively, a life “wake-up call?”  More often than not, these people would describe such an experience as transformative for them.  On both personal and collective levels, the “meaning” of the financial crisis also holds the promise of being a transformative experience.  But it can only be so if, and this is a BIG if, we do not allow ourselves to become “prisoners of our thoughts!”  Like Viktor Frankl, I sincerely believe in the power and resiliency of human beings and the human spirit.  Yes, my dear Watson, there is a financial crisis but you will get through it!

With meaning,
Dr. Alex Pattakos
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
Learn more

Poot2020pbNEW EDITIONS: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Learn more

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

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!

September 20, 2008 in Books, Current Affairs, Life, Money, Self-Help, Values, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: books, current affairs, economy, self-help, viktor frankl

The Spirit and True Meaning of DIALOGUE

ApbIn 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. 

Ap_2To 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

Poot2020pbNEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Learn more

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

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!

April 27, 2008 in Books, Current Affairs, Innovation, Leadership, Life, Religion, Self-Help, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: books, Dalai Lama, dialogue, spirituality, Viktor Frankl

Our Crisis of Meaning

CrisisWell, it's that time again; you know, for reflection (and "self-reflection").  As one year comes to a close and a new year gets ready to begin, I propose that each of us view this time period as an opportunity to reflect upon what really matters in life--in our life, in the lives of others, and in the world at large.  To get you started, I've done some reflecting on what I call "Our Crisis of Meaning" (Remember, this is a meaning-centered blog!).  Before I begin, let me underscore that within the Chinese symbol for the English word, "crisis," lies the very essence of "opportunity."  Please keep this underlying meaning in mind as you read my "reflections" below." 

Some 50 years ago, Viktor Frankl called attention to three major societal ills: aggression, addiction, and depression. He termed these problems the “mass neurotic triad," a kind of psychological axis of evil. Significantly, this triad comprised more than targets for psychiatric intervention (the views of Tom Cruise and Scientology notwithstanding). The mass neurotic triad was symptomatic of a contemporary world that was missing something; indeed, something vitally important to the nature of human existence itself. To Dr. Frankl, the problems of aggression, addiction, and depression could be traced, in large part, to an “existential vacuum” or perception that one’s life, including one’s work life, appeared to be meaningless. He observed that the existential vacuum was a widespread phenomenon of the 20th century and underscored that these conditions were not truly understandable, let alone “treatable,” unless the existential vacuum underlying them was recognized.

If Viktor Frankl were alive today, I’m sure that he would still be concerned about this mass neurotic triad. In fact, he would probably argue that the problems of aggression, addiction, and depression are worse than when he first wrote about them after World War II.

For example, when it comes to aggression, we see it manifest itself in ways that Dr. Frankl may not even recognize. Besides overt aggressive behaviors, like road rage, air rage, and “desk” rage (e.g., work stress that leads people to engage in counterproductive workplace behaviors that costs employers billions of dollars in lost productivity, insurance payments, and increased security), postmodern society also must confront increasing levels of relationally aggressive behaviors (e.g., recent research evidence suggests that aggressive children in school are perceived as being more “popular” than meeker students). And these illustrations of aggression say nothing about the “shock and awe” mentality that plagues societies on an international scale with wars and rumors of wars.

Insofar as addiction and addictive behaviors are concerned, the situation, I would argue, is very similar. And we’re not just talking about the alarming increases in substance abuse, of both the “legal” and illegal varieties, that concern our modern age. The new millennium has brought us new kinds of addictive behaviors, such as those associated with shopping, telecommunications and the Internet, along with new forms of work (“workaholic”), gambling (“day-trading”), and sexual addictions. Indeed, there is no person left behind when it comes to the powerful reach of the addictive mind.

And to close the loop on the mass neurotic triad, it is a simple fact that depression is occurring more often and at earlier stages than in decades past­; that is, when Dr. Frankl first called our attention to this phenomenon. Indeed, the statistics are staggering: about 16 percent of adults will experience depression at some point in their life; about 97 percent of those reporting depression also reported that their work, home life and relationships suffered as a result; women are twice as likely to experience depression as men; depression is the leading cause of disability in women; one in seven men will develop depression within 6 months of becoming unemployed; and so on. Once again, these statistics point primarily to the manifestations and effects of depression on individuals; they don’t even begin to describe the fall-out that comes “naturally” with depression at the family, community, and nation-state levels. Indeed, the implications of depression on such a macro-level can be, and usually are, profound.

The persistence of the mass neurotic triad in the 21st century suggests, as I mentioned earlier, that we are facing a “crisis of meaning” that will not go away on its own, nor will it disappear solely through the pursuit of power (i.e., a correlate of aggression) or pleasure (i.e., a correlate of addiction). But where there is a crisis, there is also opportunity. Hence, a crisis of meaning is also a call for meaning­--in our personal lives, in our work, and even in our public policies. And in the midst of the personal and collective suffering that surrounds us, there is hope for a better, more meaning-full future for all.

And, ultimately, as Frankl would say, it is meaning that sustains us throughout our lives no matter how little or how much power and pleasure come our way. It is meaning that can help us address the problems of aggression, addiction, and depression. It is meaning that will sustain us as we face the challenges of everyday life in our relationships, at work, and with society as a whole. However, it is up to each and every one of us to find this deeper meaning in order to reach the levels of human evolution and enlightenment that still await us.

I welcome your thoughts on this issue!

All the best,
Alex

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

Learn more

Poot2020pbNEW 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

December 13, 2007 in Books, Current Affairs, Life, Self-Help, Values, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

VIKTOR FRANKL: A Legacy Remembered

Ap8bRELATED COMMEMORATIVE ONLINE EXHIBIT
at the Global Dialogue Center
Viktor Frankl: The Man, His Message, His Principles
2005 Tribute to commemorate his 100th Anniversary
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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

Poot2020pb_2NEW 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

August 29, 2007 in Books, Current Affairs, Innovation, Leadership, Life, Self-Help, Values, Viktor Frankl, World Issues | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)