Man's search for meaning

Might as well think about it... Won't hurt

Over the last couple weeks, I've been reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. It's a relatively short book and I'm nearly done with it.

I picked it up as a recommendation—really a "must read"—from a fellow within our weekly small group sessions in the Tom Woods School of Life.

There are dozens of books and resources I hear about on a weekly basis that stem directly from our group meetings. Some that I pull the trigger on and read or do the audio book thing. But I only have so much time…

Anyhow, Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and philosopher who survived the Nazi prison camps of World War II and founded a school of psychotherapy called "logotherapy."

The first part of the book is autobiographical, mostly about his time in the camps. There are some doubts of Frankl's narrative and criticism of his theory behind logotherapy. I don't know enough to address the validity of any of the doubts or criticism of Frankl’s work.

No matter the objection, the work is still impressive. I can’t say I agree every jot and tittle, though.

What I have taken away so far—a lot, but two core principles—is that a positive attitude is necessary for handling adversity and that "freedom" is an ideal, but not necessarily a reality that people are ready to handle (at least at first).

It can all be argued, of course.

It's a lot to get into with a short email, but as I wrote about last week (regarding water's role in physical survival) we can say that a "positive attitude" is necessary but not sufficient.

A positive attitude will help and does help. But this outlook is not the only thing that keeps us going.

Similarly, when our ideal is "freedom," the concept is often muddy. We know what we don't want, but do we have clarity on what freedom really means?

Most people really don't.

Perhaps the foggy notion of freedom is both the driving force and fatal flaw of the American Experiment? At one point, freedom meant breaking free from the chains of the King and Parliament in London.

Nowadays, freedom tends to mean that one can do whatever he or she wants. Oftentimes there is no clarity on what it is that a person really "wants."

Thanks to the work and recommendations of my fellow students within Tom's School of Life, I've drilled down even more on what it is that I want. My attitude is generally positive about all of it.

Will all that I want just happen? Can I do it all with a positive attitude and "manifesting" my goals? I don't know. Probably not.

But that's also not the point as I see it.

I care about freedom as an abstract principle, I guess. I am an American, after all.

But I am also keenly aware that none of us are really "free" or ever will be. Most human beings, particularly in a large society such as ours, cannot afford to be free.

The basic needs in Maslow's hierarchy are often met whether one is "free" or not. It's not the freedom or lack thereof that prevents us from meeting our needs.

For example, a prisoner typically gets his basic needs met. Food, water, warmth, rest. Not ideal. Also, not freedom.

Granted, it's a little depressing. But it gets better with a positive attitude.

Plus, I'm concerned with forward momentum.

We are usually presented with "situations" in life, not never-ending failures that we must overcome … or else.

Frankly, what other people think of me or my ideas is none of my business.

What is my business and what I am certain of, however, is that the more people listen to my ideas, the more likely they are to agree.

There's no need to follow trends. Don't do what "everyone else does."

Instead, do what a select few who want to change the culture are doing. And do what those discovering what it means to be "free" have done.

They're taking things seriously and joining us over at the Tom Woods School of Life.

Find out more:

As always,

Brian