For centuries, humans have longed for meaning in their life; an opportunity for significance in daily life. Sometimes this desire for living meaningfully can be difficult to satisfy, but famed psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, explores it in great detail in his memoir written in 1946. The first part of Frankl’s memoir draws upon his personal experiences of the Holocaust and his time spent in Auschwitz concentration camp. As a prisoner, he recognizes that man’s search for meaning is still relevant even during the greatest times of suffering. He focuses on his psychological technique of Logotherapy which basis itself on the premise, that people are motivated by an inner strength to find meaning in life. Thirty-five years later, Frankl adds a third …show more content…
In fact, Frankl’s ideas are something any generation can relate to. He suggests that meaning in life is found through experiences or encounters with other people, through works or deeds, and through rising above and growing from, the inevitable suffering which one will experience. Frankl describes a firsthand account of his experiences as an ordinary prisoner in the concentration camps, during World War II. His observations reveal the three phases of life in the camp from a psychological perspective; the initial arrival at the camp, the indoctrination into everyday camp life, and the eventual freedom from camp. Frankl’s initial reaction is shock; however he soon finds that they, the prisoners, will be saved at the last minute. When they are not quickly set free, their emotion becomes …show more content…
Logos is a Greek word for meaning and therapy means treatment of a condition or illness. The whole premise of Frankl’s technique is founded on the belief that humans are driven by the search for a life purpose which enables them to endure even the harshest conditions. Frankl recognizes the prisoners who survive the experiences of camp, are those who can find meaning in it. Frankl’s meaning is his need to rewrite his manuscript that was taken from him in Auschwitz. Components of Frankl’s technique suggests that: every person has a healthy core of beliefs which will allow them to find happiness, the main focus is to educate a person to their own internal means and provide them with the necessary tools to use their inner core and life offers purpose and meaning as opposed to owing a sense of fulfillment or happiness. Life’s meaning can be discovered through creating work or accomplishing a task; through experiencing something or loving someone; and the attitude one adopts from rising above and growing from unavoidable suffering. According to Frankl, suffering is a part of life and the ultimate freedom is the ability to choose a response to any given circumstance, including painful ones. As seen in the works of Frankl, Keller, Douglass and Vance, they all overcome harsh experiences in life which help to shape them: Frankl,