Tough times don’t last, tough people do! Has this thought helped you in difficult times? And how does one become tough? Having worked with energy healing on people suffering with cancer, covid, stroke and many in the ICU, I found two things in common along with other variables, with those who survived the difficult phase; one is faith in life leading to no fear. The second is a purpose to look forward to. Sighting an example of this old patient of diabetes and depression who was in the ICU because of covid complications, came out in a fortnight with much better health. Another mid-aged healthy patient I was healing, passed on after a few weeks of battle with covid. The former didn’t get perturbed by the ICU and was looking forward to uniting with his family. The latter was gripped by fear.

The backdrop of recent times has been a playground to examine conditions which are considered ‘Difficult’.  That’s when I came across talks by Victor Frankl who was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author and a holocaust survivor. Repertoire of knowledge shared by him swings towards one question ‘What is the meaning behind everything?’. His experience as a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp enabled him to create an approach of psychotherapeutic method, which involves identifying a purpose in life.

According to Victor, “Life has meaning in all circumstances. Human being needs to act within the environment. People are free to take their decisions. They have to take responsibility for themselves. Their decisions and asking something of themselves”. This puts into perspective the game of blaming others for one’s difficulties. Putting the blame on others is easy, taking responsibility is a burden.

The next vehement question would be; What about those in the condition of despair and hopelessness? Victor doesn’t mince words and throws a dart, “Despair is suffering minus meaning. As long as a human being does not see meaning in suffering or despair. The moment they see a meaning in this they can mould it into an achievement. Tragedies can be turned into personal triumphs. In certain circumstances we have to heroically shoulder meaninglessness of life.” Does this resonate? Haven’t we seen paraplegics winning Olympics, patients thriving for many years even after being declared near death by the doctors or daughter of auto rickshaw driver breaking through civil services.

What about the situations in which the human being cannot do anything? Victor makes it easy, “Accept the incapacity of human being to recognise the ultimate meaning at the intellectual or rational level. We all have choices. Human beings are never fully free from conditions such as biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, national, etc.  The ultimate freedom is with us. How we react to the conditions, our attitude towards a situation is up to ourselves”. According to him many in the concentration camp accepted death as Gods will and others found purpose in whatever life was left, including him.

Victor Frankl makes it logical and as basic as it can get, “Life expects something from you. Tragic triad of human existence consisting of guilt, pain, death. Tragedy can be turned into triumph; death can be incentive to responsible action. There is no need to do anything important. There is empirical study to prove that people who knew they are dying soon have higher sense of meaning of life than normal population. Meaning can be found in every condition of life. Even the worst condition.” It is an interesting place to reflect what have we been given and what has been denied. It is convenient to demand without giving back to life and feel entitled without wondering you receive only when you give.

The purpose of life does not show up in the face. It has to be derived from circumstances and fellow passengers on this journey. Victor explains, “Will need to have initiative to find a meaning to fulfil. These conditions are given to extract that. Once we make an effort to do that there would be no void”. The clue is to extract the meaning hidden in difficult situations or in the feeling of emptiness or a void.

Victor Frankln’s arduous journey through the mental and physical torture, coming out alive against all odds and eventually fulfilling his life purpose by inspiring others could have gone somewhere else if he hadn’t walked the talk.  This path is deeply embedded with values which he explains, “There are 3 types of values- creative values, experiential values and attitudinal values. Sometimes the experience does not mean achieving something extraordinary. In the Nazi camp, we went to see the sunset and the experience was of beauty and seeing the truth. Also, experiencing another human being in his/her uniqueness. Incomparable to any other human being. See the essence and his potential. If there is no possibility of changing the situation, or if you have lost the capability of doing your job or fulfilling your duties, there is still a potential to fulfil the deepest meaning to find the highest value in the situation. Change your attitude, what attitude you adopt in that situation.” What I hear is that we all have many choices at every milestone on the path of life. Success belongs to those who are able to break the barriers of limitations, see the possibilities and bring out the courage to walk the path of a unique choice.  

Life is transitory and a moving spiral. Education, society and religion fulfil needs but do not reveal the meaning of life. Young people need ideals, examples and challenges to find the meaning. At the same time, meaning may keep changing as we keep walking. Thank you, Victor Frankl, for your legacy and inspiration.

In the depths of pure darkness, you will find the light within and it will then illuminate the world around. Gratitude for stopping by.