I have recently read the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. He was a professor of Neurology and Psychiatry who survived Auschwitz. He had a 1:28 chance that he would survive in the camp; he was lucky, but also he believed that he had a book to write. He had a draft of it in his coat when he arrived at the camp, which was taken away from him.
He saw people give up as life felt meaningless and the prisoners worked hard to try to stop fellow inmates falling into despair. Interestingly if someone believed that imprisonment was going to be over by Christmas (for example) and it wasn’t, they often succumbed to illness. An early example of how intertwined our emotions are to our immune systems.
Towards the end when he knew the war was ending he managed to find scraps of paper and started making notes for his book.
His meaning was to write the book.
In the early 2000’s a public opinion poll was done in France in which 89% agreed that man needs ‘something’ for the sake of which to live. There was a further study at John Hopkin’s university of 7900 students who were asked what was most important to them now?
16% said making lots of money, for 78% it was finding my goal and meaning in life.
A persons distress about lack of meaning in life, is not a mental disease and doesn’t need tranquillising, it needs thought and inner reflection about how to find meaning.
How much worse is this now?
We have lost many of the traditions that gave life shape and purpose – some loosening of rigid hierarchical structure was needed – but we seem to have lost our edges, anything goes. This possibly explains the rising tide of anxiety, despair, loneliness and addiction. Whether to drugs or social media.
Meaning is completely individual; it maybe something to do with our work or deeds in the world, or by experiencing nature or culture or love towards another human being.
Loving them, seeing their potential and wanting them to blossom.
When we find our purpose life has an odd way of putting things in your path, almost as if your purpose magnetises things toward you, but conflictingly if you chase after something i.e. money – for it’s own sake – it often doesn’t work. If it isn’t deeply connected to what gives you meaning there will be a hitch. On the other hand if you pursue your dream it may (in ways you cannot imagine) provide you with the money you need. That’s not to say achieving your purpose will necessarily be easy, or make you a fortune but it will be deeply fulfilling.
I truly believe that each of us knows what gives us meaning, the essential part of ourselves is absolutely clear about what fulfils us.
The trick is to keep looking inside ourselves and not search for meaning externally.
And treat ourselves lovingly.