We are all trying to find that purpose in our existence. Sometimes, life presents us with many trials and tribulations, filled with positive and negative events.
I cast my mind back to a few key sentences which I read in Dr Viktor Frankl’s book titled Man’s Search For Meaning.
The meaning of life by a Holocaust survivor
For those who have yet to read it, Dr Viktor was a Holocaust survivor who gave a detailed recount about prison life in Auschwitz concentration camp, and how they survived the ordeal until the end of World War II.
One of the compelling observations which I felt deeply is about the phases the prisoner went through.
From the initial shock due to the unspeakable horror that haunts them, lead to apathy when they became desensitised after repeated exposure to violence, and finally to acceptance of their ill-fated lives.
Prisoners and learned helplessness
An interesting fact to note is that the prisoners do not go over to the electrified fences — which was a considerable option for suicide. However, they were resigned to the idea that their chances of survival are already very slim and that it doesn’t matter anyway.
The prisoners are not only stripped off their physical needs but also believed their choices were taken off them and let circumstance happen.
In the observations by Dr Viktor, he encountered prisoners who had hope and those who simply gave up. For those who had hope, it is always about some foreseeable future, like a hopeful chance to reunite with their loved ones.
To simplify, he concluded that the environment can influence one’s physiology and psychology only up to a certain extent. In that regard, that person has a choice; that is to interpret how he view that outcome.
Dr Viktor spoke about his former naive self. He thought that life is about attaining some sort of an active creation of something of worth.
He also mentioned that if there is a meaning to life, surely there must have a meaning in suffering. Suffering according to him is an eradicable state of life, just like fate and death.
“Without suffering and death, human life cannot become complete.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky
As Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “There is only one thing that I dread, that is to be not worthy of my suffering.”
To expand on what he meant by this:
The suffering that was presented to one can be considered an opportunity to seek the spiritual freedom of oneself, which he believed cannot be taken away even if you are stripped off your basic human needs.
Those who did not learn from their suffering are considered as those who simply aren’t worthy and naturally shall fall into despair.
What life means to me
As a Muslim who firmly believes in an Afterlife, what we do echoes after death. There will be a time when our deeds, no matter how big or small, shall be judged and dealt with accordingly.
I shudder whenever I think about this and explain myself on my deeds.
Life, to me, is a test for us to get through this temporary world.
And to relate with the lessons from Dr Viktor Frankl, we can have the best of options (things) or it can be reduced significantly from us like the prisoners in Auschwitz, but at the end of the day, it is about our choice (actions), which is an exercise of our free will.
We can choose to see things in either a positive light or wallow in self-pity.
Thank you for reading. Tap the clap if you like this!
