Some of you may be familiar with Victor Frankl and his book Man's search for Meaning. I have never read his book but have heard it quoted many times in my life. His main message is that despite our circumstances (he was in 4 different concentration camps) we can find meaning and purpose in our life. There are circumstances in life that we do have control over and then there are some that we do not. I have copied down a few of his quotes below...
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
“There is nothing in this world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is meaning in one's life.”
“Fear makes come true that which one is afraid of...”
“As a professor in two fields, neurology and psychiatry, I am fully aware of the extent to which man is subject to biological, psychological and sociological conditions. But in addition to being a professor in two fields I am a survivor of four camps - concentration camps, that is - and as such I also bear witness to the unexpected extent to which man is capable of defying and braving even the worst conditions conceivable.”
“Man is originally characterized by his "search for meaning" rather than his "search for himself." The more he forgets himself—giving himself to a cause or another person—the more human he is. And the more he is immersed and absorbed in something or someone other than himself the more he really becomeshimself.”
“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.”
“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.”
If you were abused as a child-you had no control . Your abuser liked to make you feel that you had a part to play -but in reality you did not. What you do have control over now as an adult is how you make meaning of your life experiences. What you do with it -now. It will be different for everyone. Some will take those experiences and become fighters for justice. Others will be wonderful listeners to those who need someone who understands what they have gone through. What will you do ? How will you make meaning of what you have been through?
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