"These 7 Questions inspired By Viktor Frankl
Will Change Your Perspective On Life"
by Thomas Oppong
"The great psychologist Viktor Frankl survived three concentration camps. He founded logotherapy, a form of therapy centered on finding meaning in life. Suffering stripped Frankl bare, leaving only the desperate search for meaning to stave off insanity. He concluded that enduring the ordeal hinged on forging a reason to live, a purpose beyond the loss and despair. Frankl doesn’t sell easy answers in his teachings. But rather practical questions to ponder.
For example, “What is life asking of me?” “It is we ourselves who must answer the questions that life asks of us, and to those questions we can respond only by being responsible for our existence,” he says. In his book, "Man’s Search for Meaning," he wrote a deeper explanation.
What life asks us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and personal desires. It prompts us to ponder the larger purpose and meaning in our lives. Frankl argued that responsibility is a key component of finding meaning in life. “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible,” - Viktor E. Frankl
When you ask what life asks of you, you confront the idea that you are not merely a passive recipient of circumstances but an active participant in your life. It’s a shift from passive to active living. That means you take ownership of your actions, choices, and their consequences.
Frankl believed that focusing on the responsibilities and opportunities in life is how we find purpose, even in the face of suffering and adversity. When you ask yourself, “What is it that life is asking of me?” you are compelled to reflect on your values, goals and the bigger picture.
The reward? A shift from a self-centred perspective to a more outward-focused one - an invitation to actively participate in your own life. The questions below will force you to confront shadows you might prefer to ignore, to wrestle with your existential anxieties. Deep questions is how I confront my existential void and reframe suffering. Use these meaningful life questions to transcend the many curveballs in life. A life full of meaning and the unshakable conviction that even in the darkest times, you can choose your response in life.
Frankl inspired me to ask my own existential questions to gain clarity in life. I hope they help you answer concepts like responsibility in the face of suffering and the inherent freedom we possess even in the most dire circumstances. They’ve helped me rewrite my relationship with life.
Prepare to introspect. Beyond suffering: meaning and purpose. “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.” - Frankl
1. Viktor Frankl believed that even the darkest experiences can hold seeds of potential growth. What lessons have you learned from your challenges that have made you stronger and more resilient?
2. How can you approach suffering not as a roadblock but as a teacher? What wisdom can you extract from difficult experiences that can enrich your life and the lives of others?
3. Imagine life without suffering. Would it be meaningful? Would it be truly human? How does the ability to overcome hardship shape who we are and what we value?
4. Imagine waking up each day with a clear sense of purpose, your own personal “why.” What would that purpose be? How would it change your approach to life’s challenges?
Finding freedom: “It is not freedom from conditions, but it is freedom to take a stand toward the conditions.” - Frankl
5. Even in the most confined circumstances, what freedoms can you still exercise? Freedom of thought, attitude, and how you respond to your situation?
6. Despite everything life throws your way, your ability to choose your response remains constant. What choices will you make that align with your values, even in difficult situations?
7. Can you identify personal values that transcend fleeting emotions or desires? What guiding principles or ideals do you want to anchor your life around, regardless of circumstance?
Viktor Frankl’s life questions and contemplations are transformative tools. It’s the secret to a profound understanding of your existence, values, and the meaningful contributions you can make. Use them to see the world through a new lens, one where you are not a passive observer but an active participant in the direction of your life. “What is the meaning of life?” is a big life question. It’s your job to answer with your mindset and actions.
Freely download "Mans Search For Meaning", by Viktor Frankl, here:
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