• Navigating the holidays with Viktor Frankl’s story

As Christmas approached in 1944, amidst the horrors of a concentration camp, Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl noticed something remarkable about his fellow prisoners. Many held onto hope, believing they’d be free by the holiday. But when their release didn’t happen, their spirits plummeted and many fell sick and died.

The holiday season often brings expectations of joy and relief, much like the prisoners’ yearning for freedom. It’s a time when many anticipate a break from the norm, much like those captives hoping for liberation.

‘Man’s Search for Meaning’

Viktor Frankl had a unique life that shaped his powerful ideas about the mind and life. He went through tough times in the Holocaust, which changed how he saw the world. He was also a doctor who believed that finding meaning in hard times was crucial. His famous book Man’s Search for Meaning tells his story and talks about how people can stay hopeful even during tough times.

Later in life, he travelled a lot, teaching people about his ideas and changing how we think about the human mind and introduced a new therapy in the existential branch of psychotherapy called logotherapy. Viktor Frankl’s ideas still help and inspire many today, showing how people can stay strong when life gets hard.

This book explores deeply how the human psyche coped with the brutality of daily life in concentration camps. Part one of the book intimately shares Frankl’s experiences, while part two introduces his philosophical musings on meaning, unveiling his concept of logotherapy.

Man’s Search for Meaning gained immense recognition, listed among the most influential books in the United States. By the time of Frankl’s passing in 1997, it had sold over 10 million copies and had been translated into 24 languages, attesting to its enduring impact across cultures.

Modern day problems

This book became hugely popular for revealing how people can discover meaning even in the toughest situations. Frankl’s insight challenges us not to rely too heavily on special events, like holidays, for happiness. Just as the prisoners faced disappointment when their hopes were dashed, many of us also feel let down when holidays don’t live up to our expectations.

Frankl’s observation nudges us to find joy in everyday moments instead of just waiting for special occasions. He reminds us that real contentment comes from within, not from outside events like holidays.

A message for everyone

Viktor Frankl’s book isn’t just about his time in a concentration camp. It’s a deep look into how people can find strength and meaning even in really tough times. From what he learned, there are important lessons that apply to our everyday lives.

One big lesson is how easily hope can let us down. Just like prisoners who hoped for freedom but felt crushed when it didn’t happen, we often rely on things like holidays or achievements for our happiness. When these things don’t turn out as we hoped, it can really hurt.

Frankl’s message tells us to look inside ourselves for happiness. He says that real happiness doesn’t come from temporary things like holidays. It comes from being strong inside, finding purpose in everyday things, and appreciating the small moments in life. Instead of waiting for special times to make us happy, we should try to find meaning in each day, even when things are hard.

Frankl’s message also encourages us to not rely too much on outside factors to feel happy. It teaches us to find joy in the present moment and build inner strength that lasts, even when things outside of us change. It doesn’t mean we ignore holidays or special times; it means we approach them knowing that true happiness comes from inside us, from having a purpose and appreciating everyday life.

Moreover, Frankl saw how some prisoners found comfort in helping others or doing small tasks. It showed him how important it is to have a reason to keep going, even in tough times. Having something to hold on to, even something small, can help us survive hard times and feel like our lives matter.

Frankl’s lessons go beyond just his time in the camps. They speak to something everyone deals with –finding meaning in life. Often, we look outside ourselves for validation. But Frankl reminds us that happiness is already inside us, in every moment. By seeing things this way, we can take charge of our happiness and find contentment that lasts, no matter what’s happening around us.

BOOK QUOTE

“The observations of this one case and the conclusion drawn from them are in accordance with something that was drawn to my attention by the chief doctor of our concentration camp. The death rate in the week between Christmas, 1944, and New Year’s, 1945, increased in camp beyond all previous experience. In his opinion, the explanation for this increase did not lie in the harder working conditions or the deterioration of our food supplies or a change of weather or new epidemics. It was simply that the majority of the prisoners had lived in the naive hope that they would be home again by Christmas. As the time drew near and there was no encouraging news, the prisoners lost courage and disappointment overcame them. This had a dangerous influence on their powers of resistance and a great number of them died”

(The writer is a mental health professional and has, over the past 10 years, contributed to several Sri Lankan media publications in both English and Sinhala languages, focusing on topics related to psychology and counselling)