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  • Essay / Viktor Frankl Understanding of life

    Unlike most psychotherapists of his time, Viktor Frankl believed in the importance of finding meaning in one's life. He viewed people as individuals, as complete wholes – products of the mind, soul and environment – ​​rather than just genetic products. He strongly emphasized the importance of the individual's unique purpose: "Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to fulfill a concrete mission that demands his fulfillment." He cannot be replaced there and his life cannot be repeated either. Thus, each person's task is as unique as the specific opportunity to implement it” (p. 109). “This uniqueness and this singularity which distinguishes each individual… gives meaning to their existence” (p. 79). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay This resonates quite deeply with people of faith, especially Latter-day Saints. Church members believe that God has a plan for each of them. The General Plan of Happiness states that each person's ultimate goal is to gain a body on Earth, become a member of a family, and live with dignity to return to the presence of God at the end of their earthly life. Members also believe that God has given each of us an individual plan – a person to love, a talent to develop, people to serve – that will give meaning to their lives. They believe that their individual plans must be carried out and that although trials may make their lives more difficult, they can endure any trial because of their faith. As spiritual children of a loving Heavenly Father, they feel distinguished and irreplaceable on an eternal scale. A fundamental belief of the Church is the idea of ​​growing stronger in one's faith in Christ by enduring trials. This is consistent with Frankl's position that "a man who realizes the responsibility he bears towards a human being...or towards an unfinished work...knows the 'why' of his existence and will be able to bear almost nothing." no matter what “how”. » (p. 80). Frankl never said that the meaning of life was to get rid of suffering, but rather to find meaning in one's suffering. The Church agrees with this and seeks to draw closer to God and grow in faith as the ultimate meaning of suffering. This perspective laid out by Frankl could prove very beneficial to those struggling with depression or suicidal tendencies. Finding a person, job or thing towards which one has a duty should be a goal of therapeutic treatments for such patients, because as Nietzsche – quoted by Frankl – said: “He who has a reason for living can bear almost nothing. no matter how'” (p. 76). In conjunction with regular therapy sessions, regular reminder of one's individual goal could be beneficial for emotional and mental well-being; this could renew the patient's will to live. Frankl described a situation in which he did just that to two men in a labor camp: Both men had spoken about their intention to commit suicide. Both used the typical argument: they had nothing more to expect from life. In both cases, it was about making them understand that life still expected something from them; something was expected of them in the future. We noted, in fact, that for this one it was his child whom he adored and who was waiting for him in a foreign country. For the other, it was a thing, not a person. This man was a scientist and had written a series of books that had yet to be completed. His work could not be accomplished, 48(4), 408-413.