meaning

Something to Think About ~ The Ultimate Path

by

From Viktor Frankl’s, Man’s Search for Meaning, “Another time we were at work in a trench. The dawn was grey around us; grey was the sky above; grey the snow in the pale light of dawn; grey the rags in which my fellow prisoners were clad; grey their faces. . . .  I was struggling to find the reason for my sufferings my slow dying.  . . . I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend that hopeless, meaningless world, and from somewhere I heard a victorious “Yes” in answer to my question of the existence of an ultimate purpose. At that moment a light was lit in a distant farmhouse which stood on the horizons as if painted there, in the midst of the  miserable grey of a dawning morning Bavaria (pp. 53).”

Note: We each have an ultimate purpose. It’s different for each one of us. Sometimes it takes mountains of suffering as Viktor Frankl experienced to discover it. Even in our deepest sufferings there are lessons we can learn if we are open to listening and acting on their message. Once we discover our ultimate purpose, our path becomes clear. We can take no other.

Something to Think About ~ Don’t Give Up

by

Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning had a deep impact on my life. It was the basis for my doctoral dissertation. It became the foundational work for much of my research in higher education. I still treasure a typed letter from Viktor Frankl giving me advice on writing my dissertation. I am re-reading Man’s Search for Meaning (I’ve read it numerous times always gleaning some new insight). As I re-read Man’s Search for Meaning I will share Frankl’s insights with you and my take on how they apply to our contemporary lives.

Frankl describes a scene from a holocaust camp when he writes, “Thus, when we saw a comrade smoking his own cigarettes, we knew he had give up faith in his strength to carry on, and once lost, the w9ill to live seldom returned (pps 21-22).

I’ve witnessed the same phenomenon  in older men and women who suddenly stop taking care of their appearance or the space in which they live, it is as if one can see the cloud of death hovering over them. It’s not long before they die. Don’t give in, ever. Fight the thoughts that you are powerless. Fight the thoughts that life is not worth living. You and your life are important and even the smallest contribution to make life better for another is significant. You are needed.

Inspiring Quote for Today ~ Say Yes to the Adventure

by

“We cannot stay home all our lives, we must present ourselves to the world and we must look upon it as an adventure.”

Beatrix Potter

Feeling Good Tip of the Day ~ We’re Designed to be Active & Engaged

by

We are designed to be active and engaged. Our level of engagement is directly related to what is meaningful in our life. When we make a decision to commit to something or someone beyond ourselves our lives fill with meaning. Meaning gives us a reason to get up, get dressed and get moving. It provides us with stories and experiences we otherwise would not have. Opportunities for meaning surround us. Reach out and grab an armful. 

Photo of the Day ~ Giving Ourselves to Another

by

Life Take on Greater Meaning

When we give ourselves

to someone

Knowing he/she needs us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Source

Positive Thought of the Day ~ Finding One’s Destiny

by

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”

Fyodor Dostoevsky
NOTE: What are you living for? What is so important to you that you want to wake up each morning and give yourself to it? Haven’t found it yet? Begin your search. When you find it, you will find your destiny. 

Positive Thought of the Day ~ What Are You Doing with Your Life?

by

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson
NOTE: One of life’s great journeys is to discover who we are. We discover it by finding the meaning in our life and having the sense of knowing that this is what I was born to be and do. When that day arrives, you’ll know and nothing will stop you from living it to its fullest.

Feeling Good Tip of the Day ~ Your Cup is Overflowing

by

“Constructing an optimistic vision of life allows one to have a full interpersonal world in spite of unfortunate circumstances … [it] reduces feelings of sadness/depression and anxiety, increases your lifespan, fosters stronger relationships with others and provides a coping skill during times of hardship. Being optimistic allows you to handle stressful situations better, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.” Source

NOTE: Instead of looking at your cup as half-full, look at it as overflowing, spilling off the table, running across the floor and out the door flooding the street where you live. Now, that is some kind of optimism and it is available to each of us. The key is within us. The more we reach out to help others and bring benefit to our world the more we are filled with an optimistic spirit. We are no longer powerless, we are empowered. What are you waiting for? The world is waiting for you.

Positive Thought of the Day ~ Becoming Stronger & More Resilient

by

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou

 

NOTE: Life challenges to become stronger, more resilient, and more adaptable. When we rise over and over again, we gain strength, confidence, resilience, and the ability to endure the toughest of times. The base foundation for gaining strength and resilience is the meaning in our life. When we have meaning in our life we can accomplish most any goal and conquer most every challenge. What meaning in your life drives you today? 

Today’s Inspiration ~ Why are you Getting Up?

by

“Don’t let your alarm clock, be the only reason you wake up.”

~ Ray Lewis

Verified by MonsterInsights