Here are quotes from Victor Frankl in Man's Search for Meaning (it's a great book!):
We can discover the meaning in life in 3 different ways: 1) by creating a work or doing a deed; 2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and 3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.
The first, the way of achievement or accomplishment, is quite obvious. …. The second way of finding a meaning in life is by experiencing something—such as goodness, truth and beauty—by experiencing nature and culture, or, last but not least, by experiencing another human being in his very uniqueness—by loving him.
We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement. When we are no longer able to change a situation—just think of incurable disease such as inoperable cancer—we are challenged to change ourselves.
There are situations in which one is cut off from the opportunity to do one’s work or to enjoy one’s life; but what can never be ruled out is the unavoidability of suffering. In accepting this challenge to suffer bravely, life has a meaning up to the last moment, and it retains this meaning literally to the end. In other words, life’s meaning is an unconditional one, for it even includes the potential meaning of unavoidable suffering.
It’s so funny that Samantha Irby was who brought you to Substack, because it was the same for me. I set up an account, but haven’t done anything with it yet. I’m still doing the bulk of my writing for MiddleWisconsin.org, but will be reassessing my role with MW later this year. I am slowly getting back into working on my book. I didn’t want to work on the dark chapters during the pandemic out of concern for my own mental health. I decided to start working on those more when the weather gets warmer, so I can more easily escape outdoors if it gets to be too much.
Love the title you chose! Look forward to reading more from you. We should definitely talk Gilmore Girls sometime too ;)
I am soooo proud of you! This was not an easy birth, however your 'baby' is terrific! Discussions on content to follow, so many avenues for thought. Mwah!
Hello! CAPITAL idea, this journal! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
For me personally, I'd long ago removed the Agency of my life's choices from some higher power, and really now look at my existence and purpose to serve the people I love and to be a balanced good for the community and world I live in.
Meaning that, with all my human failings and foibles, I try to aim for intentions and action that will do more good than not
When I suffer, more often than not I ascribe that suffering to a compounding of consequences derived from un- or ill-informed choices. And that is simply because I am human and sometimes I act lazily or on reflex and don't always look at the big picture.
I like the idea behind "The Intentional Hulk" and am looking forward to more content. Huzzah!
Here are quotes from Victor Frankl in Man's Search for Meaning (it's a great book!):
We can discover the meaning in life in 3 different ways: 1) by creating a work or doing a deed; 2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and 3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.
The first, the way of achievement or accomplishment, is quite obvious. …. The second way of finding a meaning in life is by experiencing something—such as goodness, truth and beauty—by experiencing nature and culture, or, last but not least, by experiencing another human being in his very uniqueness—by loving him.
We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement. When we are no longer able to change a situation—just think of incurable disease such as inoperable cancer—we are challenged to change ourselves.
There are situations in which one is cut off from the opportunity to do one’s work or to enjoy one’s life; but what can never be ruled out is the unavoidability of suffering. In accepting this challenge to suffer bravely, life has a meaning up to the last moment, and it retains this meaning literally to the end. In other words, life’s meaning is an unconditional one, for it even includes the potential meaning of unavoidable suffering.
It’s so funny that Samantha Irby was who brought you to Substack, because it was the same for me. I set up an account, but haven’t done anything with it yet. I’m still doing the bulk of my writing for MiddleWisconsin.org, but will be reassessing my role with MW later this year. I am slowly getting back into working on my book. I didn’t want to work on the dark chapters during the pandemic out of concern for my own mental health. I decided to start working on those more when the weather gets warmer, so I can more easily escape outdoors if it gets to be too much.
Love the title you chose! Look forward to reading more from you. We should definitely talk Gilmore Girls sometime too ;)
I am soooo proud of you! This was not an easy birth, however your 'baby' is terrific! Discussions on content to follow, so many avenues for thought. Mwah!
Hello! CAPITAL idea, this journal! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
For me personally, I'd long ago removed the Agency of my life's choices from some higher power, and really now look at my existence and purpose to serve the people I love and to be a balanced good for the community and world I live in.
Meaning that, with all my human failings and foibles, I try to aim for intentions and action that will do more good than not
When I suffer, more often than not I ascribe that suffering to a compounding of consequences derived from un- or ill-informed choices. And that is simply because I am human and sometimes I act lazily or on reflex and don't always look at the big picture.
I like the idea behind "The Intentional Hulk" and am looking forward to more content. Huzzah!