“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Victor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
If you’ve ever struggled to find meaning in your life or you’d like to feel more successful but you don’t know how, Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Victor E. Frankl has some answers.
Frankl spent several years trapped inside a concentration camp during WW2 which lead him to write one of the most influential books in the US – Man’s Search for Meaning.
Through observation, he discovered that the men who survived the concentration camp found reasons to live, even in the direst circumstances. Remembering the face of a loved one or admiring a sunset made a huge difference.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
So, how does Frankl’s message relate to your life right now?
Perhaps one of the most productive things you can do right now is to take a step back and look objectively at your life and current situation. What are you grateful for right now? What’s the best thing that happened to you today? Which people are important to you in your life and why?
Every morning or evening, write a list of ten things you’re really grateful for. You don’t have to spend ages writing, but take at least five minutes to focus on a few of the things on your list.
It’s not about being complacent and ignoring the parts of your life that need improvement, but you might feel more productive and find it easier to move forwards once you truly appreciate what you already have.
