Viktor Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning
As a final lecture, I was given the idea from another teacher to use Frankl's book Man's Search For Meaning as a closing piece. The book is pithy, powerful, and based around the most profound suffering. It is also about human connection, and the lack of it.
I asked the students to read Part I. It's 80 or so small pages I believe, about the Holocaust, about utmost suffering, and about one man's story of finding meaning through it all. The students processed this with their primary teacher before I came in for class. Here is an excerpt that I hoped to reference.
We talked about what else the students remembered about Frankl's story, and what experiences they had reading about his time in the concentration camps. The students had a lot of input about the different examples of complete loneliness, despair, and hopelessness that was so abound and contagious.
What was it then, that allowed Frankl to continue against all logic, and against all bodily and spiritual emptiness?
"Love is as strong as death".
We discussed how Frankl's story is related to the parenting book we just read. I asked, "what parallels can be drawn between the pages of both texts"?
I briefly covered Frankl's concept of Logotherapy, only in that he made meaning of his suffering. He did so (in part) with love.
I suggested a simple final quote that I hoped would stick with the students, as a means of finding meaning in their own suffering. This is related to a recently released documentary film about Mr. Rogers, in which he makes two profound and simple statements. He said "The most important things you can teach a child, are that they are loved, and capable of loving". He said also, "Love is at the center of everything. All learning. All relationships. Love, or the lack of it".
My greatest hope for these students was that they found meaning in this class. And, that if they knew love wasn't readily available, it still was, and to embrace the infinite possibilities of hope that it exists. And, that they are so very worthy and hard-wired for comforting connection. I hope they know they are always a candle or a reflection as Edith Wharton suggests.
Finally, I shared my favorite video of all time. This is somewhat related, but somewhat a stand-alone from the two texts. It's my personal roadmap in the words of Alan Watts. It's simply a reminder of why music is so essential, and a reminder to always sing and dance while the music is being played. Longing for belonging, longing for security, can be attained when we consider ourselves on a path, not a journey, and remember to sing and dance.
Intended Takeaways: Suffering; Love; Singing; Dancing
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