Viktor E. Frankl’s, Man’s Search for Meaning, introduced me to a whole new understanding of how to deal with the past and the idea of Logotheraphy. In his book, he discusses the Nazi concentration camps, with various accounts of the horrific and unimaginable events that he witnessed, experienced and subsequently had to deal with later in life, as he was one of the lucky few to survive. This was, of course, one of the most traumatic occurrences that any human being, past or present, has had to deal with and as Frankl developed the Logotherapy approach to psychology, this book can be used as a universal guide to teach all humans that they, too, must learn how to address the troubles and enormous parts of life that seem to be the worst possible thing they have been through.
After completing the reading and applying it to my life, I was able to place myself as captive in my drug addiction, as Frankl was in Auschwitz, which allowed for an intimate connection to his approach of Logotherapy. After many attempts at sobriety over the years, hearing the “how to” and “you must”, I started to look at the pain I went through in a new way. I began to try to see that had I not experienced this particular event, committed this crime or went to the places I would go, I never would have either experienced some positive and very important lessons either. Perhaps, that was my way to fool myself into feeling better about the things I had done which I would never be able to take back. However, for me, I really was able to see that what I put myself through, changed me forever. Looking back made me a much better, more aware and understanding human being.
In Frankl’s, Man’s Search for Meaning, I believe that his ultimate mission in writing the book and developing his approach to psychology was to show the readers that they must look for meaning in their lives in order to gain a sense of purpose out of their existence. Every individual will experience trauma and make...