I recently had to write an analysis paper for my Ethics and Values class where I took a piece of a writing done by Viktor Frankl where he talked about how we can still find meaning and happiness in our lives despite our situation. And I was annoyed at my teacher at how he seemed to downplay what Frankl was trying to say by equating it to saying that well even though life sucks we should keep our chin up. And I disagreed. I had the opportunity to read his book "Man's Search for Meaning" over the summer. And I will tell you, it is a must read! It's not a novel but there is so much to be learned from this man's experience and how he got through said experience.
For those of you who don't know, Viktor Frankl lived in Austria/Germany around the time that Hitler came to power and he ended up in the concentration camp Auschwitz with his family. During the Holocaust, as many of you probably know it turned into an every man for himself situation. Yet there were many stories of people who still served others in the camp. For instance: Corrie Ten Boom and her story the Hiding Place, she talks about that when her and her sister Betsy helped others and served others they were really blessed for what they did. And they were also able to start to see the good in their situation. For instance: the hut that they were confined into was infested with lice, which actually kept the guards away and the prisoners in that specific hut were generally left alone. After awhile of trusting God and moving forward, they were able to find that they could hold a Bible study group because they were not going to be disturbed and they had some peace where they could not only help themselves by reading teachings from the Bible, but they were also able bless the other women in the camp as well.
Going back to the paper, I started it by basically stating that no life is devoid of trials or struggles. For those of us who are LDS we fundamentally understand that trials are given to us to shape us, stretch us, and teach us things about ourselves that we never could have figured out on our own. And Frankl really helps us to see that even in a concentration camp, there still could be humanity, service, and a general happiness and meaning in life. What he says mostly is that it was the attitude of the individual that got them through the harsh environment of the camp. And those that found some sort of meaning to keep going, were the ones who made it longer than those who gave up. In fact, he says that you could tell when someone had given up on life, and you knew that it wouldn't be long before they passed away.
Life is never easy, I've had my own barrage of trials, some things were from choices I've made that have given me consequences I've had to learn from. Others, just happened. And some things I've been through I look back and wonder how on earth I made it to where I am now. It seemed so huge, so insurmountable, and yet I've overcome it. And in the process, I've learned a multitude of things about myself. My search for meaning, it's still a process, and it's something that I'm trying to learn how to live and to be happy in the moment, to take the opportunity to see the beauty and the little things around me that make up my world. Things I enjoy and find beautiful. In fact, it was one thing that Trent challenged me to do while he was gone. It was SO EASY to be happy while he was here. And even happier when we were together, but I'm still searching for my true happiness, the happiness that defines me and that is with me no matter where I am in my day or my life.
".....happiness cannot be pursued, it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen....you have to let it happen by not caring about it"
-Viktor Frankl
So, happiness can come, and it generally comes when we don't actively search for it. Combine that with a reason to be happy, or by influencing our lives with something that can bring that happiness. The Gospel does that for us, it brings us such understanding and happiness into our day if we choose to let it, and we choose to follow it. Focusing on the true meaning of life and the actual reason we're here is what will make us happy even when life sucks.
3 Nephi 13:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Life is full of adventures, it's how we live and enjoy them that makes us who we are as individuals.
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