A Why To Live For Can Bear Almost Any How
In my post, “Would I Have Done The Same Thing?,” I mentioned that Angela Duckworth suggested either reading for the first time or rereading Viktor Frankl’s seminal book, Man’s Search for Meaning. This book has a treasure trove of great content causing deep reflection and contemplation. Three times in the book so far, Frankl has quoted Nietzsche, who said “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Frankl argued these words were a motto which holds true for any psychotherapy.
Frankl went on to say, “In the Nazi concentration camps, one could have witnessed that those who knew that there was a task waiting for them to fulfill were most apt to survive” (p. 104). Frankl believed that when we discover our “why,” or our personal meaning, we can withstand suffering, hardship, and adversity because our purpose sustains us emotionally and psychologically. This idea aligned with Frankl’s own psychological approach, known as logotherapy, which centered on the search for meaning as the primary motivational force in human life. Therefore, he saw Nietzsche’s words as a powerful reminder that purpose can serve as a guiding light, helping us navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope.
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