Rising Above The Situation
“It is a peculiarity of man that he can only live by looking to the future—sub specie aeternitatis” (p. 72). This declaration by Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning really jumped out at me and is so true. Frankl went on in the book to say, “And this is his salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task” (p. 72). He then went on to share how he would imagine himself in a warm and comfortable lecture hall lecturing attentive students rather than worrying about all the trivial tasks of being in a concentration camp.
I am one of those people who always loves having things to look forward to. I love having the next trip, next big project, next goal, or next big vision to imagine. This is, I’m sure an over simplification, but it seems to me that these futuristic imaginations can also take up space in our brains that would otherwise be vulnerable to stress and anxiety. Anticipation is a powerful feeling. That giddy excitement we all get when looking forward to something helps us feel more capable of dealing with what’s on our plates.
“…it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.” ~ Viktor Frankl
This also made me think about vision boards being such a powerful tool. Frankl was creating a vision board in his mind of being back in a lecture hall doing what he loves to do – which he ultimately accomplished. When we visualize what we want and are looking forward to, we put it into our universe. We are essentially telling ourselves what we want and bringing it into our surroundings.
“Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.” ~ Viktor Frankl
When we have a clear picture of what we want to achieve and why it matters (our purpose) we’re more likely to stay focused and committed to taking action. Research also tells us to focus on the process and journey, not just the ultimate goal. Frankl was practicing mental rehearsal or visualization, which research now shows can significantly influence beliefs and decision-making, akin to real experiences.
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