Frankl Suffering

After experiencing immense suffering, a human is put in the state of mind in a state of no external desires, leading to contentment with just the basic necessities in life. Happiness in one’s life is vital to living a meaningful life. Without contentment inwith one’s life, there will always be something unsatisfied in their conscience. Frankl suffered gravely while in the concentration camps, and he finds an analogy to suffering, “If a certain quantity of gas is pumped into an empty chamber, it will fill the chamber completely and evenly, no matter how big the chamber. Thus suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little” (Frankl 44). Suffering is powerful and completely takes
Frankl’s idea that suffering is relative is applicable everywhere. For example, if someone gets a small burn from the stove then they are bothered by it and it is hard to think of anything else, while in that state of pain, however if they also break their leg, then they will be in a great deal of pain, making the burn seem meaningless. In both scenarios the suffering affected them greatly, and took over their minds. In that moment, they were only thinking of the state of suffering they are in, and not some external desire. The concentration camps puts the prisoners into a state where the only desire was the will to survive. They did not think of materialistic things, as they were useless to them. Frankl says that every man is free to choose his own path in life. He can either chose to lead it with happiness and passion or chose to end it, especially when faced with such a significant amount of difficulties. Frankl claims that you can find meaning in your life through suffering, since all external desires are gone, and you only have yourself and your
MSM-how the path is inevitable
2. “If a certain quantity of gas is pumped into an empty chamber, it will fill the chamber completely and evenly, no matter how big the chamber. Thus suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little” (44).

Many people are able to find meaning in their life after suffering. Frankl experienced this first hand in the camps, where he spent his time thinking about everything he would do once he got out. For example, he was set on completing his manuscript on logotherapy which also symbolized his hope for the future. He was able to find this meaning and live his life to the best he could, even though he knew that he might not have anyone to go home to. The life in the concentration camps was not only brutal, but meaningless, which made it hard to pass the hours while suffering so greatly. Overall, Frankl’s concept of logotherapy is when all external desires are gone, and a human is in a state where at least basic needs are available, the main force that is pushing them along is the hope to find meaning in one’s