Why "Man's Search for Meaning" is one of my favorite books - 30 day blogging challenge day 9

I'm really exciting that something about books is part of this blogging challenge, because I've really worked hard to make more space for reading in my life. Making space for reading might sound easy, especially since my life rolls by at a pretty slow pace, these days, but it's actually pretty difficult for me. Chronic headaches and a lot of brain fog have made it difficult to focus on and enjoy what I'm reading, so reading for pleasure hasn't always been high on my priority list.

This is day 9 of the 30-day blogging challenge I've chosen to undertake. Today's topic is: "A book you love."

I'll be honest, it was really hard to pick a book. A lot of book have changed my life over the years. Mostly non-fiction. I could talk about books like:

And a lot of fiction books stand out that captured my soul and my attention and simply hang around in the recesses of my mind. I could write about books like:

...These lists could go on for days. And, truly, I think I'd love to write a little about each of these books, at some point in time. But for now... the one that has stuck with me the most.

 

 

Why I read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

I already wrote about this book, briefly, when I wrote about gratitude. But I want to give it a little more attention.

This book was recommended to me by my therapist when I was experiencing a myriad of difficult life situations. I wasn't drowning in depression at the time, but I was truly burning the candle at both ends and wondering what the point of it all was. I was stressed, overworked, emotionally exhausted, mentally drained, and dealing with my health issues on top of everything else. One of the most important things she did for me was to suggest this book.

And she suggested it a bunch of times. Like, a bunch of times. It took a while for me to actually feel ready to read it.

But when I did... oof. It hit home hard.

*I'm going to spoil the hell out of this book so be prepared.

Man's Search for Meaning reminded me that perspective is a tricky (and sometimes magical) thing

You might be surprised to hear that I took something magical away from reading a book about a person's experience in a concentration camp during the Second World War. But I did. Because I truly believe that that is what magic is.

Stay with me for a minute, here.

I don't think magic is levitation and spells that make people fall in love with you. It isn't turning someone else into a toad. True magic is using the resources we already have to change something about the nature of our reality.

That might mean combining ingredients to create a nourishing meal or a remedy to soothe what ails you. That might also mean using the power of the mind to change the way we experience life. That last part is where I want to focus.

The biggest thing I took away from reading this book is that how we choose to view things and the way we choose to experience life is where we hold our most power.

Even in the hardest of times, we always have the power to choose how we experience our lives

Yep, I just said that. And, yes, again, I realize what the book was about 😆

Listen, even when things are at an absolutely, beyond belief level of terrifying, horrible, agonizing, and seemingly hopeless, we still have the power to choose how we see those things.

We have the power to choose whether we make those things personal.

We have the power to choose whether we want to only focus on the bad things or also notice the good things. Even if it's just the calming way a cloud moves through the sky above us.

I won't be able to do it justice, here, in this post. You will need to read the book yourself. But the fact that Frankl kept some sense of hope, some form of meditative practice, and some level of power... it has inspired me beyond anything I can articulate.

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