One of the most important books I have read is "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. He survived the Holocaust and wrote that book discussing his psychological observations from his time in the concentration camps (he was a psychiatrist before the war). In a book full of powerful questions, thoughts, and observations something that has stuck with me is what he talks about in regards to how one thinks affects how one lives. In a place where every "normal" element of humanity has been taken from you, Frankl held that how an individual THINKS changed their experience with life. I can't imagine being in a situation where every single ounce of normalcy has been taken from me and the only thing left is my mind and how I CHOOSE to respond to life.
"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"
-William Shakespeare
If I am honest, I fear being in a situation where everything has been stripped from me except for how I choose to think because I do not know how I would respond. The ancient stoic philosophers used to voluntarily choose to submit themselves to various discomforts such as eating food they disliked, sleeping on the ground, wearing itchy uncomfortable clothing, etc. to remind them that all "good things" could be taken from them and therefore they held a higher appreciation for what they had. Not only did they appreciate the comforts they had but they were able to test their mental fortitude and see whether their minds were up to the task of being the only source of comfort and hope.
I felt compelled to write about this topic because I find myself wondering how I would fare if all was taken from me. I have intentionally begun to expose myself to some discomforts, not to virtue signal to others, but to see how I respond mentally. Perhaps I will write a follow up on this in a few months to share my experiences and hopefully offer some insight. In the meantime, if you have not read "Man's Search For Meaning" you absolutely should! I'll even post this link to make it that much easier for you. In the meantime, dare yourself to consider how you might respond if everything was taken from you.
Until next time, live long and prosper my friends.
-Nate
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be"
-Abraham Lincoln
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