Mental health in crises – Refine the meaning for living.
Viktor Frankl said, “People are not destroyed by suffering. People are destroyed by suffering without meaning”.
This is a bold and yet truthful statement from someone who endured the horrific holocaust experience. Meaning helps people to endure pain. Meaning has energized many people to overcome severe pain, trauma and suffering. The inspiring stories abound of people who overcame difficulties because they still felt they had something to give. Meaning is a key ingredient in having mental health during crises.
Meaning is one of those words that can seem vague and cloud-like. Viktor Frankl rightly says in his book, Man’s search for meaning, that meaning is much more specific and varies from person to person. During times of crises we are reminded and even confronted with our own purpose and reason for living. It is as if crises is the fire than often refine the meaning of life. Crises can also challenge us to new depths. Depths where we find energy we did not know we had. It forces us to dig wells, as it were, to find renewed resources to overcome the crises. Part of these depths are refining our “why” for living. When we find meaning in life, our mind is focused and our mental health increase. We discover new possibilities. Our creativity is fueled and we are able to move forward.
Renowned clinical professor, Manfred Kets De Vries, shared during a recent podcast, how leaders are currently re-defining the meaning and purpose of their organization. For example, moving from profit to employee well-being or shifting from product expertise to empathetic customer focused service. Companies and individuals are all challenged to refine their meaning in order to provide a meaningful contribution into the future.
How can you re-discover meaning in suffering or challenging times?
- Create dialogue with yourself. Journalling, silence or solitude are great avenues to become aware of the deeper questions and challenges you are currently facing. Create a space to be quite within all the noise and fake news.
- Have dialogue with those close to you. This will help you to get perspective. It will also spark new thoughts and ideas in your mind as you listen to the journey of someone else.
- Create dialogue with your customers. This will allow you to hear different opinions and gain a broader perspective of the current situation. You will also find inspiration in the stories of your customers. Their triumph in difficult times will energize you.
Here are 2 truths I believe and want to encourage you with:
- You are valuable. I want to echo the words my colleague Paul Donders wrote in his book, Appreciation: Human being, you are valuable! You are unique! There is no one like you – there never has been and there never will be! You are worth living, developing, discovering and enjoying.
- You have a contribution you can make. The greatest acts of service has often gone unnoticed by the world. A society is build by the continual small acts of individuals who discovered the meaning of life and are willing to share it. Find something you can do for others. This can be in your family, community or work.
We wish you all the best as you refine your meaning for living during these times.
Sincere greetings,
Xpand South Africa Team
Empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.