We search for meaning all the time, longing for something other than the reality we were born into
Humans cannot live without meaning since it is a primary motivation, a form of instinctive longing for something beyond reality that controls everything. It is argued that “meaning” is an arbitrary concept conjured in the form of a defense mechanism. But it goes beyond rationale into a more profound conviction that one can live or die for their ideals and values.
A person can face frustration trying to exercise their right to define their meaning. This conflict, called “existential frustration,” occurs when one encounters great difficulty finding meaning for their existence and the will to define their life’s purpose.
Sometimes, as we try to find meaning in our lives, it can do more harm than good, causing inner tension. But this conflict is necessary for a person to survive, resulting in “noögenic neuroses” (noös is Greek for the mind), which refers to the mind’s great distress as it tries and fails to find the meaning of existence.
Accepting the tension that keeps one searching for a new meaning is called “noö-dynamics” and is applicable for everyone. The feeling of discontent and the desire to improve what we have accomplished works positively since that’s how we manifest our “will to meaning.”
⚡️We will only agree to a mediocre life if we live it without tension. The pressure of existential frustration acts as a catalyst for change.
However, people often suffer from a constant feeling of meaninglessness termed “the existential vacuum.” This sense of isolation, inherent to the modern generation, is caused by the emptiness of a meaningless existence that leaves a deep feeling of boredom, causing aggression, depression, and addiction, which often culminate in suicide.
In these times of mental distress, logotherapy, the psychoanalytic treatment that employs a search for “logos” or meaning, can help. It can fill the vacuum with a definite purpose and prevent a relapse into destructive habits.
Did you know? Jewish people were excluded from public life on September 15, 1935, when the Nuremberg Laws were issued. These laws also stripped German Jews of citizenship and the right to marry Germans.
Thank you so much for bringing all of these phenomenal lessons to life for me! It’s beyond incredible that we were able to get this once-in-a-lifetime study of sorts from a true psychoanalyst through one of the most tragic events in human history, proving a peak at what there was to be GAINED from all of it. Love the blog Ben!