by Barbra Danin
Eudaemonia - eu" ("good") and
"daimōn" ("spirit"),a life of
activity governed by reason
Ancient Greek philosophers had
the leisure to contemplate life’s meaning and engaged in many debates over what
determines a good life. According to Aristotle, striving for happiness should
not be man’s highest priority; rather, he wrote that one should strive for Eudaimonia,
or fulfillment through the process of doing what is purposeful and worthwhile
to each individual. This involves well intended action through knowledge that
is acquired throughout life experience.
Since the quarantine, many of
us find ourselves thinking about our lives in ways we may not have previously had
the time or interest in doing. Trends are shifting rapidly as we reevaluate our
values and focus more on what holds meaning and priority – Be that quality time
with friends and family, healthy living and home cooked meals, discovering
nature, creative ventures, or pursuing professional aspirations.
For some, living in small
spaces in dense urban areas is no longer attractive, and home sales are spiking
in suburban areas with larger properties. Fashion trends are shifting
dramatically, with sales of jeans plummeting and leisure wear and Birkenstocks
purchases soaring. Walmart’s biggest sellers are self-grooming devices, while
lipstick sales have flattened and Amazon’s stock of bread and pasta makers is
low. At the same time, fear and anxiety is rising as we struggle with the
negative impact of social isolation and uncertainty over what the future holds.
As we continue to face the
changing circumstances of the Coronavirus pandemic, how can we assign meaning
to these times and respond to the challenges of the moment? Can we draw from the wisdom of those who
experienced adversity in the past? Victor Frankl offers both practical actions
and philosophical insight in his book Man’s Search for Meaning. During his interment at the Auschwitz
concentration camp during World War II, Frankl, a psychiatrist, keenly observed
his and fellow prisoners’ psychological and behavioral evolution as they lived
through the horrors of their imprisonment. He was curious as to how they were
coping during that challenging time and what seemed useful to them in efforts
to survive. He noted that those
who found resilience appeared to assign their own personal meaning to their experience:
It did not really matter what we expected
from life, but rather what life expected from us…….our answers must consist……………in
right action and in right conduct…taking the responsibility to find the right
answer to its problems and fulfill the tasks it constantly sets for each
individual.
He published the book Man’s
Search for Meaning after his liberation. The book presents his theory of Logo therapy
(logos=moving), a treatment approach with focus on the future, rather than the
past. Echoing the theory of Eudaimonia,
he contends that a search for meaning is the primary motivator of life, and
that each of us must continually redefine our meaning for the moment in which we
are living, with an emphasis on work and correct action, connecting with
others, and accepting circumstances over which we have no
control.
For Frankel, what energized him
were thoughts of his wife, plans to publish his book, fantasies of a favorite
meal…… He observed that those inmates who tried to assign meaning to the
experience at the time were able to better tolerate the suffering they
underwent than those who became hopeless.
As summer ends and we enter the
fall season, we may consider this time as an opportunity to look inward and explore
and challenge long held values and beliefs, and to revisit our personal hopes
and aspirations towards a life of meaning and purpose for now and for the
future.
Barbra Danin,
MA, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,
Clinical Art Therapist, and Certified EMDR Therapist. She provides individual, couples, and family therapy. Her specialties include treating
children with anxiety, trauma, and behavioral issues – and empowering parents
with concrete tools for lasting change. Contact
her at (314) 477-8585 or barbradanin@barbradanin.com. Learn more at her website at www.barbradanin.com.
