“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
-Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) was a psychiatrist who survived the Holocaust. Upon entering Thereisienstadt concentration camp in 1942, Frankl was separated from his wife, parents, and brother. The Nazis shaved his hair, removed his clothes, and seized his possessions, including a manuscript of his life’s work. In other words, Frankl was stripped of many of the markers that defined him in society.
Frankl spent three years as a prisoner in various concentration camps. He performed grueling hard labor, like digging tunnels and trenches, in a squalid, cold, disease-infested environment. Frankl was often beaten and tortured. In such conditions, and having lost his family, status, and material possessions, it would have made sense for Frankl to become hopeless and cynical. In fact, Frankl observed many prisoners who did become depressed, suicidal, and even violent towards others.
Though he was a prisoner, Frankl realized that he could, in some ways, choose to be free, especially in his mind. Frankl had the freedom to live in accordance with his internal moral compass, which was calibrated by a set of guiding principles and values. Frankl chose to treat his fellow prisoners with dignity, kindness, and respect. He chose to use his imagination and appreciate the beauty in life. In the face of immense pain, suffering, death, and destruction, Frankl chose to have faith in humanity.
Over time, Frankl became famished and frail; he looked physically like a shell of his former self. However, Frankl possessed mental and emotional fortitude. He had a solid core, a soul that could not be destroyed by the Nazis. Frankl chose to not suffer in vain. He used his suffering as a way to find meaning and purpose in life.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has been a public health and economic crisis. The restrictions put in place, including social distancing and the closure of many forms of live entertainment, have made us feel, in some ways, like we are imprisoned. Many have experienced the loss of wealth and material possessions, as well as the cancellation of life events, like weddings and graduations. We are also of course grieving the loss of human life, at a staggering scale. Over 330,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Thousands of husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, and sisters did not come home for Christmas this year.
The virus has left us living in fear, frustration, uncertainty. So much is beyond our control. On a cold, dark winter evening when the pandemic feels like a crushing weight, it might seem convenient to give in to pessimism and despair. It might seem convenient to blame or disparage others; to isolate ourselves, be angry at the world, and lose faith in humanity. It might seem convenient to use drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the pain. In the face of darkness, we can choose a dark path. We can choose to not see the light.
The Holocaust and COVID-19 pandemic are examples of human suffering on a large scale. But, the truth is that pain and suffering are all around us, and within us, all the time. We will all, at some point, experience difficult life events, like the loss of a loved one, divorce, unemployment, illness, or accidents. Through the process of grief, pain, and suffering, we can choose to use these events as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and move forward. We can face difficult truths in order to, in the long run, be more fulfilled and at peace. We can reflect, introspect, and suffer in a way that is productive, that helps us make sense of life and figure out what is most important.
Of course one’s wealth, job, and status hold a certain amount of value. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, humans need food, shelter, and security in order to survive. Money can buy a certain amount of peace, stability, and even happiness. Losing one’s money, possessions, and status would likely lead to a great deal of pain and suffering.
But I think our society puts too much emphasis on appearances, status, and material possessions. We seem to think that the size of a person’s house, car, or bank account defines that person’s value in society. Although those things are real in a superficial or material sense, they are not real on a deeper or spiritual level. Genuine realness is who someone is on the inside, at their core. It’s how a person treats other people. It’s what someone does when nobody else is looking. It’s having the courage to stand up for what’s right, even if that goes against social convention. It’s dedication to the truth, humility, and taking responsibility for one’s actions. Success should not be defined by status; it should defined by the health of one’s relationships. Success should be defined by one’s capacity for love, to care for people, and to live according to a higher purpose.
I believe that we can all be like Viktor Frankl. I believe that we all, at various points in our lives, will be stripped down to who we are at our core. We can then choose our own way.
-Ethan Siegel
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