Can Viktor Frankl solve my existential millennial crisis?

As a millennial, (well, I’m just about a millennial – depending on which definition you read) I am partial to an existential crisis, or two. 

I announced this while I was playing tennis the other day. And my super intelligent friend questioned if it was actually an existential crisis, or just a crisis? Which, on returning from tennis made me check Google for the answer. 

I’m not quite sure why this mattered so much to me. Somehow I thought that if it was an existential crisis then it was trendier than just a crisis. And then it was kind of okay to be having one. In fact it could be kind of cool to be having one. Perhaps. 

I checked. And I’m okay, I’m totally on trend. It is an existential crisis and not just a standard crisis. Phew. 

Wikipedia decreed the following: “An existential crisis is a moment at which an individual questions if their life has meaning, purpose, or value.”

So to recover this,  I’ve been reading a bit of Viktor Frankl: Man’s Search for Meaning. 

I say I’ve been reading. Well, that’s not totally true. I’ve been reading and scribbling and underlining. It is good stuff. This Frankl chap knows his beans. 

If you don’t have time to read it just now because you’re too busy having a crisis. Sorry, an existential-on-trend-almost-kind-of-cool-crisis then I reckon these are the bits you need to know. 

Here goes. 

Firstly, Frankl, you are a legend. That doesn’t come close by any stretch of the imagination. But you are. How you endured what you endured is just staggering. What an immense strength of character you have. 

So, according to Frankl:  the important thing is not to actively strive for happiness. We mistakenly think that happiness can be pursued. It cannot. It must ensue. Happiness will come as a result of something else. 

He also explains that ‘the meaning of life’ is not the same throughout life – it has a specific meaning at a given moment. So it changes. 

But essentially he says that there are three ways to go about finding the meaning of life: 

– creating a work or doing a deed

– experiencing something or encountering someone 

– and by the attitude we take to unavoidable suffering 

He also says that meaning lies dormant in every single moment and it’s up to us to ‘actualise’ the meaning – I think this is all about self-actualisation which is when you are consciously choosing to be the best version of yourself and pursue your passions. 

I think self actualisation is perhaps when you’ve discovered the illusive ‘flow’. That temporary nirvana which is all too fleeting. Flow is so hard to define but essentially it’s about being fully focused and in ‘the zone’ so that you’re totally committed to what you’re doing and enjoying the activity. 

So, how does this all help with the existential crisis before me? It’s about pursuing a goal or having a purpose on an every day basis and experiencing the moments that we’re in – and when things go a bit pear shaped we need to choose how we respond to it. 

It’s important to say here that I’m totally in awe of Mr Frankl and not in any way belittling his incredible philosophy on life by making it relevant to me but I believe that his advice is relevant to anyone and any situation – even if they are #FirstWorldProblems