Meaning and Purpose in Time of Crisis

Image by victorrdyrnes from PixabayMany of us are about to sit down at our Seder table to retell the story of one of our nation’s most meaningful events; coming out of bondage and becoming a free people. This story includes the lines: “The promise made to our forefathers holds also for us/For not just one enemy has risen against us to destroy us/But in every generation they rise against us to destroy us/And the Holy One Blessed Be He saves us from their hands.”

We are currently reliving our past. And while embedded in these lines are words of faith and hope, it is often difficult to hold on to those feelings while we are experiencing our present crisis.

How do we cope with being in this existential crisis?

As a mental health practitioner and a creative arts psychotherapist who specializes in trauma work, I turn to Viktor Frankl for some answers.

Man’s Search for Meaning is a 1946 book written by Viktor Frankl. In it, he writes about his experiences during the Holocaust and describes his psychotherapeutic method, Logotherapy. This method involves identifying a purpose to each person’s life through one of three ways: the completion of tasks, caring for another person, or finding meaning.

1. “The completion of tasks.” We must continue to function.

Getting up in the morning and engaging in the routine of the day is crucial in maintaining a sense of purpose. The sense of going through a task towards its completion provides us with a grounding and focus during these unstable times.

2. “Caring for another person.” We need to engage.

Looking out for someone, whether family members or the community, enables us to come out of ourselves and experience the feeling of being able to do something that makes us feel good during times when we are bombarded with signs of helplessness and suffering.

3. “Finding meaning.” When we can balance all aspects of ourselves; the physical, psychological, and spiritual, we are able to more easily form meaning.

Staying connected to ourselves as human beings during times when our enemies are trying to dehumanize us, can remind us of what meaning we give to our values, our hopes and life.

Meaning is about understanding the past and purpose is about actions that shape the future. As we engage in the rituals that we have been carrying on for millenniums, as we gather together as families with friends and community, hear the story of resilience and overcoming our suffering. Let us pass over to a time of healing and rebuilding.