I would like to provide a blog post for those who are struggling with any form of adversity in their life, and/or who find it difficult to recognize and experience meaning. According to Carl Jung, Viktor Frankl, and Jordan Peterson, the feeling of meaning in one’s life can not only increase one’s overall sense of wellbeing and life satisfaction, but also combat the negative experiences and chapters of life that one may struggle with. By using the underlying principles of Jung’s Depth Psychology, Frankl’s Logotherapy, and Peterson’s Meaning Psychology, one can practice recognizing the presence and potential of meaning in everyday life, and thus increase the frequency and/or intensity for positive emotion, and the reverse for negative emotion. So then, how does one go about practicing seeking meaning? And, how does one focus on these practices when subject to intense, prolonged, and even arbitrary suffering and adversity? Here is how:

First, we understand the function of our minds and bodies experiencing positive and negative emotion; in essence, positive emotion denotes a movement towards a goal, large or small, and the reduction of uncertainty. When we feel like things are going well, or that we are where we’re supposed to be, or doing what we feel we are supposed to do, and have a sense of purpose and satisfaction with life, this is the function of positive emotion; to show that what we are doing is meaningful, that it contributes to our lives, and that we should continue doing it. The reverse is true for negative emotion; the increase of uncertainty, feeling aimless, without purpose, and devoid of meaning or satisfaction. These feelings indicate that something essential is missing in life, some element that provides the motivation and passion and drive to continue striving forward towards the best in life.

Second, we understand the need or reasons for, and the sources of, meaning. Frankl provides three tenets for each: because we have Freedom of Will, we necessarily need a guiding principle for the use of our Will; therefore we need a Will to Meaning, because any other goal for our Will would not be worthy of it; finally, we need a Meaning to Life, which is the ultimate fulfillment of our existence, our purpose, and the human experience, whatever that means to the individual, as it is also irreducibly unique to everyone.Subsequently, then, the sources of meaning are also three-fold according to Frankl: first, in Creation, such as artistic endeavours, and of course, human procreation; second, in Experience, either something,or usually, someone, a wife, husband, son or daughter; and third, in Attitude, which is the manner in which individuals choose to handle the strife and suffering that is inevitable in their lives, and the phenomenon of certain people choosing to hold themselves to a standard and avoid feeling sorry for themselves, or taking out their anger and frustrations on others, and instead remaining positive, and holding to the belief that things will get better, and that they should act in a positive manner despite theevidence to the contrary.

Third, we understand how individuals integrate these principles into their lives in order to be better able to recognize and experience meaning. The way people do this is unique to each person, and is part of the job of the psychotherapist to work collaboratively with the client to discover their path. This could take the form of working with the client to assess their current emotional state and identify the presence and degree of positive and negative emotion in their lives; from there, helping the client understand their own individual need and source of meaning in life, which is unique to everyone and requires consideration of what type of existence each person wants; and then taking action on these considerations to participate in the adventure of life and work to dispel the negative emotions that weigh everyone down and prevent them from experiencing the best parts of life due to depression, anxiety, uncertainty, resentment, bitterness, and so on.Through these psychological principles, I believe it is possible for individuals to overcome any internal or external obstacle or adversity, and also to do so in a way that is unique to themselves and offers something new and valuable to the world as a result of their striving for goodness and greatness

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