Our response to the challenges in our lives shapes the meaning of those experiences.  The decisions we make in the face of those challenges should be active and not passive.  Viktor Frankl wrote this for us, “A human being is not one thing among others; things determine each other,” he added, “but man is ultimately self determining.”  What he becomes – within the limited endowment and environment – he has made out of himself.”

Having a positive mindset builds our capacity to endure suffering and disappointment.  It also enhances enjoyment and satisfaction.

Having a negative mindset intensifies pain and deepens disappointments.  It also undermines and diminishes pleasure, happiness and satisfaction.

Always remember, we are ultimately self-determining.  It’s on us to set our course with how we approach and respond by positively and actively moving forward in our purpose.

Following his Holocaust experience, Viktor Frankl wrote the book Man’s Search for Meaning in a nine day span of 1946.  He wrote this hoping to cure his own pain and to help others that experienced the brutality of the Holocaust in so many other devastating ways.  As one of the very few camp survivor’s, he offers each of us a great deal of learning from his experiences.

In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (1/27/20).  “The world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.”  There are and there will continue to be complex struggles in our world.  The difference you can make is to be better with others as we learn and grow from all experiences, even tragedy.

MITM