Nerine Gregersen
(MBBCh, MSc Med (Genetic Counselling), Cert (Medical Genetics), Diplomate in Logotherapy, Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, Supervision Skills training, RYT200- trained yoga teacher)
Why am I here? What is my purpose? Does my life have meaning? Is there more to life than day-to-day routine?
These are some of the “big questions” that most of us ask at some point in our lives. Each of us must do the work of discovering the answers for ourselves. The answers are deeply meaningful to us and are uniquely ours to discern.
What is meant by Meaning in Life?
In the article Introduction to Logotherapy: Our meaning and purpose in life we discussed that logotherapy is based on three tenets. Meaning in Life, or Ultimate Meaning, is the third tenet or assumption.
The word logotherapy is derived from the Greek word “logos”, which Frankl translated as “meaning”, in the sense that there is a universal order: there is meaning in all things.[1]
Meaning in Life refers to our desire to understand the long view of our lives. We have a deep knowing that there is an overarching meaning to our life journey, and we seek to define it.
For me, the very fact that we ask the “big”, existential questions is proof that we know that we are here to accomplish something important.
Is Ultimate Meaning linked to religion?
Logotherapy fully embraces that humans are three-dimensional beings. Our desire and ability to discern meaning comes from our spiritual essence, what Frankl called the noetic dimension.
Ultimate Meaning recognises that we have the ability to feel connected to something significant that is beyond ourselves. Frankl called this innately human ability self-transcendence.[2]
We feel this connection to something higher and beyond ourselves, whether we have a religious or secular worldview. Some may view this “beyond” as a universal force or higher power, and others as our higher and wisest self.
How do we discern Meaning in Life?
As discussed in Logotherapy: Meaning and Avenues to Meaning-Discovery there are three ways we discover meaning in our daily lives: creative, experiential or attitudinal.
Meaning in Life is about discerning the overall meaning in our life journey. For some there is a specific task or mission that captivates them for an entire lifetime. Mostly, however, there are multiple tasks that compel us, fill us with passion, and draw us forward.
These tasks are uniquely ours to fulfill. We discern them from the core of our being, and their compulsion to be undertaken and experienced defies logic and reasoning.
Frankl spoke about the spiritual unconscious aspect of man; what we have already referred to as the noetic dimension.[3] However, he was also very clear that in order to truly live, rather than merely exist, we must be conscious of this spiritual aspect.
In the article Logotherapy: Freedom of Will and the Power of Choice we discussed how our values and conscience can guide our choices. These abilities reside in our spiritual essence, and we can use them to discern and choose tasks that are deeply meaningful to us, and that contribute to the Ultimate Meaning of our lives.
To quote Frankl: “The ultimate meaning of a man’s life is not a matter of his intellectual cognition, but rather of his existential commitment… Man takes a stand and makes a choice.”[1]
What are the benefits of recognising Ultimate Meaning in life?
When we engage self-transcendence and connect with something beyond ourselves, we discover meaning in life. We feel vital, engaged, and have a sense of purpose. We connect with a sense of wonder and awe that our unique life and our unique contributions are part of a larger whole.
When we are able to find meaning in all things, we can find meaning even in times of suffering and challenge. This can serve both as a comfort and source of inspiration as we keep showing up for life.
Accepting, and knowing, that there is ultimate meaning to our lives reminds us that we are worthy. And when we connect to our self-worth, we activate self-love.
Living from this place allows us to extend compassion and grace to everyone and everything around us. We approach ourselves and life in a different, more respectful, even reverent, way.
Frankl wrote: “Existence thus may well be authentic even when it is unconscious, but man exists authentically only when he is not driven but, rather, responsible. Authentic existence is present where a self is deciding for itself…”[3]
Taking responsibility to actively engage in doing the work of becoming clear about the ultimate meaning of our lives cements our knowing that we are significant. Our lives matter. We matter.
Nerine is a qualified medical doctor, who practiced as a paediatrician and clinical geneticist, and has completed training in Logotherapy, earning the Diplomate credential from the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy (USA) in 2017. More recently she became a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator in 2019…
If you would like to learn more about Nerine, see Expert: Nerine Gregersen.
References
(1) Graber, A.V. (2004). Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. Method of Choice in Ecumenical Pastoral Psychology. Wyndham Hall Press.
(2) Frankl, V. E. (1986). The doctor and the soul: From psychotherapy to logotherapy. Vintage.
(3) Frankl, V. E. (2011). Man’s search for ultimate meaning. Random House.
