How to find meaning in Victor Frank L's logotherapy theory

  Hi, today I would like to share about the interesting topic, namely "How to find meaning in Victor Frank L's logotherapy theory", the main reason why I choose that topic because many people can't get a good insight from reality that they engaged with, based on what I observed, people who only pursue their wants, they must be ready to get suffering from their wants, In this modern era, there are many mental trainings at seminars to educate the public, In the event, there was a lot of training aimed at changing mindsets and habits, but not all participants could find meaning because it takes longer time, some events try to apply Viktor Frankl's theory and educate all the participants how to make exit strategy from what they suffer, Searching for meaning does require difficulty so that humans can reach a more valuable level of awareness, Victor said "the meaning already exists out there; we just need to find it", by taking Viktor Frankl with his Logotherapy at seminar, hopefully the participants can focuse on finding meaning through suffering, work, and love, for your information, besides Victor Frankl's perception about the meaning of life purpose, there are other psychology figures who offer different perspectives on how humans find purpose in their lives.

 

Here are some other major perspectives: 

1. Abraham Maslow: Self-Actualization and Peak Experiences

For Maslow, life meaning is not only found through suffering but also through the fulfillment of one’s full potential.

 

- Self-Actualization: Meaning exists when a person becomes the best version of themselves.

- Peak Experiences: Extraordinary moments such as being immersed in artistic beauty, achieving great success, or feeling connected with nature. These moments provide a sense of meaningful "being."

 

2. Irvin Yalom: Four Existential Concerns

Yalom takes a slightly different approach. He argues that humans must confront four harsh facts of life to find authentic meaning:

 

- Death, Freedom, Isolation, and Meaninglessness.

- According to Yalom, life essentially has no pre-determined meaning structure. We are the ones who must create meaning ourselves through active engagement in life (altruism, creativity, or dedication to an idea).

 

3. Carl Rogers: The Good Life (Fully Functioning Life)

As a humanist figure, Rogers views life meaning not as an end goal but as a process.

 

- Meaning is found when a person lives in alignment with their inner experiences (congruence).

- Fully functioning people are those who are open to new experiences, live in the present moment (presence), and trust their own instincts and decisions.

 

4. Alfred Adler: Social Interest

Adler argues that true life meaning is always social in nature.

 

- Lifestyle: Each person has a "fictional final goal" they strive for.

- Contribution: Meaning is found when a person feels useful to their community. Without a sense of connection to others, humans will experience feelings of inferiority that make life feel empty.

 

5. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: The Concept of Flow

From a Positive Psychology perspective, meaning is often found in activities that make us lose track of time.

 

- Total Engagement: When you do something challenging yet matched to your skills, you enter a flow state.

- A sense of meaning emerges from deep satisfaction when we are fully engaged in productive work or a hobby.

 

Figure Primary Source of Meaning Core Perspective 

Viktor Frankl -> Discovery, Meaning already exists out there; we just need to find it. 

Irvin Yalom -> Creation, Life is empty; we must paint meaning into it. 

Alfred Adler -> Contribution, Meaning is how much we benefit others. 

Abraham Maslow -> Growth, Meaning is becoming the best version of yourself. 

 

How to survive in a toxic work environment

    Hi, today I would like to share about the interesting topic, namely "How to survive in a toxic work environment", the main reason why I choose that topic because many people become victim in toxic working environment, as we know that "Working in a toxic environment is indeed very draining, because our brains naturally have a negative bias—a tendency to focus more on threats or criticism than on positive things for the sake of survival. In a bad workplace, this bias can make us feel constantly under attack.

 

Here are practical strategies to maintain mental health and stay objective:

 

1. Use the "Objective Detachment" Technique

Imagine yourself as a researcher observing animal behavior in the forest. When colleagues start drama or your boss gets angry for no reason, say to yourself:

 

- "Interesting, Person A is displaying manipulative behavior again today."

- By positioning yourself as an observer, you separate your self-identity from the negative emotions in the room.

 

2. Apply Cognitive Reframing

Negative bias forces us to see every problem as a disaster. Try changing your perspective:

 

- Biased Thought: "My boss criticized my report—they must want to fire me."

- Reframed Thought: "My report was criticized because their standards are unclear. This isn't about my ability, but about their poor communication style."

 

3. Find "Islands of Sanity"

In a toxic environment, we tend to generalize that everything is bad. To counter this, you need counter-evidence:

 

- Find at least one colleague who still has integrity.

- Focus your interactions on them to remind yourself that not everyone there is "toxic."

 

4. Limit Exposure (Information Diet)

Negative bias thrives on pantry gossip or workplace WhatsApp groups.

 

- Reduce Excessive "Ventilating": Constantly complaining may feel relieving in the moment, but neuroscientifically, it actually strengthens negative neural pathways in your brain.

- Set firm boundaries on when you think about work and when you stop.

 

5. Document as a Logical Shield

Negative bias often makes us feel incompetent. Fight it with data:

 

- Achievement Log: Record every task you complete well.

- Incident Log: Factually note confusing instructions or unfair treatment (date, time, context). This helps your brain stay grounded in facts, not just bad feelings.

 

Response Comparison:

 

Trapped in Negative Bias Response Healthy (Mental Resilience) Response 

"Everyone here hates me." "Some people here are unhealthily competitive, but that's their issue." 

"I'll never succeed here." "This place does hold me back, but I'm building skills to jump to somewhere else." 

 

Remember, a toxic environment is not a reflection of your self-worth."

Why is it so difficult to carry out commitment

 

    Hi, today I would like to share about the interesting topic, namely Why is it so difficult to carry out commitments?, the main reason why I choose that topic because not everyone is being able to keep their commitment, Keeping that commitment is difficult because essentially we are fighting against human nature which loves freedom and instant gratification. Commitment is not just an initial promise, but a decision that must be made repeatedly, even when our feelings are not supportive.

 

Here are some reasons why keeping commitments feels so challenging:

 

1. Conflict Between Desires and Responsibilities

We often get caught in an internal struggle between what we want to do right now (urges/impulses) and what we have promised for the future.

Example: Committing to a diet is easy when full, but becomes very difficult when seeing pizza in front of you while hungry.

2. Opportunity Cost

Saying "Yes" to one commitment means saying "No" to thousands of other possibilities. Human psychology tends to experience Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). We often feel afraid that by committing, we are missing out on opportunities that might be "better" elsewhere.

3. Fading Initial Motivation

Commitments usually start with a surge of emotion or motivation (like the honeymoon phase in a relationship or New Year's enthusiasm for exercise). However, emotions are fluctuating.

Reality: When that sense of excitement is gone, all that remains is discipline. This is where many people give up because they expect "good feelings" to carry them forever.

4. Energy and Time Investment

Commitments require maintenance. Like plants, if not watered with consistent effort, communication, or hard work, commitments will wither. Many people underestimate how exhausting it is to be consistent in the long run.

5. Fear of Vulnerability

Committing to something—especially to other people—means giving them the power to disappoint or hurt us. Sometimes, we struggle to commit not because we are unable, but because we are afraid of failing or being seen as weak.

 

The bottom line: Commitment is difficult because it demands that we grow beyond our comfort zones for something greater.

Dissecting a commitment strategy is like building a bridge: you need a strong foundation so it doesn’t collapse when storms hit. Commitments based solely on "intentions" usually fall apart within weeks.

 

Here are strategic steps to build and maintain commitments systematically:

 

1. Find an Unshakable "Why"

A commitment without a strong reason is a burden. If your reason is only "following the trend" or "because you should," you will give up when tired.

Ask yourself: "What is the biggest loss if I quit?"

Principle: If your reason doesn’t make you feel slightly emotional or challenged, it’s likely not a strong enough Why.

2. Use the "Atomic Habits" Rule (Start Small)

Many people fail to commit because they set huge targets right away. The best strategy is to break down the commitment into extremely small actions that make failure impossible.

Strategy: Don’t commit to "exercising 1 hour every day." Commit to "putting on running shoes every 5 PM."

Logic: The biggest barrier is getting started. Once you’ve begun, you’ll usually keep going.

3. Build a System, Not Just Desire

Don’t rely on willpower—because willpower is like a phone battery that runs out. Create an environment that supports your commitment.

Design Your Environment: If you want to commit to saving money, set up an automatic transfer system. If you want to commit to focused work, move your phone to another room.

Remove Barriers: Identify what usually causes you to fail, then block access to those distractions before they arise.

4. The "Non-Negotiables" Principle (Non-Bargainable Items)

Set strict ground rules. Commitments become difficult because we often give ourselves "discounts" ("Just this once, it’s okay...").

Strategy: Establish 1-2 rules that cannot be broken under any circumstances (except medical emergencies). For example: "No matter what happens, I will not check emails before 9 AM."

5. Evaluate and Forgive (Self-Compassion)

Commitment does not mean you have to be 100% perfect. Many people stop entirely just because they failed for one day.

Rule: "Never Miss Twice": If you fail to keep your commitment today, make sure you get back on track tomorrow. Missing once is an accident; missing twice is the start of a new bad habit.

 

Here is the example of the Strategic Table: Desire vs. System 

Aspect Desire Only (Weak) VS Using a System (Strong) 

Focus End result (want to be thin/want to succeed) VS Daily process (eat vegetables/write 100 words) 

Reliance Motivation, Mood Schedule & Routine 

Response to Failure Feel guilty & stop VS Evaluate causes & keep going 

 

Practical step: Try choosing one specific thing you want to make your commitment right now,

Hopefully this article can give you an insight how to improve your life career, thank you