“It’s not the question that shocks you—it’s the answers it demands.”
There’s a book titled Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl that left me thinking for days.
It literally has a line that stopped me in my tracks:
Why don’t you commit suicide?
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
At first, it feels unsettling. Jarring, even.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how profound and clever it was.
Frankl wasn’t being cruel. He wasn’t even being dismissive. He was just asking his patients to reflect.
To dig deep and think about what’s keeping them here, even in that pain.
It’s such a powerful question like …
I think he understood something vital:
Despair often comes from a sense of hopelessness, a belief that nothing matters anymore. But in asking this bold question, he redirected their focus from despair to meaning.
… because it shifts the focus from “despair to meaning”.
This shift is transformative.
It takes the darkest thoughts and reframes them as an opportunity to uncover what truly matters in life.
It’s about moving from hopelessness to purpose, from “Why me?” to “What now?”
When I read that line, I couldn’t help but wonder:
- What anchors me during difficult times?
- What gives my life meaning when things feel unbearable?
- What dreams, goals, or relationships keep me moving forward?
- Who or what do I want to live for?
Frankl’s idea reminds us that even in our hardest moments, there’s something worth holding on to. It could be:
- A relationship that gives you strength.
- A dream you’re still chasing.
- A purpose you’ve yet to fulfill.
- The hope of a better tomorrow.
- Simple joys that make life brighter.
And isn’t that the point?
To pause and reflect.
To find meaning in our struggles.
I know it’s not an easy process, but it’s necessary.
Because when we find meaning in our struggles, we gain a deeper appreciation for life—even in its toughest seasons.
In those moments, despair doesn’t win. Instead, it becomes the doorway to purpose.