M4L 2013 Lesson 4Is life worth living? © Paul TP Wong, PhD, CPsych

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The Crisis of Suicide

The Crisis of Terrorism

Overview• The modern crisis of suicide, violence, & depression

– a meaning crisis

• Viktor Frankl’s unique contributions

• Logotherapy is a spiritual therapy

• The Tragic Triad & Neurotic Triangle

• The Meaning Triangle

• The Three Value Pathways to discovering meaning

Who am I? (Identity)

Where do I fit in? (Belonging)

What makes life worth living? (Values)

Solomon’s Problem of Meaninglessness

“Meaningless! Meaningless!...

Utterly meaningless!    Everything is meaningless.”

(Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIV)

Job’s Problem of Suffering

“Why did I not perish at birth,    and die as I came from the

womb?” (Job 3:11, NIV)

The Meaning of Suffering

Viktor Frankl’s Answer

Frankl’s Contribution• He was the first psychotherapist who had the

insight that we are spiritual beings.

• He restored the human soul and spirit to psychology.

• A major task of psychotherapy is spiritual care.

• The most effective way to attain healing and wholeness is through the spiritual path of discovering meaning.

Spirituality

The Human Capacity for Belief

The entire meaning enterprise is based on the fundamental belief that we are spiritual beings in need of meaning and human life has intrinsic meaning & value.

Meaning vs. Success Mindset

Basic Tenets of Logotherapy

Freedom of Will

Freedom of Will

Cause vs. Reason

The Will to Meaning

• A universal, spiritual yearning

• The desire to be truly human

• An innate motive to serve God and others (self-transcendence)

• An innate moral responsibility to do what is right

The Unheard Cry for Meaning

Meaning of Life• Can be found until the last breath of life

• Can only be found through enduring values

• The ultimate meaning can only be approximated

• The situational meaning can be facilitated by belief in global meaning

• Meaningful living is comprised of meaningful moments

The Tragic Triad of Meaninglessness

The Neurotic Triad of Meaninglessness

Aggression

The 3 Values of MeaningAttitudinal

Creative Experiential

Creative Value

Experiential Value

Attitudinal Value

• A defiant attitude of freedom and responsibility against all oppressive forces endows us with human dignity.

• All great achievements are made by people who dare to take a stand against all the odds and say, “Here I stand, so help me God.”

The Defiant Human Spirit