The Tragic Triad.
“And how does a human being go about finding meaning?”
According to Viktor Frankl and on Logotherapy, a triad consists of aspects of human existence that may be orbited by:
- Pain
- Guilt
- Death
Frankl explains how we can retain life’s meaning despite these three factors.
While reading Man’s Search for Meaning, I found this quote interesting, “…the suffering is unavoidable. If it is avoidable, the meaningful thing do is to remove its cause, for unnecessary suffering is masochistic rather than heroic.” (p. 148) Suffering plays a significant part in our lives. Everyone has something (could be different or could be the same) that causes us concerns, unpleasantness, mental and physical pain, and distress, which leads to negative feelings, emotional anguish, psychological trauma, and existential pain. All of these factors can impact the suffering of each person. It’s true that suffering is an unavoidable element in life that can profoundly affect out well being and quality of life. This quote made me understand that suffering must be faced and endured when it’s not avoidable. However, if it is avoidable and prevented, taking action in that direction is more meaningful than enduring it. This quote implies that enduring unnecessary suffering when it can prevented is not a sign of heroism but a form of masochism — a willingness to take pain without a reason.
