Logotherapy was popularised by Holocaust Survivor, Viktor Frankl, in his 1946 text ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’. In this book, Frankl notes how logotherapy has helped not only himself, but also many other Holocaust survivors, continue on with their daily lives with less anxiety and a heightened spiritual level. Simply put by Frankl himself, Logotherapy “focuses on the search for the meaning of human existence”. How can we apply logotherapy to our own lives and how can practicing it benefit us? Keep reading to find out!
Discover Your Meaning of Life
In ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’, Frankl notes how not knowing what your purpose in life is one of the major stresses for individuals in society. Logotherapy provides you with a means to decipher and understand how you can attain and sustain fulfillment in your life. How is this done? Through logotherapy sessions which are likened to seeing a psychotherapist or counselor, but with the focus on existential analysis. In order to counteract feelings of emptiness and despair, logotherapists assist patients by helping them source meaning through exploring creativity, experiences and attitudes. Below are some of tools that logotherapists use in order to foster meaning.
Paradoxical Intentions
Paradoxical intention, similar to exposure therapy, is a technique commonly used in logotherapy. It is the deliberate practice of intensifying your emotional state in order to become aware of how irrational your emotional reaction to a certain situation may be in reality. For example, a person with agoraphobia, who may find it extremely difficult to leave their home, can practice paradoxical intention by actively taking a walk into the city in order to alter their belief that being away from home is unsafe. Do you have a irrational fear? The next time you’re given the chance to challenge your fearful thoughts, take it! The more you let fear control your mind, the more it’ll get worse in the long term.
Dereflection
Dereflection is another technique that is used by logotherapists. Dereflection involves the practice of redirecting full attention from problematic thoughts, situations or negative energy towards the things that are more meaningful and worth our attention. An example of dereflection can be seen when a person is too blinded by their personal goals and starts to feel depressed when they believe that their aspirations are too out of reach. A person in this instance is encouraged to shift their thoughts and focus towards acknowledging how far they have come in their pursuit of their dreams, and embrace the motivating and positive influences they have in their life. Whenever you feel overwhelmed with despair, or feel as though you are in no way close to becoming the person who you wish to be, take a step back and channel your thoughts to be present and accept where you are now. This practice of dereflection and self awareness can greatly assist you in determining what tasks and actions are necessary for you, in order to become the person you want to be.
Socratic Dialogue / Socratic Questioning
Socratic dialogue/questioning occurs when a logotherapist will listen to a patient’s negative thoughts, and will repeat these thoughts back to the patient, in such a way to influence the patient to come to alternative attitudes towards their own thinking. In partaking in Socratic dialogue, a person is able to process their own thoughts and self discovery through their own words and concepts. With this practice, a logotherapist would emphasise particular thoughts that would enlighten the patient to ascertain meaning and self awareness. This practice could be liken to having deep and meaningful conversations with your closest friends.
While logotherapy may seem intense for some people, the tools used by logotherapists can be applied in your everyday life. Whenever you think you are going to have an emotional breakdown, or feel as though you’re having an existential crises, try out some of these logotherapy techniques, and see if you are able to redirect your fearful energy towards something beautiful and grounding.
