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Insights From the Book “Man’s Search for Meaning”
Are you tired of simply existing?
This blog is Part 2 of Insights From the Book “Man’s Search for Meaning” Please read Part 1 before proceeding.
How we respond to suffering is in our hands.
The prisoners in the camps had to obey the orders of the guards, failing which they were executed. Although it might appear they had no agency, there was scope for exercising one’s own will.
One could exercise one’s will to respond to the suffering. The prisoners carried on living despite the harshest of circumstances and came up with their coping mechanisms. This is a sign of exercising one’s will, which is daunting.
The prisoners would try to exercise their individual will as much as possible. Sometimes, they would be ordered to go to another camp. And most of the time, they wouldn’t even be told the actual reason behind it. Some would fear that they were probably being sent to the gas chambers. Or it might be a new camp, where the conditions might be better…