Man's Search for Meaning

In Man's Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl first narrates his experiences in the concentration camps of World War II.  He was a trained psychiatrist, and so frequently analyzed himself and those around him.  The second half of the book is more technical, and in it he describes the theories he has formulated and conclusions he has come to as a result of his experiences.

Though it's a relatively short book, I have been reading it for several months now.  I went through the first half fairly quickly because it is narrative.  The second half is a little slower because it's more academic in nature.  But in the second half I have found a lot of great messages.  I just posted one quote on facebook, but that's not the one I want to write about now.  This is what I just read:

I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system.  I have termed this constitutive characteristic "the self-transcendence of human existence."  It denotes the fact that being human always points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than oneself--be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter.  The more one forgets himself--by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love--the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself.  What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the more one would strive for it, the more he would miss it.  In other words, self-actualization is possible only as a side-effect of self-transcendence. (p. 110-111)

Does that sound familiar?  I'm reminded of two quotes that say similar things.  Conveniently, I found both in this Deseret News article telling President Hinckley's story.

"I wrote home to my father and said, 'I'm not doing any good here. I am just wasting my time and your money. I don't see any point in staying here."' 

The answer came: "Dear Gordon. I have your letter. ... I have only one suggestion. Forget yourself and go to work. With love, Your Father." 

President Hinckley said of that moment, "I pondered his response and then the next morning in our scripture class we read that great statement of the Lord: 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.'

The scripture referenced is Mark 8:35.  It is very interesting to me to see science confirm the gospel in this regard.  Nor was Frankl seeking to prove the gospel true; he was Jewish.  This is only one of several instances I have found in the book of science confirming gospel principles.  I highly suggest reading the book, but even more important than that, I suggest trying to live it.  We find ourselves in serving and loving others.  A life focused on self is an empty one, full of regret.  Live a full life by giving it to others.