from the book Man's Search for Meaning, Explain the different ways in which one can attain meaning?

Answer 1

It's easy to list some of the ways "one can attain meaning" in one's life (see below). Oh, it's so much harder to put them in practice, especially at some low points in one's life.

I'd suggest that you read Viktor Frankl's book on your own, maybe 3-5 pages at a time, asking yourself five questions in a 10-15 minute meditation: (1) What were his experiences? (2) How did he make meaning of them? (3) What are your own experiences? (4) How might you make meaning of them? (5) How could you capture your insight in a picture, a poem, music, a dance, a narrative? You don't have to draw the picture or write the poem, just think about how you might do it. (Eventually, I can almost promise you, you will want to give expression to your insights, in one way or another, at least in notes or a journal.)

Here's the way Wikipedia [1] summarizes the Frankl processes--but I'm warning you: you have to find your own way

"The following list of tenets represents Frankl's basic beliefs regarding the philosophy of Logotherapy [the experience or study of meaning]:

"Life has meaning under all circumstances -- even the most miserable ones.

"Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.

"We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stand we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering.

"A short introduction to this system is introduced in Frankl's most famous book, 'Man's Search for Meaning,' in which he outlines how his theories helped him to survive his Holocaust experience. A follow-up to this book was written by Alex Pattakos, named 'Prisoner of Our Thoughts.' Pattakos worked closely with Frankl, and his goal with the book is to summarize Logotherapy in 7 core principles that can be applied to one's life. These core principles are [2]:

"Exercise the freedom to choose your attitude
Realize your will to meaning
Detect the meaning of life's moments
Don't work against yourself
Look at yourself from a distance
Shift your focus of attention
Extend beyond yourself"

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Frankl said, "Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather recognize that it is he who is being asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and only he can answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible." [Pardon sexist pronouns.]

You cannot expect to ask the meaning of life and have life provide the answer; you must ask yourself, and the trick is finding the right question.

More power to you! One way I use Y!A to make meaning is to scan Q's, looking for good ones (like this one) that I would like to work out my answers to, then to share my answers with the Asker.

Answer 2

The answer is pretty obvious.

Get some nutzo on Yahoo's Answer to explain meaning for you.

Now you don't need to read the book.

Are you for real or are you another graduate from Bob Jones University?

Answer 3

Man's search for meaning begin with you taking the trouble to read it. then you can find it for yourself.