Two-Bit Tuesday: January 9, 2018

"Holding a grudge is a symptom of not knowing how you want to spend the gift of today." -Mike Maples, Jr.

I heard this today on an episode of the Tim Ferriss Show podcast. It was one of those timely reinforcements of something I'd been pondering for a few days after having just read Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl (why this book isn't required reading, I really don't know). So many of us find ourselves wasting energy on grudges, anger, or grief when we could be focusing on all the good things in life. Sure, that sounds easy. And I know it's not. But spend a few minutes on Facebook and you'll get the impression that quite a few of us aren't even trying.

It's fine to grieve. It's okay to get pissed. But it's not okay to stay that way. Don't let the hurt in your life keep you from living.

The meaning of life is...
Okay, I still don't actually know for sure but Viktor Frankl has come as close as anyone to figuring it out. If you have not read his book, Man's Search for Meaning, you need to. Now. Go get it. Seriously.

In his book, Frankl describes - from experience - life in Nazi concentration camps. He then describes a psychological theory called "logotherapy" wherein he asserts that the primary driver in our lives is a search for a deeper meaning. And when we discover something that we personally find meaningful, we are able to focus on that meaning to overcome any struggle or tragedy that befalls us - even a tragedy such as losing your entire family to the gas chambers.

Talk about a change in perspective.

This book was, hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. I can't believe it took me this long to discover it. But now that I have, I'm pretty sure it's going to be one of those I read repeatedly.