Viktor Frankl and Meaning in Suffering

Viktor Frankl was born in 1905 in Vienna, Austria, to a Jewish family deeply rooted in culture and learning. From a young age, Frankl was captivated with the big questions of human existence. He wanted to understand what made life meaningful, what motivated people to act, and how they coped with suffering. Frankl’s curiosity led him to study medicine and psychiatry at the University of Vienna. During his studies, he corresponded with Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and worked closely with Alfred Adler, another pioneer of psychology. However, Frankl often found himself at odds with their theories. Freud said humans were mainly driven by pleasure. Adler argued people sought power. Frankl disagreed with both. He believed that the core drive for humans was neither pleasure nor power, but a deep-seated will to meaning. Little did he know, his quest to understand human purpose would not only define his life; it would help millions find light in their darkest moments.