Freedom according to Frankl: A key to inner strength
Freedom. The word sounds like open horizons, after detachment, after a life without limits. But Viktor Frankl, the founder of logotherapy, does not see freedom as a mere absence of restrictions. For him, freedom is not an escape, but an invitation – an invitation to make our lives consciously and with responsibility. But what exactly does Frankl mean by freedom, and why is it so central to our humanity?
Freedom in captivity
It may sound paradoxical, but Frankl’s deepest insights into freedom emerged in the darkest chapters of his life: during his time in the concentration camp. Surrounded by inhumane suffering, violence and death, he found a truth that went deeper than the external circumstances: the freedom to choose your own attitude remains inviolable. Frankl wrote:
“Everything can be taken away from humans except one thing: the last of human freedom – freedom, his attitude under whatever circumstances to choose his own way.”
This freedom is an inner, not an exterior. It is independent of power or possession. It lies in the decision how we react to what happens to us. Even in an environment that was characterized by senselessness and cruelty, Frankl found meaning – and proved that freedom is not bound to conditions.
Freedom and responsibility: two sides of a medal
Frankl emphasizes that freedom cannot exist without responsibility. Anyone who is free is faced with the task of consciously using this freedom. It is not about arbitrarily making decisions or following selfish impulses, but about taking responsibility for your life and the well -being of others. He wrote:
“Freedom is only one side of the medal, the other side of which is called responsibility.”
This connection of freedom and responsibility lifts people to a level that distinguishes him: the ability to create meaning where there is apparently none. She challenges us not only to ask what life gives us, but also what we can give life.
The freedom of finding meaning
After Frankl, the search for the meaning of the deepest expression of our freedom is. According to he says, man is not on his instincts or on social Constraints reduced. He is a being who has freedom in every situation to ask for meaning and discover it. This sensation gives even the most difficult experiences of depth and meaning.
Frankl shows us that it does not matter what happens to us in life, but how we react to it. This makes freedom a tool of transformation: pain becomes growth, loss becomes knowledge.
Freedom in everyday life: What we can learn from Frankl
Frankl’s concept of freedom is more than a philosophical idea – it is a practical way of living. It asks us to take on responsibility for our thoughts, decisions and actions, even in the moments when we feel powerless. This freedom can help us:
- In dealing with difficulties: Instead of staying victims of the circumstances, we can consciously decide how we deal with challenges.
- In relationships: Freedom to act lovingly and empathetic, even if we were injured ourselves, creates space for a real connection.
- In the search for meaning: We are not damn to drive through life. We can actively create a meaning, even in small deeds.
The essence of freedom
Frankl reminds us that freedom is more than options. It is the freedom to find our inner compass and to follow it. It is freedom to see a light even in the dark of life. And it is freedom, from every experience – however difficult – to make something meaningful.
The question that remains is: how do you use your freedom? Are you ready to take responsibility, even if the path is rocky? In Frankl’s words there is a deep invitation to consciously live our lives – and in this conscious choice there is true freedom.