Reading time ~6 minutes
By the end of the article,
- you will understand how to distinguish the existential vacuum from burnout,
- you will learn what logotherapy is, as developed by Viktor E. Frankl, and why pain does not always automatically turn into a «growth lesson»,
- you will discover that meaning is not solely an individual achievement, but is built through relationships and specific material and social conditions.
What happens when you have achieved everything that theoretically defines you, but you wake up in the morning feeling that nothing has any real resonance for your soul? Modern culture promises continuous progress, efficiency and self-improvement, often leaving a quieter question on the sidelines: why do we keep running?; Viktor E. Frankl's influential work, particularly through texts such as «Man's Search for Meaning», with 15,000,000 copies sold worldwide, attempts to answer this existential anxiety, placing human resilience at the centre.
Who was Viktor E. Frankl
Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author. A Holocaust survivor who lost his entire family. In the concentration camps, he observed that those who had an inner purpose had a greater chance of survival. He developed logotherapy (logotherapy), from the Greek word logos, where logos means meaning. Frankl's logotherapy, which is a core pillar of existential psychology, differs from traditional speech and language therapy in Greece, which refers to the science of speech and language disorder rehabilitation.
What is the meaning of life according to Viktor E. Frankl?;
In our clinical practice in the team of ReConnect Therapy we often observe that people look for a grand calling, whereas meaning is not invented through grand theories, but rather, as Viktor E. Frankl defined it, emerges through:
- a a creative act or a work that leaves its mark on the world,
- the profound encounter, love and the relationship with another human being,
- the attitude that we choose to adopt towards an inevitable existential impasse.
Freedom of will, according to him as well, does not mean that we control the conditions around us, but that we always retain an inner margin for reaction and meaning-making.
Why does the feeling of emptiness «afflict» high-functioning people more?;
Because usually a high-functioning person has achieved most of the professional and personal goals they had set. They possess security, recognition and stability, yet their inner compass seems to have broken. Initially, they treat this void as just another performance problem: they meticulously organise their time and push themselves to find new, more demanding goals. The real shift begins only when they stop asking «how can I become more productive?» and ask themselves what kind of life is actually worth serving.
What is the existential void and how does it differ from burnout?;
The existential void is an experience of inner boredom, futility and disconnection that occurs when the will for meaning is blocked, often affecting those who achieve external goals but lose their internal orientation. Modern man high performer often resembles a high-performance machine running without meaningful fuel. They faithfully follow everything they «ought» to do, produce work, meet demands, but internally experience a frozen emptiness.
It is critical, however, to distinguish this phenomenon from professional burnout. Whilst burnout is fuelled by organisational dysfunctions, lack of control, injustice and workload, the existential vacuum relates to a deeper disconnection from the reason why we are fighting. Sometimes the problem is not that we are not trying hard enough, but that we have lost touch with the core that gives value to our effort.
Can we find meaning in every pain?;
Frankl argued in the book «Man's Search for Meaning» that man can choose his attitude towards unavoidable pain. Nowhere, however, in his work did he imply that pain is desirable or that every traumatic experience acts as a disguised gift. The so-called «tragic triad», pain, guilt and death, constitutes an integral part of the human condition. Healing often begins precisely where a person is allowed to acknowledge the injustice of the trauma, rather than rushing to «transmute» it.
What are the limits of individual responsibility and why do we need a systemic counter-argument?;
Frankl's emphasis on personal attitude often overlooks the material, social, and relational conditions that limit a person's scope of choice. As the existential psychologist and author noted Rollo May, an excessive focus on a directive or individualistic perspective risks becoming authoritarian, ignoring that existence does not unfold in a social vacuum. As we frequently emphasise through our systemic approach in the team at Reconnect Therapy, a person does not forge meaning alone in isolation; meaning is born within the web of relationships, community, and actual life conditions.
How does one translate the thought of Frankl into fluid contemporary reality?;
In a culture of multiple choices but minimal orientation, the search for meaning acts as a counterweight to the fragility of identity, as described by the Polish-British sociologist and philosopher Zygmunt Bauman. We live in an era of liquid modernity, where fixed roles collapse and the individual is constantly called upon to reinvent themselves. Within this landscape of continuous insecurity, Frankl's proposition for «tragic optimism» acquires new weight.
Tragic optimism does not equal toxic positivity or the denial of despair. It is a brave affirmation of life, despite the presence of pain and uncertainty. It reminds us that, even when external certainties dissolve, commitment to values and relationships beyond the narrow “ego” remains the safest compass.
5 points to watch out for when reading its meaning Frankl
- The danger of blaming the suffering individual
The American Holocaust scholar Lawrence Langer strongly criticised the idea that survival or psychological endurance in concentration camps can be explained by attitude, optimism, or the presence of meaning.
If read in an oversimplified way or through the lens of modern self-improvement culture, Frankl’s position can lead to a dangerous conclusion: that anyone who failed to endure, grow or find meaning simply didn't try hard enough or didn't have the right attitude. However, the demand to find meaning in every tragedy often traps individuals in an unfair cycle of self-blame.
Meaning can be a possibility within pain. Under no circumstances, however, should it be turned into an obligation for the person who is suffering.
- Not all pain leads to growth
Some experiences remain devastating, unjust or completely devoid of any satisfactory explanation. The demand to quickly find “the lesson” can act as an avoidance of grief and a denial of reality.
We do not need to give every traumatic experience a redeeming conclusion. Sometimes healing begins when a person is allowed to say that what happened to them was unfair and should never have happened.
- Meaning cannot be “prescribed” by a psychotherapist
Rollo May criticised logotherapy as an approach that can border on authoritarianism when the psychotherapist believes they know the meaning the client should find or offers them ready-made answers.
From a modern systemic and collaborative perspective, the psychotherapist does not “give” meaning to a person. They create the conditions within which the person can explore and shape their own.
- The individualistic focus of the theory
Frankl places great emphasis on personal attitude and responsibility. This is simultaneously the strength and the limit of his approach.
However, not all people have the same scope for choice. Poverty, violence, oppression, illness, labour exploitation and the absence of supportive relationships cannot be overcome merely through a change of attitude.
Our systemic addition is that meaning is not an exclusively individual achievement. It is also created within relationships, in the sense of belonging, in participation in a community and in the actual possibilities provided or denied by the environment.
- The danger of the commercialisation of trauma
The critique of the author and columnist David Mikics writing in Tablet magazine, raises the question of whether the Holocaust experience can or should be turned into an easily digestible self-help lesson.
We don't need to adopt his particularly strict stance in its entirety. However, it is worth holding on to the question: what is lost when an extreme historical tragedy is condensed into an optimistic message for personal growth?;
When you need professional support in the search for meaning?;
If you notice that the inner emptiness you feel is accompanied by chronic physical exhaustion, sleep disturbances, a feeling that you cannot breathe or difficulty managing your daily life on your own, your existential search may need a safe framing context. The psychotherapy process does not offer you ready-made answers, but creates the necessary space for the silenced parts of yourself to be heard.
Change the question
Instead of asking «what do I expect from life today?», try asking yourself «what does the day ask of me?».
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is «tragic optimism» according to Victor E. Frankl; It is the ability to maintain an attitude of affirmation towards life, even amidst pain, guilt, or death, without denying their existence. It is not about naive positive thinking, but about deep inner resilience.
- How does existential vacuum differ from burnout?; Burnout is a multidimensional syndrome of occupational exhaustion directly related to workload, injustice, and lack of control in the work environment. Existential vacuum concerns a broader sense of futility and loss of meaning in life, which can coexist with professional success.
- Why did Rollo May critique logotherapy (in the sense of therapy through meaning by Viktor E. Frankl); Rollo May argued that logotherapy carries the risk of becoming authoritarian if the psychotherapist attempts to impose or «prescribe» to the client the meaning they ought to find. Modern psychotherapy treats meaning as a co-created process of discovery.
- Can we truly find meaning in every kind of pain?; No, it is neither necessary nor possible to find meaning in every form of pain. While Viktor E. Frankl argued that human beings can choose their attitude towards the inevitable, demanding that every traumatic experience be turned into a «lesson» or a «gift» often leads to unfair self-blame. Some experiences are simply devastating, unjust, and without any redemptive ending. True healing begins when an individual is allowed to acknowledge the injustice of the trauma and grieve, rather than rushing to transmute it.
In conclusion
Viktor E. Frankl's book reminds us that meaning does not erase pain nor does it turn every tragedy into a mandatory lesson for growth. Its true power lies in shifting the question from what we expect from life to what life asks of us, highlighting that our freedom only gains substance within our relationships and our actual circumstances.
If lately you feel that the existential void within you is growing, get in touch with the Reconnect Therapy team here to begin together the journey of reconnecting with yourself.
Read also:
The Burnout Society: the book that talks about the exhausting self-trap of «I can».
Review of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (Oliver Burkeman)
I would be very glad to read your message…
I make sure to read all messages and reply to as many as I can. This article is based on the science of psychology and the clinical experience of psychologists-psychotherapists. It has a psychoeducational character and does not replace psychotherapy, medical or psychiatric evaluation, nor can it cover the uniqueness of every relationship and every lived experience. If you are experiencing intense psychological burden, dysregulation, violence, coercion, or the feeling that you are not a safe person within your relationship, it is important to seek personalised professional support. Artificial intelligence may be utilised in a supportive capacity during the process of research, organization, and cross-checking of contemporary literature. However, the final text, ideas, clinical judgement, language, and the responsibility of publication belong to us. Every article is written and edited with human thought, clinical experience, and respect for the person reading it.
Written by: Philippos Gkekis, Psychologist Psychotherapist, creator of ReConnect Therapy together with the scientific team of ReConnect Therapy
References
- Frankl, V. E. (2020). Το νόημα της ζωής: Παρά ταύτα πες «ναι» στη ζωή. Παπαζήσης.
- Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. Beacon Press.
- Bushkin, H., Van Niekerk, R., & Stroud, L. (2021). Searching for meaning in chaos: Viktor Frankl’s story. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 17(3), 233–242.
- May, R. (Ed.). (1961). Existential psychology. Random House.
- Mikics, D. (2020, September 10). The lie of Viktor Frankl. Tablet Magazine.
- Pytell, T. (2016, April 14). The case against Viktor Frankl: Rollo May’s attacks on logotherapy. Psychology Today.
- Simon, E. (2020, February 11). What Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy can offer in the Anthropocene. Aeon.