In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning. ~Viktor Frankl
can
you
laugh
when
you
fall
pick
yourself
up
I’m alright!
What happened?
What did I learn?
What’s next?
Sometimes we’re not alright…or somebody we love is not alright.
That’s harder…
Frankl once helped a man reframe his suffering after his wife’s death.
He asked, “Have you not saved her the suffering of losing you?”
A group of men from our team had planned to meet for dinner. One fellow arrived late, looking frazzled. He quickly addressed his condition, saying his doctor told him he had pancreatic cancer. Possibly less than 6 months to live. While other men offered their condolences and murmured their desire to help in any way, Bob continued “awfulizing” about his fate and what his fate would be. While not likely as polished as Frankl, I too sought to reframe his circumstance. I offered, “You’re not dead yet.” Brutal? Insensitive? After dinner he thanked me for my challenge to live in the present.