The Tragic Triad!

Viktor Frankl, a famous Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist speaks of three inescapable human experiences. They are Pain, Guilt, and Death; and he calls them “Tragic Triad”. These experiences by nature are negative in themselves. But, how can we stay positive in the midst of these inescapable realities, and many more that we encounter on a daily basis as existential human beings. Frankl suggests a psychological approach known as logotherapy. The Greek term logos means “Word” or “Will” of God in religious circles. In a broader sense, it can be viewed as “that which gives reason for being.” Frankl prefers the simple translation of logos as “meaning”. Logotherapy means healing through meaning

The basic assumption of logotherapy according to Frankl is; life has meaning under all circumstances; people have a will to meaning; and people have the freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to meaning and to find meaning.

We stand in need today of healing therapy for individual persons and the world at large in the midst of existing chaos and confusion.

Frankl also speaks about “a tragic optimism.” which means that a person remains optimistic in spite of the “tragic triad” through logotherapy. A triad which consists of those human experiences which may be conditioned by pain; guilt; and death. It raises a fundamental question, how is it possible to say yes to life in spite of all these negative experiences? He suggests that it is better to pose the question differently by asking, ‘can life retain its potential meaning in spite of its tragic aspects?’ After all, life is potentially meaningful even with those experiences that are most miserable. And this in turn triggers the human capacity to turn life’s negative aspects into positive or constructive experiences. In other words, making the best of any given situation. “The best,” however, in Latin means ‘optimum’. Therefore, according to Frankl the human potential allows us to turn suffering into a human achievement and accomplishment; guilt into opportunity to change oneself for the better; and our transitoriness as an incentive to take responsibilities in life.