The Cost of Being Right - episode 42
We are in a tough place right now. Let’s make no mistake about that. Between COVID, to vax or not, to mask or not, the unparalleled political divide, racial injustices (lots to be done there) and more, we are at a crossroads. How will we move forward? Can we do better? Is it more important to be in relationship or to be right? I explore some of this with our guest host, Lisey. That’s right. We changed seats. And as you will hear Lisey has a quick-witted intelligence, displays depth, a keen curiosity, and genuine warmth. It’s hard to articulate the impact this episode had on me. See if you can tell what I mean.
We took a deep dive into the cost of being right. And as much as we talked about opinions and beliefs I love the episode ended with the beautiful story of Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. I googled and read about him. What a man! I will be using his quotes for they speak of a hope most of us cannot imagine. He said, Whoever was still alive had reason for hope. What can we be hopeful about? How can we spread that hope to those around us? Look for it. Be it. That is your action item for this week. Spread hope.
Committed. Loyal. Challenging.
— Rechelle
Viktor E. Frankl
Thoughts on The Cost of Being Right
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom. - Viktor E. Frankl (V.E.K.)
The more I read about Viktor E. Frankl the more amazed I am by his life. The way he lived is astonishing. The way he chose to get through, and even endure hellacious, horrific circumstances is beyond my imagination. He miraculously survived the Holocaust. How was he able to do it? I try to put myself in his shoes and I don’t think I would have the same courage he had to choose to want to live, to choose hope. Whoever was still alive had reason for hope. -V.E.K. That makes me admire him all the more.
I wish I could say I knew extensively about Frankl’s work before Lisey mentioned him, but I can’t remember if I studied him in college or not. I am grateful to know about him now. Quick facts: he was Austrian. Before the war he was a neurologist and psychiatrist founding logotherapy (the human search for meaning). After the war he earned a PhD in philosophy and become an author, Man’s Search for Meaning, being his most famous book - a bestseller. He went on to write numerous others.
Lisey asked me about the way forward after this past year in our county. We spoke of hope and being the change we want to see in the world. Of speaking life into people and having people speak life into us. I am going to do that. And I am not going to give up. We are in difficult times and there is at least one thing we can do. It has to start with you. It has to start with me. When we are no longer able to change a situation…We are challenged to change ourselves. -V.E.K.
How can we change ourselves? Frankl wrote of the need to give to others. To think of others. To love others. Often this takes sacrifice. But it is the kind of sacrifice that is sometimes challenging but beyond worthwhile. Immeasurable really. There is value in that kind of love. You can see in his writings that he is very other focused. The more one forgets himself—by giving himself to another person to love—the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. -V.E.K. So it’s not only good for the other but it’s good for you. For me.
For Gene -
Who recently reminded me:
We need to heal, and say NEVER AGAIN. (Emphasis mine.)
In memory of his loved ones who did not survive the Holocaust and for those who did.
We will remember.
We will remember them all.
