The Will to Live

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friederich Nietzche Hospital beds are filled with people whose bodies are connected to machinery that keeps hearts pumping, lungs expanding and contracting, tubes providing nourishment and draining excess fluids. These are external forces offering life sustaining activity. It may very well be, that in combination with an intangible… the will to live keeps them from crossing over the line between this life and the next. In recent conversation with a friend, she posed the question: “What do you think gives people the will to live when they are in chronic pain or when faced with serious illness?”  This came in the midst of the hospitalization of two friends. One is in an ICU, following open heart surgery and the other is receiving major doses of chemotherapy and radiation for metastatic cancer. Both have made it clear that they although they know death is one possibility, they have no conscious intention of “leaving the building” at this time.  Is it fear of death or love of life that helps us to remain incarnate?  When visiting the second friend a few days ago and then today, she related that she wants the hospital staff who have been caring for her to “love my life as much as I do.” She was propped in bed, wearing pretty pink floral pajamas. Her hair was combed and she had a sparkly headband at the ready, should it become unruly. At the foot of her bed was a laptop computer. Al...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Depression Grief and Loss Happiness Healthy Living Mindfulness Motivation and Inspiration Self-Esteem Chronic Pain Existentialism Irritability Meaning Of Life Mood Swings Optimism Resilience Terminal Illness will to live Source Type: news