A Positive Side to Coronavirus?The Gift of Hardship & Disappointment for Children

In an attempt to put a positive spin on the current COVID-19 disaster, I am reminded of the teachings and philosophy of the famous existential psychiatrist Victor Frankl. Dr. Frankl personally experienced and survived one of the worst stains in human history, the Holocaust. He survived the insanity of the death camps because he was determined to find something positive within the depravity of events that engulfed him during World War II. After the War, Frankl turned his horrific experiences and the collective trauma of those who suffered into a positive force that would go on to benefit millions of others in a psychotherapeutic approach known as logotherapy. Frankl’s philosophy urged people not to react emotionally to life’s challenges, but rather to respond authentically and meaningfully to such hardships. In the spirit of Dr. Frankl’s work on human suffering, I offer readers a positive reframing of the pandemic disaster currently gripping our country. I have completely embraced a helpful expression that I learned from studying logotherapy and other existential philosophies. This expression has guided my psychological practice helping children as well as enriching my perspective on human sorrow. The phrase was entitled, The Gift of Struggle. This adage was coined and repeated throughout the halls of schools and academia because it succinctly encapsulated the wisdom that human service professionals have known for decades. Mental health practitioners who imparted this ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Parenting Students Child Development Coping Skills coronavirus COVID-19 Disappointment Learning Resilience Source Type: blogs