Viktor Frankl and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi are renowned figures in psychology and human well-being, each developing profound theories shaped by their harrowing experiences during World War II. Both men focused on understanding what makes life worth living, particularly in the face of suffering and adversity.
Finding meaning in the midst of suffering
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, is best known for his groundbreaking work, Man’s Search for Meaning. His philosophy was profoundly shaped by his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. Frankl was imprisoned in several concentration camps, including Auschwitz, where he endured and witnessed unimaginable suffering. These experiences led him to a critical realization, that even in the most dire circumstances, individuals have the freedom to choose their attitude and find meaning in their lives.
Frankl’s logotherapy claims that the primary human drive is not pleasure or power but the pursuit of meaning. He believed that life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones. Through his work, he demonstrated that finding purpose can provide the strength to endure suffering and maintain psychological well-being.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Victor Frankl
Frankl believed in the human capacity for resilience and meaning-making, even when faced with extreme hardship.
The quest for happiness and flow
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist, also drew inspiration from his experiences during World War II. Csikszentmihalyi was a prisoner during the war and observed the widespread pain and suffering around him. These early experiences ignited his curiosity about happiness and contentment, particularly why some people could maintain a sense of well-being despite losing their jobs, homes, and security.
After the war, Csikszentmihalyi delved into art, philosophy, and religion, seeking answers to the question, “What creates a life worth living?” His most famous concept, “flow,” describes a state of deep immersion and engagement in activities where individuals lose track of time and experience intrinsic satisfaction.
Csikszentmihalyi discovered that people are most content when they are in flow, whether they are engaged in work, hobbies, or other activities that challenge their skills and keep them fully absorbed. This state of flow contributes significantly to an individual’s sense of happiness and fulfillment, echoing Frankl’s emphasis on finding purpose and meaning.
“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990).
Converging paths of meaning and happiness
Despite their different focuses—Frankl on meaning and Csikszentmihalyi on happiness and flow—both psychologists emphasized the importance of transcending adversity through internal processes. Frankl’s logotherapy and Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory both advocate for the human capacity to find deeper satisfaction and purpose, even in the face of external challenges.
Frankl’s assertion that “the last of the human freedoms” is the ability to choose one’s attitude aligns with Csikszentmihalyi’s findings that people can achieve profound happiness through engaging and meaningful activities. Both perspectives highlight the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for growth and fulfillment, regardless of circumstances.
Gifted struggles with a lack of meaning and purpose
Gifted individuals often face a unique struggle with finding meaning and purpose in life. Their heightened awareness and intellectual capabilities can lead to existential questioning and a sense of disconnection from more conventional paths to fulfillment. This can result in feelings of emptiness or frustration when their environments do not adequately challenge them or when they cannot find peers with similar interests and abilities.
Without finding a purpose and calling in life that allows them to manifest their true, authentic intelligence, gifted individuals may sink into a life devoid of meaning. Their enormous potential could be lost for a lifetime. Whether they are artists, IT geniuses, mathematicians, therapists, musicians, biologists, or doctors, if they cannot achieve flow, guided by their inner intelligence, they often become passive-aggressive, depressed, and lonely. For many, the suppression of immense energy begins in childhood. Parents and caregivers may not understand that the expression of giftedness can also manifest as stubbornness, non-obedience, being in constant flow, speaking the truth (and unintentionally hurting adults), and seeing things differently.
Gifted individuals frequently seek complex and stimulating challenges, because they usually lack intellectual stimulation. When these are not available, they can feel underwhelmed and disengaged, leading to a lack of purpose. Their advanced cognitive abilities often lead them to ponder deep existential questions at an earlier age, causing them to question the meaning of life and their place in the world more intensely than their peers. If there is no one to whom they can address these questions, or even send them to watch TV or play games, the potential can be ultimately already lost. Gifted individuals may struggle to find like-minded peers, leading to social isolation and a sense of not fitting in, which can enhance feelings of purposelessness. While belonging is the ultimate foundation for the feeling of safety, gifted individuals give up their intelligence already at an early age to fit into either a family or peer group. For them, it is to choose between life or death. This is why counseling for gifted is so different from typical therapy. This is why gifted individuals should find a specialized therapist who understands all the psychological complexes that giftedness brings.
The 8 characteristics of flow for gifted
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow, a state of deep immersion and optimal experience, is particularly relevant for gifted individuals, who often seek intellectually stimulating and challenging activities. Flow is characterized by eight distinct features that facilitate this optimal state:
- Complete concentration on the task – gifted individuals can immerse themselves fully in tasks, leveraging their advanced cognitive abilities to sustain intense focus and attention. This deep concentration is a hallmark of flow and enhances productivity and enjoyment.
- Clarity of goals and immediate feedback –in flow, goals are clear, and feedback is immediate. For gifted individuals, this clarity aligns with their need for structure and understanding of objectives, which helps maintain motivation and drive toward excellence. Giving them immediate feedback helps them think, create, and feel, even faster.
- Transformation of time– during flow, individuals experience a distortion of time, where it either speeds up or slows down. Gifted individuals often report losing track of time when deeply engaged in complex and stimulating activities.
- The experience is intrinsically rewarding – flow is intrinsically motivating, meaning the activity itself is rewarding, without external incentives. Gifted individuals frequently pursue knowledge and skill development for the sheer pleasure of mastering new challenges.
- Effortlessness and ease – in a state of flow, tasks feel effortless. Gifted individuals, when matched with appropriately challenging tasks, often find that their skills align seamlessly with the demands, creating a sense of ease and natural progression.
- Balance between challenge and skills – flow occurs when there is a perfect balance between the challenge of the task and the individual’s skills. Gifted individuals thrive in environments that offer tasks commensurate with their abilities, avoiding boredom and anxiety.
- Merging of action and awareness – during flow, actions, and awareness merge, eliminating self-consciousness. Gifted individuals, who often have heightened self-awareness, find this merging particularly liberating and conducive to peak performance.
- A feeling of control – a sense of control over the task at hand is essential for flow. Gifted individuals, who often seek autonomy and mastery, experience enhanced satisfaction and confidence when they feel in control of their activities.
Integrating Frankl’s and Csikszentmihalyi’s insights
By finding meaning in adversity and achieving flow in their pursuits, gifted individuals can harness their potential to the fullest, leading lives rich in purpose and satisfaction. But we need to be aware that numerous gifted individuals are still not getting proper help and guidance, either in the education system or as employees) and are fighting their inner battles not knowing they can liberate themselves from them and become empowered by their giftedness. Understanding and applying these principles can empower gifted individuals to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and thrive in their personal and professional endeavors.
References
- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row.
- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life. Basic Books.
- Frankl, V. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. An Introduction to Logotherapy, Beacon Press, Boston.