Strength

I recently read this great book, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl and he uses Nietzsche's famous quote, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" multiple times. It's funny how much that book, that quote, the things I got from it and where that book now lies plays into my present day thoughts and issues. Strength. Sometimes I don't know if I have what it takes to overcome certain things, to find an answer, to figure out how to respond and keep breathing the same as I did the day before.

We get to make choices. Everyone does. Sometimes our choices don't match that of someone's else, and that can lead to pain. The greatest strength, I think, comes from overcoming the pain of a decision you did not get to make. We like to be active players in the world, in our lives. When a choice is made with an answer we don't like and we have no say in the matter, it is a feeling like no other. Helplessness, sadness, weakness, confusion, frustration. It can feel lonely, being separated from a choice.

And then I think about that word - choice. And I think about Frankl's theories. We have the ability to choose how we react to a situation. We should stop trying to figure out why something happened and instead decide how we are going to react.

I think I know how I'm going to react. I'm not sure how sold I am on it currently but I weigh the options and the other choice would leave a bigger hole, a wider chasm, a greater tear. This is when I call on strength...strength to make the decision that I know, deep down, is the only option.