Breaking the Chain

I have just finished reading Viktor E. Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning and I must say it really left something inside me. It has been a long time since a book touched me so deeply and made me think about how I face life, people, and difficult situations. Frankl, who went through the horrors of concentration camps, managed to turn his suffering into inspiration for others.

What touched me the most was the idea that the chain of evil and suffering can be broken. We often tend to repay hurt with hurt, to answer a harsh word with another harsh word. But this only passes the pain further – like an endless circle with no escape. Frankl shows that someone must have the courage to stop this circle, to forgive, and not to continue spreading anger. This does not mean forgetting but deciding not to react in the same way.

I find this thought very relevant even today. In a world where people are often stressed, rushing, and easily driven by emotions, it is a big challenge to stay calm and react differently. To break the chain does not come from weakness, but from inner strength and freedom. Each of us has the possibility to choose our attitude – and that is our greatest freedom.

Frankl's book reminded me that even if I cannot change all the circumstances around me, I can change my attitude towards them. And that is a powerful weapon against despair and hopelessness. It taught me that life has meaning even in difficulties and that sometimes the greatest victory is not to fight, but to stop and decide not to spread evil any further.