Frankl and Lukas persuasively argue that our meanings of events can either enrich or destroy us. To explore the power of meaning making in helping us cope (or not) with traumatic events:

• Choose a difficult event in your life, one that you can not change.

• Explore it from your standard (maladaptive or unhappy) stance. What are your assumptions about this event or yourself raised by this event?

• After you feel well-understood by yourself or reader, explore this issue from a different stance. Is there anything positive you got from this experience? Remember that you are not saying that this event was "worth it," but consider whether you were transformed in positive ways by this event rather than "destroyed" as you may normally believe.

• Consider this process. Was it useful? Do you feel differently about yourself and this event as a result? Internalize your new meaning and return to it this coming week. How do you feel about yourself and this event during this time period?

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Last updated August 31, 1998