Day 16 of “I don’t know where I’m going but I’m going to start anyways because I know I have something to say.” In this unedited, unfiltered, and unbounded experiment in speaking from the heart, I get pretty existential with it because that’s just part of who I am ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ & it’s what is most alive in me at the moment.
Thanks for tuning in to Living in Response <3
ALSO - just to make sure it was clear, I incorrectly said that Viktor Frankl was German then tried to correct myself but it didn’t really sound that way so just so you know, he was born in Austria :)
Episode Overview
Overview created (mostly) with AI
In today’s episode, I share a major personal realization about my connection to Logotherapy—the existential psychotherapy approach developed by Viktor Frankl. I discovered that I’m just three degrees of separation from Frankl himself, which hit me on a deep emotional level. This sparked a reflection on the power of lineage*, the upcoming Logotherapy conference, and how meaning is passed down through experience.
(*this was something AI picked up on, not me, but I am intrigued lol.)
I also dive into my Logotherapy coursework, exploring how case studies are helping me integrate these principles into my life. My latest case study, "Discovering Myself Through My Voice," is a reflection on how meaning emerges through self-expression rather than being something we passively find. This realization ties into Frankl’s Meaning Triangle—creative, experiential, and attitudinal values—and the Guideposts to Meaning: self-discovery, choice, uniqueness, responsibility, and self-transcendence.
I then shift into a real-time reflection on values—how they shape our lives, how we experience them in the body, and why resistance often signals something meaningful waiting to emerge. I explore the interconnection between values, somatic awareness, and existential fulfillment, touching on ideas from interoception, the nervous system, and embodiment practices.
Finally, I share insights from my Logotherapy instructor’s work in hospice care, discussing death, legacy, and the importance of living in alignment with what matters most. This leads me to "The Dash" by Linda Ellis—a powerful poem about the small but profound line between birth and death, representing how we choose to live our lives.
If you’re someone who is searching for purpose, navigating resistance, or looking for a deeper connection to meaning, then we will probably get along and I would love to hear from you! (No pressure.)
Key Takeaways
🔹 Meaning isn’t something we wait to find—it emerges through action. Speaking, creating, and engaging with life bring clarity.🔹 Resistance isn’t just an obstacle—it’s an invitation. The things we resist often hold valuable clues about what matters to us.🔹 Values aren’t just intellectual concepts—they are embodied experiences. Learning to feel values in the body changes the way we relate to them.🔹 Self-compassion is a crucial value. Sometimes doing nothing and allowing ourselves to pause is just as important as taking action.🔹 Humor is a powerful tool for self-distancing. It helps us shift perspective and not take ourselves so seriously in moments of doubt.🔹 Death is a reality, but it’s not something to fear. The true question is: How are we living our dash (in reference to Linda Ellis’ original poem)?
Resources & Next Steps
Books/Poem Mentioned:
* Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
Invitations:
* What values feel most alive in your body? How do you know?
* Where do you feel resistance in your life? What might it be trying to show you?
* If your life were summed up in a "dash" between two dates, what would you want that dash to represent?
Eternal gratitude to all my teachers, ancestors, relations, and for anyone who is joining me on this journey!
Until next time - keep exploring, keep feeling, and keep Living in Response :D
Mystically,
Belle