Finding Meaning When Life Feels Heavy: An Introduction to Logotherapy
- Shirin Rahgozar
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Have you ever found yourself asking questions like “Who am I?” or “What am I meant to do with my life?” Maybe you’ve been moving through your days feeling lost, empty, or disconnected from a sense of purpose. Or perhaps when you’re not in a good place emotionally, you start wondering about the worth of your life or where you're headed.
If these questions feel familiar, you’re not alone. And they’re not a sign that something is wrong. They are signs that something in you is searching for meaning. Logotherapy, often called meaning-centered therapy, is an approach that can help you explore these questions with clarity and direction.
What Is Logotherapy?
Logotherapy is based on a simple but powerful idea: A need for meaning drives humans.
Developed by psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, Logotherapy teaches that even when life is painful, uncertain, or confusing, we can move forward by discovering what gives our life purpose. Frankl believed that if we understand why we are living, what matters to us, what we care about, and what we value, then we can endure almost anything.
At its core, Logotherapy is not about avoiding pain or forcing positivity. It’s about helping you reconnect with the parts of yourself that make life feel worth living.
How Logotherapy Helps You Navigate Life’s Big Questions
In Logotherapy, meaning is explored through several pathways:
Meaning through what you do - What you create, contribute, or take responsibility for can give life a sense of purpose. Sometimes the smallest actions, like caring for someone, working toward a goal, or expressing yourself, can shift your internal landscape.
Meaning through relationships - Connection, love, and belonging help you feel rooted. Understanding what relationships matter to you, and why, becomes a powerful source of meaning.
Meaning through your attitude - When you face something you cannot change, Logotherapy helps you explore how to relate to that challenge in a way that aligns with your values, not by denying pain, but by discovering your strength and resilience.
A Simple Story of Logotherapy in Action
Imagine someone going through a major life transition, like graduating, moving to a new country, ending a relationship, or starting a new job. They may feel overwhelmed or unsure who they are anymore.
In Logotherapy, instead of focusing only on the problem, the therapist might ask:
• What matters to you right now?
• What kind of person do you want to be in this chapter?
• When have you felt most alive or fulfilled?
It's not about finding the perfect answer, but about helping the person reconnect with meaning. Sometimes, meaning shows up as a new goal. Sometimes it’s a renewed sense of courage. Sometimes it’s the realization that “I still care. I still want something. Something in me is still alive.”
That moment of clarity can be enough to take the next step.
Logotherapy Doesn’t Tell You What Your Meaning Is. It Helps You Discover It.
Therapy isn’t about being handed a purpose. It’s about exploring your values, your story, and your identity with curiosity.
Logotherapy gives you tools to ask more profound questions.
• What do I believe in?
• What do I want my life to stand for?
• Where do I feel most connected?
• What makes my struggles meaningful?
It’s a space where confusion can turn into direction and where heaviness can shift into insight.
When Life Feels Directionless, Meaning Can Be a Compass
Logotherapy isn’t about fixing you, because you’re not broken. It’s about helping you reconnect with the meaning already within you.
If you’re feeling lost, empty, or unsure of the next step, exploring your sense of meaning can be a powerful path toward clarity and healing. With support, reflection, and guidance, you can begin to uncover what matters to you and start building a life that feels purposeful, grounded, and authentically yours.