Noö-dynamics.  I really just love that word and wanted another excuse to talk about it.

I was reminded of this awesome concept as I was just finishing up the write up of The Meaning Project for a conference in June.  If all goes well, I will earn the Diplomate in Logotherapy from the Viktor Frankl Institute at their World Congress in Texas next month.

It’s 104 pages long right now.  For me, it’s a real example of Frankl’s “noö-dynamics.”

You see, most of the time we humans try to achieve equilibrium, at least in some ways: when we are tired, we sleep to return to equilibrium, when we are hungry we eat, when we are sore we relax or take medicine, when we are anxious or depressed we seek relief.

Many human functions work towards an even balance.

But not the human spirit, or the “noös” as Frankl called it – from “noetic” the Greek for spirit or intellect.  The human spirit seeks to grow or become.  We recognize where we are now, but there is usually something calling us forth to something greater.  Something calling us off the couch to do more.

This project has been a great big beautiful noetic pain in my neck for two years.  I knew I wanted to share more of these ideas with more people – that is the idea behind The Meaning Project. I also knew I wanted to work toward the Diplomate certification.  I had no idea where it would take me or what it would be like.  It would have been much easier to just sit on the couch.  But even when I tried to do that, I felt this uncomfortable compulsion to work on it.  To bring that goal to fruition.  Equilibrium was not going to satisfy the call to discover meaning.

So, I ask you – what are the noö-dynamics at play in your life?  Where are you being called of the couch to do something more?  Where do you feel uncomfortable knowing there is something you should be creating or becoming?

You are a special and unique individual – only you can accomplish the things you were put on this earth to do.  Only you can make the meaningful decisions you have before you.  Once the opportunity to make that decision has past, it won’t present itself in the same way again.  Will you answer the call to break out of equilibrium and discover new meaning, or will you choose to ignore and avoid, to stay on the couch?

I can’t wait to hear about what you choose.

Want to talk about it more?  Check out the course material and discussion forums in The Meaning Project. 

(And if you have it in you, send some positive thoughts my way as I try to get one more attempt at “final edits” through my supervisor before the deadline!)