Last week, I shared some of my favorite Biblical perspectives on intimate relationships.  And, in all honesty, that article was written for several men whom I know might be ‘frustrated’ in that area – but I hope everyone who read it found it helpful.

Somehow, in a blog/podcast focused on MEANING, I was remiss to offer Dr. Frankl’s perspectives on the topic.  As I am sure you are aware, he has quite a bit to say about discovering Meaning in the act of loving others – especially in our most intimate relationship.

From the chapter The Meaning of Love in Frankl’s The Doctor and the Soul:

Love as a Path to Meaning

Frankl argues that love is one of the primary ways through which human beings can discover meaning in life. Just as work and suffering can serve as pathways to meaning, love provides a uniquely profound mode of transcendence. Love allows a person to see beyond the external or utilitarian value of another and to grasp their innermost essence.

Love and the Uniqueness of the Other

For Frankl, genuine love is rooted in the recognition of another’s uniqueness. In loving someone, one affirms not just what the person does or how they appear, but who they are at their deepest core. Love is therefore not reducible to instinct, attraction, or mere emotion—it is an intentional act of affirming the irreplaceable dignity and singular worth of another person.

Beyond the Physical

Frankl emphasizes that love is not bound to the physical or sexual realm. While sexuality can serve as an expression of love, authentic love is spiritual in nature. It penetrates to the “essence” of the beloved, transcending appearance, usefulness, or even temporary attributes like health and beauty. Love, in its deepest sense, perceives and affirms the eternal potential of the other person.

Love as a Source of Responsibility

To love another is to accept responsibility for their inner being. Frankl stresses that love naturally leads to care, responsibility, and devotion. This responsibility does not oppress; rather, it elevates and enriches life. Through love, one is drawn out of the narrow confines of self-interest into authentic encounter with another’s being.

Love as Access to Meaning

Ultimately, Frankl shows that love provides an avenue to ultimate meaning. When one truly loves, life is no longer centered on the self alone but is oriented toward the beloved. This orientation allows the person to transcend self-centeredness and encounter life’s meaning in a deeply personal way.

In short: In this chapter, Frankl presents love as a primary way of discovering meaning in life. It is not mere passion or possession, but the affirmation of the other’s unique essence, transcending the physical and grounded in responsibility, devotion, and spiritual recognition.