Man's Search for Meaning: Why It Matters More Than Ever.

What makes life worth living? For many men today, the search for meaning is a quiet, personal struggle that often hides beneath the surface of daily life. In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Alex Vesely—grandson of legendary psychotherapist Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning—reminds us that true fulfilment lies not in fleeting happiness, but in discovering purpose. As men continue to wrestle with identity, depression, and expectations in an increasingly disconnected world, understanding the power of meaning has never been more vital. This is especially true for men’s mental health, where the signs of male depression often go unnoticed until they reach crisis point. Drawing from Frankl’s harrowing experiences in the Holocaust and his groundbreaking development of logotherapy, Alex explores how meaning—not comfort, not success—is what enables people to endure and even thrive in the darkest of times. Here are five key takeaways from our conversation.

The Human Need for Meaning

At the heart of Viktor Frankl’s philosophy is the idea that meaning is a fundamental human need. Frankl observed that unlike physical drives, which seek to be eliminated (like hunger or thirst), the “will to meaning” is constant and can’t be ignored. When men are unable to find meaning in their lives—whether due to personal loss, burnout, or stagnation—this existential vacuum can manifest as depression. Alex explains that many of the mental health struggles he sees aren’t due to external circumstances, but to a lack of clear purpose. That’s why recognising the signs of male depression means looking beyond mood and energy levels, and towards whether a man feels his life has value. Without meaning, even the best circumstances can feel empty. With meaning, even suffering can be endured.

Meaning in the Midst of the Holocaust

Viktor Frankl’s theory wasn’t born from abstract philosophy—it was forged in the unimaginable reality of Nazi concentration camps. He entered Auschwitz with nothing, having sewn the manuscript of his first book into his coat, only to be forced to discard it upon arrival. Stripped of everything—his family, his freedom, even his name—Frankl observed that those who survived weren’t necessarily the strongest, but often those who had a reason to live. For some, it was the hope of reuniting with loved ones. For Frankl, it was the desire to rewrite his lost manuscript. In a place designed to crush the human spirit, he tested his theory of logotherapy: that meaning could still be found, even in suffering. His experiences showed that while pain is unavoidable, despair isn’t—because despair is suffering without meaning. Frankl’s survival and the insights he brought back are a profound testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a crucial lens through which to explore men's mental health.

Fulfilment Over Happiness

Happiness is often confused with fulfilment, but as Alex points out, they’re not the same. Happiness is transient—you can feel it watching Netflix or eating ice cream. Fulfilment, however, requires effort. It’s what you feel when you achieve something difficult or contribute to something beyond yourself. Fulfilment almost always includes struggle. For many men, the pursuit of short-term pleasure can become a distraction from the deeper hunger for meaning. Depression in men is often exacerbated when life feels directionless or shallow. As Alex puts it, we’re not driven by meaning—we’re pulled towards it. And that pull usually involves getting uncomfortable, stepping outside ourselves, and aiming for something bigger than our own needs.

Three Ways to Find Meaning

Frankl identified three core paths to meaning: through action (what we do), through experience (what we encounter), and through attitude (how we respond to suffering). Work and love are two obvious routes—but the third, choosing our response to unavoidable hardship, is the most profound. For men facing divorce, illness, grief, or career failure, this final path offers hope. It’s the idea that even when we can’t change our circumstances, we can still choose how we show up. We can transform tragedy into personal triumph. This doesn’t mean pretending suffering is good. It means suffering isn’t the end of the story. In the landscape of men’s mental health, this message is empowering: you are not defined by what happens to you, but by how you respond to it.

Humour, Humanity, and Hope

One surprising but powerful aspect of Frankl’s approach was his emphasis on humour. In even the darkest times, humour offers a unique way to step outside ourselves and see our situation differently. This ability to self-distance—to not take ourselves so seriously—is a distinctly human gift. It’s also a tool for healing. Alex explains how his grandfather, even in concentration camps, used humour as a survival mechanism. In men’s mental health, this speaks volumes. Finding moments of levity doesn’t mean we ignore pain. It means we embrace our full humanity. And with that humanity comes hope—the hope that we can still choose, act, love, and live meaningfully, no matter the circumstances.

Summary

In an age of rising suicide rates and growing disconnection, especially among men, the need for meaning is vital. Mental health awareness must go beyond symptoms and diagnoses and instead help men reconnect with what they’re living for. Frankl’s legacy is a reminder that we don’t need perfect lives—we need meaningful ones. And while meaning won’t always feel comfortable or come easily, it’s the thread that holds us together. In a world where everything can be taken from us, one freedom remains: the freedom to choose how we respond. And sometimes, that choice is enough to change everything.