During Issues and Answers we started talking about what a man lost, gained, and retained during his time in a concentration camp. As we went over the lists we realized that many of the losses had things in common; they were all physical. Frankl (the author of the book we read) lost his wife, his manuscript, his hair, his clothing, weight. But he everything he gained or retained throughout his time there was metaphysical. He gained a new appriciation for his life, he gained knowledge about power hungry people. He also gained fear. He retained his belief in love, and that many people are just good people.
This made me realize many things. You can lose many things that hurt more than anything. You can lose a loved one, you can lose a talent, you can lose faith in people. But nobody can take away anything that is metaphysical. Once you gain a piece of self knowledge or learn more about yourself you cannot unlearn it unless you actively try to. In some ways this is comforting; once you've grown up to a certain extent, no body can take that away. People can take away your clothing, your money, your house, but they can't take away what makes you you unless you let them.
On the other hand this isn't comforting. I've heard that ignorance is bliss, and man do I believe it. Its so much easier to be happy when you aren't aware that problems exist. And once you learn about those problems, you can't unlearn them. The thing is, its only a surface level happiness that you have before. If you are able to, after learning many sad facts and having to face painful truths, retain your hope and belief in happiness and love, you will reach legitmate contentment. If you are able to suffer but still find a way to be happy your life will be much more fulfilling for that.
