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Sadness, however, can be turned aroundby modification of attitudeto the loss, and
redirection ofone's thinking and feeling from what was lost to what can be gained.
He gives the example ofMr A., age 60, who spent 40 years ofhis life as a librarian in
a scientific library, Whenhe was told that accordingto law he had to retire, he pa­
nicked. He claimedthat "he would simplydie", rather than retire. My life is empty
withoutmyjob," he told his therapist. "I don't know what to do, or how I would
survivethis blow offate." As the day ofhis retirementwas nearing,he became more
and more depressed, or alternatively quarrelsome and confused, and was seen as be­
ing torturedby doubt as to his ability to survivein the changedcircmnstancesofhis
life.
David Guttmann (1996:122) furtherpointed out that Mr A is a characteristic case of
people in despair because oftheir loss ofthe pyramidal value that gave meaning to
their livesuntil change was forced on them. Mr A is also in need oflogotherapeutic
help. His distress needs not necessarily lead too sickness or suicide. "Every cloud
has a silverlining"says the popular wisdom. And every distress resultingfrom a
collapseofthe pyramidal value containsthe possibilityfor finding new meanings in
life.
The "defiant power of the human spirit," as Franklhas taught, can be marshaled to
counteractblows of fate and to rise up to the taskofwideningthe meaninghorizon of
a person. This, instead ofdwelling on past "glories" lost, and getting depressed, peo­
ple need to be helped to discovernew meaningsand potentials and to set new goals
and purposesinto whichthey could pour the energiesstill stored in their spirits. In
other words, the therapeutic goal is to redirect the client's attitudes so that he/she can
find a positiveand healthy attitudeto life (Guttmann 1996:122).
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