The Necessity of Existential Tension

Frankl argues that what humans fundamentally require is not a state of equilibrium or peace, but rather a dynamic struggle for a worthwhile goal. This struggle, termed 'noö-dynamics,' creates meaning by positioning an individual in a tension-filled field where they strive to achieve a personally significant purpose. Frankl illustrates this by asserting that a 'sound amount of tension' can be therapeutic and necessary for mental health. He states, 'What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task.'