Is there anything more poignant than seeing the potential and strength of human beings working in extreme situations?There is something profoundly moving about the altruistic acts of the human being in situations of extreme difficulty. Situations of fear, danger and feared uncertainty.
Karl Jaspers (1883-1969), a German psychiatrist and philosopher, has already studied and written about the limit situations (Grenzsituationen) of his time, defining them as those situations that present themselves to the human being in which a curious paradox arises, situations that look like dead-end mazes, but at the same time enclose the possibility of being overcome. These are contradictory situations with which life surprises us. Crucial moments when, despite the horror of uncertainty, we see more clearly the meaning of life, all that gives meaning and meaning to existence.
- It is usually in extreme situations where the human being is found.
- Without mask or defense.
- At that moment survival prevails.
- The attempt to find the way out of the maze that has just appeared.
It may seem that, in these situations, human beings are also able to make the most of themselves, is able to cooperate and collaborate with others, with colleagues who also live this extreme experience. In many cases, human potential flourishes with enormous force. energy in the face of such situations.
People who save others, despite their integrity, are also in danger; people who, in the face of a natural disaster, come together to save their own well-being and that of others; people who go to conflict zones to help with everything they need. Human beings mobilized to protect the most powerless: without any other interest, without other pretensions.
There are many examples that show that it is possible to make the most of oneself in extreme situations, which can be built on darkness and debris, being useful to others is a very precious need that inhabits us. another person in what we do best is a comforting caress of the soul.
In such situations, where uncertainty reigns and the precipice rises, everything is clearly outlined, possible solutions and alternatives to conflict (internal and external) are raised more precisely than if there was no urgency to act.
Victor Frankl talked about finding meaning in his own existence through unfavorable situations, while Carl Rogers talked about the potential of the human being. Both have full confidence in this potential, in their precious power to make their lives more complete and in tune with our environment.
It is amazing and exciting to see how people, despite being hurt, can thrive after extreme experiences; how they learn what they want in life and what they want to give up; how, finally, they discover their skills, the most authentic and so far hidden.
It is as if behind the great jolt of life they find the purest and most idiosyncratic potential that resides there, after finding it they decide to live for it, without losing it along the way, showing it and sharing it with the rest of life. more authentic and beautiful human beings in them.
You can certainly think of a person who is reborn, someone who has rebuilt himself after an experience similar to those mentioned above, that person who, after this experience, painted his life with other colors, appears there a kind of indescribable serenity, a serenity that nourishes and gives meaning to your gift. The good thing is that this person is or will also be present in all of us.