Reflections on Taking a Stand

 BY LOUISE FERGUSON, PH.D.,  CORE FACULTY, UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES AND UC ANR

AS I REFLECT ON THE MANY THINGS I LEARNED BEING IN CLASS 30, ONE EXPERIENCE STANDS OUT. READING “MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING” BY VIKTOR FRANKEL CHANGED MY LIFE. AN AUSTRIAN PSYCHIATRIST WHO LOST MOST OF HIS FAMILY IN THE HOLOCAUST, HE SURVIVED TO WRITE ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. HE NOTED SURVIVORS WERE NOT THOSE WHO DENIED THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, BUT THOSE WHO WERE REALISTIC, HAD PERSONAL MORAL GUIDEPOSTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, KNEW THEY HAD A PURPOSE IN LIFE.

Postwar, Viktor Frankl refined his observations into a theory of psychotherapy. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia profile:

Frankl identified three main ways of realizing meaning in life. First, by making a difference in the world through our actions, our work or our creations—referred to as “creative values.” Second, by experiencing something (such as truth, beauty) or encountering someone (love)— “experiential values.” Third, by adopting a courageous and exemplary attitude in situations of unavoidable suffering—“attitudinal values.”

Over the decades, I felt I understood and tried to implement the first and second values; making a difference through actions and having experiences, but never totally understood or felt I was implementing the third, “adopting a courageous and exemplary attitude.” My logic was that I was never “in situations of unavoidable suffering.”

Later, when I became a core faculty member for the program, I heard Carolyn Penny, JD, present, “Why conversations go sideways and what we can do about it.” During her presentation, she shared a video of a TED talk by Ash Beckham about the art of taking a stand. I realized I had daily opportunities to implement Frankl’s “attitudinal values.” Although my situations were not “situations of unavoidable suffering,” they were still situations in which I could display a somewhat “exemplary attitude.” By personally taking a stand in important situations, and more importantly, attempting to understand the situations of others, this is the attitudinal value I now try to implement, especially in the current times.

Louise Ferguson, Ph.D. coordinates and leads the University of California Cooperative Extension (CE) statewide programs for pistachios, table olives and figs. Working with CE farm advisors throughout California, the team coordinates statewide meetings, short courses and field days with strong industry support, including overseas participants. Ferguson is also acclaimed for her international agricultural development work in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. She is recognized as an international leader in knowledge extension related to fruit tree crop production in many countries around the world. She also mentors numerous students, postdocs, visiting scientists and colleagues in California, the U.S., and internationally.