The Choice by Edith Eger, a perspective by Alan Ewing

THE CHOICE BY EDITH EGER

A perspective by Alan Ewing

"The Choice by Edith Eger is an autobiographical work which dove-tails into a psychological strategy for living life in a fulfilling manner, when haunted by the past. The past in Eher's case being Auschwitz, losing her mother and father there, then being forced to dance for the infamous Dr Mengele, and being subjected to treatment as part of a people treated like cattle. The horrors that she was witness to would be capable of damaging even the strongest mind and constitution of any human being.

In looking from personal perspective of the book, then her mother's words ring through. "Just remember that no-one can take away what you have put in your mind."  This on the awful journey to Auschwitz. In this motherly advice is planted a seed which grows and grows into Edith's life and fortifies her with deep strength. It would carry her through pneumonia, typhoid fever, pleurisy and a broken back. All of this on top of the hell on earth that she was in. From all of this came her great work as a therapist.

The thrust of the work is in facing up to whatever the horrors of the past may be and thus releasing oneself within the present. It is never a case of denying the past, rather of accepting it and learning to come to terms with it as life existentially belongs to the here and now. "I help people realise that the biggest prison is their mind" is how Dr Eger puts it. If we put up stumbling blocks to facing our past then we will never be free in the present. This is the epicentre of calm existence. 

Edith Eger's work is heavily influenced by fellow Auschwitz survivor Viktor Frankl', whose seminal work being "Man's Search For Meaning." Carl Rogers and his theories of self-actualisation always play a major role, as she was a student of his also. In this work though, it is Dr Eger's own therapeutic techniques that come through. Her empathy with her patients as she journeys into their unhappiness and the root causes of it. The book is a tremendous testament to the power of positive psychology.

Alan Ewing