In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning.

Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

Last year was rough and tough. It still is… just a reduced amount.  Humanity was hit hard due to the global pandemic that resulted in many people experiencing trauma and exceedingly high stress/and burnout levels. I’m not sure why we don’t have the tools to address this proactively, but I will leave that for another post.

Trauma and high stress are difficult to overcome and require tremendous effort and perseverance. However, positive psychologists outline coping trajectories that result in positive outcomes such as Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), suggesting that people can thrive and experience self-improvement after experiencing life challenges or trauma. The reality is to go through it, not under or around it.

Post-Traumatic Growth is shown when people transform in the aftermath of stress and sorrow, which results in favorable psychological changes and higher levels of well-being (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995)

Do any of these positive transformations resonate with you?