“Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.” –Jeannette Walls

There is no operating manual for being human. Nowhere is it written in the mythical handbook for life that it should be easy, without pain and suffering, or bypassing hard things that make us better humans.

The recipe for a happier life is not in eradicating all badness from the human experience. It is unequivocally impossible to inoculate ourselves from ever experiencing traumatic events.

So what does that mean?

To have a good life we must be willing to slay the dragons that come with it. When life throws lemons, make lemonade. Sounds trite but true.

Thriving and Flourishing Through Post-Traumatic Growth

Experiencing trauma can be an incredibly difficult ordeal, but it can also present the opportunity for personal growth and transformation.

This concept, known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), emphasizes the positive transformation that can arise from overcoming adversity. By focusing on thriving and flourishing, we can harness the power of our experiences to cultivate resilience and enhance well-being.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth

Thriving and flourishing despite negative events offer a reward through the gifts of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). Experiencing trauma can be an incredibly difficult ordeal, but it can also present the opportunity for personal growth and transformation.

Post-traumatic growth is the process of finding positive change after experiencing significant trauma. It involves a shift in perspective that leads to greater personal strength, deeper relationships, a renewed appreciation for life, and a renewed sense of possibility. Unlike simply surviving, PTG is about thriving and flourishing in the aftermath of hardship.

Strategies for Thriving and Flourishing

Practice Positive Psychology: Engage in practices that promote positive thinking and emotional resilience. Techniques such as mindfulness, gratitude journaling, and positive affirmations can help shift your mindset from a focus on suffering to one of growth and possibility.

• Seek Supportive Relationships
• Set Goals and Find Purpose
• Prioritize Self-Care
• Reflect and Learn
• Cultivate Resilience

Thriving and Flourishing Beyond Trauma

Thriving and flourishing after trauma does not mean denying or minimizing the pain of our experiences. It is about crafting a narrative that transforms the pain into a source of strength and wisdom. By embracing post-traumatic growth, we can find new pathways toward a happier and more fulfilling life by turning our traumas into strong foundations for a brighter future.

Wherever we focus our attention is where we will find ourselves.

Like what you’re reading? Want more consciously prepared brain food about this topic?

Listen to this Harvesting Happiness episode: Labors of Life: Thrive and Flourish No Matter What with Brandi Sellerz-Jackson or wherever you get your podcasts.

Take an even deeper dive with More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness on Substack and Medium.

GUEST BIO: Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a storyteller, birth and postpartum doula, and the creator of Not So Private Parts, a resource removing the shame and stigma surrounding women’s issues. She is the co-founder of Moms in Color, a Black mom collective centered around celebrating diversity in the motherhood space, and she is also the senior manager of social media for Ergobaby, a leading brand in babywearing and attachment parenting. She has been featured in Oprah Daily, USA Today, Essence, and MOTHER, among other outlets.

Website: http://notsoprivateparts.life/

Keep Reading…

• What War Can Teach Us About Life
• Facing the Unavoidable: How Trauma Touches Us All
• 5 Ways to Reframe Life Challenges
• Endlessly Yearning for More of Everything? Find Happiness through Self-Love and Growth
• 8 Tips for Finding Happiness on a Daily Basis