When you’re in the midst of a life crisis, when clarity of thought has gone and you’re at a loss to know what to do next, it’s hard to imagine that this trauma could lead to positive change. But the concept that a personal hardship and crisis can lead to positive change is a common theme that has appeared in religion and philosophy teachings for thousands of years. But research and psychology have proved just that. Psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun identified that a positive psychological change can be experienced by up to two-thirds of people who experience trauma.
It’s important to note that with Post-Trauma Transformation (PTT), progress does not come out of the trauma itself, but rather the coping and dealing with the new reality of life after a stressful event. Research has shown that more victims experience growth than develop psychiatric disorders.
People who experienced traumatic events and were able to turn things around discovered the following benefits of post-traumatic growth:
- A greater appreciation for life
- New priorities in life
- An improvement or renewed relationships with family and friends
- Increased personal strength
- A more rewarding career path
- Spiritual growth
It’s estimated that with the right process, around 90% of trauma survivors will experience one of these. However, before we look at how the above can flood into our lives and create a platform for growth, let’s take a look at the three general phases a transformation following trauma follows:
1. An ending
This could be an ending to a lifestyle, a life, an emotion, freedom, innocence, health …whatever the trauma brings, it brings with it an ending. It may be abrupt or creep up but is from there that phase two begins.
2. Confusion and distress
A person can be thrown into a state of flux, confusion, and distress. Emotions spiral and the subconscious part of the mind begins to work overtime. This is the phase where PTT processes work hard, are powerful, and help to steer the outcome.
3. A new beginning
As a result of the PTT process, green shoots begin to emerge and are given far more energy and attention because of the experiences that the trauma has brought.
Trauma brings endings but with those come new beginnings.
So, let’s take a look at the six areas of growth that can occur through PTT.
A greater appreciation for life
Trauma often threatens what people value most in their lives, and the recovery process can result in a greater sense of gratitude for things that often go unnoticed. Trauma might shift your priorities and increase your appreciation for the value of life as well as the everyday things you otherwise take for granted.
New priorities and possibilities in life
When we get stuck in a routine, our priorities very rarely change. Our hopes of career enhancement, new material possessions, homes, dreams, and desires become fairly rigid. When a life crisis occurs, it leads us to question and realise what really matters to us. If we lose someone we care for, for example, we tend to prioritise our own health. As we adapt to change, making more authentic, natural priorities become more important.
An improvement or renewed relationships with family and friends
Traumatic events often allow you to discover the care and concern others might be willing to show during your recovery. Many people report experiencing growth and improvement in their relationships. They also become more empathetic and supportive of others, as a result of the struggles that they’ve been through. Accepting support from others, reaching out for help, expressing emotions, offering support, and learning you can count on others during times of trouble all serve to strengthen the connection you might feel to those around you.
Increased personal strength
When people experience trauma, they often find opportunities to learn more about how to manage hard situations, which can result in unearthing or discovering strengths they possess that they might never have imagined. Acknowledging personal strengths and an individual’s uniqueness is a very large part of the Emerge plus process.
A more rewarding career path
Sometimes trauma closes the door to goals that people set out to accomplish – for most of us, we get swept away by careers and ‘the established ways of doing things’ and lose our authenticity. We lose a grip of our true values and forget to say no to certain things. In many ways, trauma and the following healing process can be a time to wipe the slate clean, re-establish priorities and closely held values, then identify new goals for their lives, some can see new pathways and possibilities they never knew existed.
Spiritual growth and enhancement
Following trauma, it’s common to try and make sense of what and why things happened the way they did. Delving deep into what really matters and why it matters while adjusting our spiritual perspective can lead to greater clarity about life’s meaning and purpose. Those who experience trauma often develop a deeper sense of connection to something larger than themselves, whether spiritual or religious in nature or just the energy of the world as a whole – a faith in the power of love or a deeper connection to nature.
The goal of Post-Trauma Transformation is not only to heal, but also to flourish.
“I discovered that I’m stronger than I thought I was”
“I know that I can handle difficulties better”
“I changed my priorities about what is important in life”
Emerge plus is a six-day reorientation plan that helps people who are experiencing difficult, painful, or confusing times following loss, trauma, or setbacks.
The process is a unique blend of techniques delivered in a 12-step journey of discovery and spiritual enlightenment, leading ultimately to self-fulfilment, self-confidence, focus, motivation, and self-love