Post Traumatic Growth

Some work got me thinking recently about the growth that follows recessions. Organisations are forced to go lean and it appears that induces some innovation which helps them leap forward once the recession is over. I was still contemplating this when I got a little write-up about how this affects everyday people! The article was titled Post Traumatic Growth, PTG.

“Just as there is a condition known as ‘post-traumatic stress,’ researchers are now talking about ‘post-traumatic growth.’ One line of thinking is that adversity can lead to growth. Another is that the highest levels of growth cannot be achieved without adversity. But adversity doesn’t automatically bring growth. Much of the outcome depends on how you respond to adversity.

“Ernest Hemingway wrote, ‘Sooner or later, the world breaks everyone, and those who are broken are strongest in the broken places.’ Sometimes that’s true. But sometimes people write beautiful things and believe them to be true-or hope they’re true- and yet they don’t help. Hemingway himself had a brokenness that ended his life because the pain was too great. On the other hand Joseph, who was betrayed by his family, falsely accused of rape and unjustly imprisoned, looked back and said, ‘…God intended it all for good…’ (Genesis 50:20).

“The key to post-traumatic growth is in seeing God in all things, drawing close to Him, trusting Him when you can’t understand the situation, and knowing He only has your best interests at heart. When it comes to serving God there are two sides to the coin: success and suffering. We like the first, and try to avoid the second. But they’re both part of God’s plan. God called Paul into the ministry, saying, ‘I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake’ (Acts 9:16). But hard times didn’t make Paul doubt his faith, or the God he served: ‘No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.’ (Rom 8:37).” **

In the course of recessions, organisations cut back on all resources as demand drops. This inadvertently increases efficiency. Avenues are sought to optimise operations; to make the most of what is available. This avenues remain in operation after the economy has picked up. This appears to bring something exceedingly good out of recessions.
But then not all organisations survive the recessions! Doesn’t this suggest that those who endure and push through the hard times eventually fall into great growth? I remember an instruction I once read about driving-in-heavy-rain: don’t stop! Why? Rains result from clouds, and every cloud has boundaries. If you keep driving, you will drive away from under the cloud onto dry ground!
Push through!

From today, the posts go monthly!

**Quote from UCB Word for today.