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Trauma is a part of life that many of us encounter. What matters is not the trauma itself, but how we handle it. For some, unresolved trauma leads to further pain, where we might inflict hurt on others, continuing a cycle of suffering. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. We often see people who’ve lived through traumatic experiences yet found a way to embrace forgiveness and love. They’ve turned their painful experiences into profound lessons.
The challenge isn’t just to heal the trauma but to recognize how we relate to it. When we blame our wounds for our actions, we risk becoming the very creators of more trauma. But when we face our relationship with trauma, we start to see that it’s not what breaks us or defines us as victims. It’s an opportunity for growth, understanding, compassion, and an enduring capacity for forgiveness and love.
In every garden, storms are inevitable. They may uproot plants and leave a scene of devastation, but from the wreckage, new life emerges. Think of trauma as that storm in the garden of life. It affects us all, tearing at our roots and shaking our foundations.
Some see only the destruction and become trapped in pain, even spreading it to others. Others, however, find beauty in the aftermath. We learn from the chaos and grow stronger, with a deeper understanding of letting go.
What’s the difference? It’s how we choose to navigate the storm’s aftermath. We can become entangled in the debris, letting it define us and our relationships. Or, we can take ownership of our journey, clearing the path and nurturing the new growth that arises.
It’s not the trauma itself that shapes us, but our response to it. By embracing the lessons rather than dwelling on the wounds, we cultivate a garden of empathy and love. This perspective opens the door to a world where trauma becomes not a permanent scar but a turning point towards greater self-awareness and healthier living.
“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.” ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Related: What’s Behind Us and What’s Ahead?