InnerSelf Daily Inspiration

September 18, 2026

Do We Actually Grow From Adversity?

By Eranda Jayawickreme and Frank J. Infurna

People can indeed grow from adversity. They can become stronger, improve the quality of their relationships and increase their self-esteem. But it probably doesn't happen nearly as often as most people and some researchers believe.

— Eranda Jayawickreme and Frank J. Infurna

In our culture, there's this idea that enduring a tragedy can be good for your personal growth. You'll have a newfound appreciation for life. You'll be grateful for your friends and family. You'll learn from the experience. You'll become more resilient.

We're not the first to grapple with these questions. Psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun have written about how, after experiencing loss or trauma, people reported feeling a greater appreciation for life, closer to their friends and family, stronger, more spiritual and more inspired. They dubbed this phenomenon "post-traumatic growth."

Studies have found that people aren't very good at accurately remembering what they were like before a traumatic event. Or participants will say they've grown from the event when, in fact, they're still struggling. Their reports of growth don't always match what their friends and family think and may not reflect actual changes in their behaviors. Telling others that you've grown might actually be a way to cope with the pain you're still experiencing. Western culture permits little time to grieve; eventually, the expectation is that people are supposed to "get over it and move on."

Read the Full Article

 

Related Book:

* The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It

Psychologist Kelly McGonigal examines the science of stress, resilience, and the ways our beliefs about difficult experiences can influence how we respond to them. Her research-based approach provides a useful companion to questions about whether adversity automatically produces growth, while showing how challenging experiences can sometimes become sources of meaning, connection, and strength.

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Recap

This week’s issue focuses on navigating uncertainty through awareness, emotional insight, and conscious decision-making. With the addition of expanded astrology tools, readers gain both practical and reflective guidance for personal growth and life transitions.

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#PersonalGrowth #EmotionalAwareness #LifeChoices #InnerPeace #SelfAwareness
#Astrology #DailyHoroscope #WeeklyHoroscope #MonthlyHoroscope #PlanetaryInfluence
#Mindfulness #Relationships #HumanBehavior #Transformation #ConsciousLiving

 

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New Attitudes and New Possibilities