On "Elective Hardship" and Post-Traumatic Growth

The anti-cruise mode for careers

Arthur Brooks writes, “We don’t want to suffer — we hate it, in fact. Yet it is suffering that often brings personal improvement. Not all pain is beneficial, obviously. But researchers have consistently found that most survivors of illness and loss experience “post-traumatic growth.”

Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl endured unimaginable trauma but emerged with a profound understanding of human resilience, developing logotherapy to help others find meaning in suffering. Nelson Mandela, after 27 years in prison, chose reconciliation over revenge, leading South Africa toward peace. Malala Yousafzai, after surviving an assassination attempt, became a global advocate for girls’ education. Similarly, Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey turned their painful pasts into sources of empowerment through literature and media.

The wrong lesson to learn here is that pain causes growth. Associating causality risks celebrating moments of pain in anticipation of a brighter future.

A more appropriate lesson is that pain is both trauma-inducing and inevitable, but it impacts people differently. For some, it can lead to post-traumatic growth. For others, it can be devastating. Some people find a greater emotional maturity after suffering; they are even better prepared to help others deal with their pain. That is why after a loss we turn for comfort to those who have endured a similar loss.

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