Fertile Ground for Positive Change
What if some of life’s most difficult experiences – those moments that shake us to our core – could actually become the foundation for something deeply transformative? At Get Mentally Fit, we’ve often explored the idea that trauma and adversity, while undeniably painful, can also create opportunities for growth, resilience, and renewed purpose. So when we came across a recent article featuring Australia’s leading positive psychologists examining this very concept, we were energised – it reaffirmed a belief that many of us intuitively feel: through struggle, we can grow.
This isn’t a new idea. Ancient traditions from the Hebrews and Greeks to early Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam have long recognised suffering as a potential path to wisdom and inner strength. In modern psychology, this idea has been formalised in the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)—a term introduced by psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun. PTG refers to the positive psychological changes that can emerge following trauma, including greater personal strength, deeper relationships, and a stronger sense of meaning and appreciation for life.
While we often hear about the lasting impacts of trauma – like PTSD – it’s important to also consider our capacity to heal and grow. And perhaps, with a little optimistic licence, it’s not too much to consider that in the aftermath of trauma, we may find ourselves standing on extremely fertile ground for personal and collective transformation.
Can Post-Traumatic Growth Be Measured?
So, if we accept that growth can follow trauma – how do we actually know when it’s happening?
Psychologists have developed tools to help us understand and track this process. One of the most well-known is the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun in 1996. This self-report scale looks for positive shifts across five key areas:
A deeper appreciation of life
Stronger relationships with others
A sense of new possibilities
Increased personal strength (Mental Toughness)
And, spiritual change or transformation
Interestingly, the spiritual dimension is currently being updated to include broader, more existential themes. As Tedeschi explains, this shift aims to better reflect cross-cultural perspectives and resonate with people who may not connect with traditional notions of spirituality. It’s a reminder that PTG is not a one-size-fits-all process – it’s deeply personal and shaped by culture, context, and worldview.
Can You Prepare Yourself for Growth?
While PTG often arises after trauma, there’s good news: you can take steps to lay the groundwork for it before adversity strikes. According to Dr. Martin Seligman, Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Centre, individuals are far more likely to experience post-traumatic growth when they have access to support and engage with adversity using a proactive, reflective mindset.
So, how do we prepare ourselves? One of the most valuable things you can do is take stock of your psychological resilience and emotional hardiness right now. Think of it as a self-audit – a mental health check-in that positions you to respond rather than react when life throws its curveballs.
Here are a few powerful reflection questions to guide that process:
What psychological skills do I already have to help me cope with stress or uncertainty?
(And how can I build on these?)Am I actively seeking out ways to enhance my emotional intelligence, problem-solving, or coping strategies?
What beliefs or assumptions am I holding about my current challenges?
(Are they helpful or limiting?)
The way you respond to adversity shapes your growth. And while we can’t always control what happens, we can influence how we frame it. Practicing mindful awareness, reframing your narrative, and compassionately accepting a new reality – even if it’s uncomfortable – can all help cultivate the fertile ground from which post-traumatic growth can emerge.
How we help people with this…
To better equip individuals to respond more proactively and positively to challenging events, at Get Mentally Fit we offer a Mental Fitness Check. This psychometric reliably helps to identify how an individual currently thinks under stress, pressure, and challenge, which helps to design a reliable capability building plan to strengthen their mindset.
Ready to Cultivate a Growth-Oriented Mindset?
Post-traumatic growth reminds us that even in the face of life’s toughest challenges, we can emerge stronger, more connected, and with a renewed sense of purpose. But growth doesn’t have to be left to chance. By proactively strengthening your mindset, you’ll be better prepared to navigate adversity—and thrive through it.
At Get Mentally Fit, we specialise in equipping individuals and teams with evidence-based strategies to build psychological resilience, foster wellbeing, and unlock post-traumatic growth. Whether you’re seeking personal development, team support, or a stronger culture of mental fitness, we’re here to guide you.
📚 Explore related articles in our library to keep learning and building your toolkit:
💬 Get in touch to discover how we can support you or your team to build a positive, mentally fit mindset – so you’re always prepared to handle life’s challenges and grow from every experience.
Your mindset is your most powerful asset. Let’s strengthen it together.
