Jolt

Coming back from the bad to bring out the good Jolt: From Trauma to Transformation tells the stories of people who not only survive trauma, but experience profound growth in its aftermath. Journalist and author Mark Miller introduces you to people who have suffered a range of painful life events: the loss of children or spouses; breast cancer, strokes and blindness; plane crashes, terror attacks, explosions and tsunamis. Some are ordinary people in everyday walks of life, and others are well-known figures in their fields. They have one thing in common: their struggles with trauma transformed them. Psychologists who have studied the phenomenon call it post-traumatic growth. Driven by a need to put their lives back together, jolt survivors are on a mission to find meaning and purpose. Many become more compassionate toward the plight of others - and become advocates and activists who are changing the world. Some move into new careers and remake their worldview and personalities. For others, the changes are subtle, and more internal. They find that things that once mattered - like accumulating material wealth - no longer have meaning.Relationships with family and friends take on new importance. And for some, the change might be no more complicated than savoring the beauty of everyday life. A new sense of confidence, and willingness to take risk, is another common response. Jolt examines how some people not only survive these traumatic jolts but emerge stronger. What is it like to undergo such painful, profound change? And, what lessons do their stories offer to those of us who haven t undergone trauma but still are seeking to change our lives or who might wonder how we would react to a jolt of our own? What lessons can we learn from these stories of jolt transformations? Do the experiences of trauma survivors teach us anything about how we can become more altruistic, empathetic, appreciative of life or spiritually fit without experiencing a direct jolt? And can we learn anything about getting through our own life jolts, large and small? These stories of transformation will push you to think about your own life and your own outlook.Jolt addresses these questions: * Where do jolt survivors find the inner strength to bounce back and change their lives * How does the pursuit of meaning and purpose drive some jolt survivors to take on causes and fight for change in the world? * How does their sense of self change? * What is the process of change? * What role does religion and spirituality play in the process of growth and recovery? * Who is most likely to experience post-traumatic growth - and who is not?