Choosing Wisdom

We all know the saying, "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger," but is that really true? After all, for some people, traumatic experiences ultimately lead to truly debilitating outcomes. For others though, adversity really does seem to lead to "post-traumatic growth" where individuals move through suffering and find their lives changed in positive ways as a result. Why does this growth happen for some people and not others? How exactly does it happen? Can the positive results be purposefully replicated? These are the central questions of a new study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Virginia. They share their findings, along with practical advice and inspiring stories, in their new book Choosing Wisdomand the companion PBS documentary of the same name. Based on interviews with two distinct populations-medical patients coping with chronic pain and physicians coping with having been involved in serious medical errors- Choosing Wisdomdelves into how average people respond to adversity, how they change, and what factors help or hinder positive change. Through these interviews, the authors chart each person's journey, and though the circumstances of each case may be unique, the commonalities are remarkable. By paying careful attention to the journeys of these exemplars, this cutting-edge research will shed new light on how we can grow, change, and develop wisdom through adversity. It will be a welcome source of inspiration for anyone facing their own difficult journey and for those who seek to aid them along the way.

Dr. Margaret Plews-Ogan is associate professor of medicine and chief of the Division of General Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Medicine at the University of Virginia. She is also lead investigator and director of the UVA Center for Appreciative Practice, a positive culture transformation initiative. Dr. Justine E. Owens is associate professor in the UVA Department of Medicine and has served on the faculty there for the past twenty-two years. She is also the author of numerous publications on alternative therapies for pain management. Dr. Natalie May is associate professor of research in the UVA Department of Medicine. She is the lead author of Appreciative Inquiry in Healthcare: Positive Questions to Bring Out Your Best and a faculty member in the UVA Center for Appreciative Practice.