A traumatic event doesn't doom us to suffer indefinitely. Instead, we can use it as a springboard to unleash our best qualities and lead happier lives.

The quote frames trauma not as a life sentence but as a potential catalyst for post-traumatic growth. McGonigal emphasizes human agency: while we can’t erase what happened, we can choose responses that cultivate strengths—resilience, gratitude, purpose, social connection—and thereby improve well-being. The “springboard” metaphor suggests that suffering can propel development rather than merely diminish us, aligning with positive psychology research that some people report increased meaning and capability after adversity. Importantly, the claim is aspirational rather than minimizing: it implies that recovery and flourishing are possible outcomes, especially when individuals actively engage in practices that support healing and growth.