--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trauma really does confront you with the…" description: "\"Trauma really does confront you with the best and the worst. You see the horrendous things that people do to each other, but you also see resiliency, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bessel-van-der-kolk-50856_appreciate_trauma-really-does-confront-you-with-the_3230714.jpg" --- # Trauma really does confront you with the best and the… ![“Trauma really does confront you with the best and the worst. You see the horrendous things that people do to each other, but you also see resiliency, the power of love, the power of caring, the power of commitment, the power of commitment to oneself, the knowledge that there are things that are…” quote by Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bessel-van-der-kolk-50856_appreciate_trauma-really-does-confront-you-with-the_3230714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bessel-van-der-kolk-50856_appreciate_trauma-really-does-confront-you-with-the_3230714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bessel-van-der-kolk-50856_appreciate_trauma-really-does-confront-you-with-the_3230714.jpg) > “Trauma really does confront you with the best and the worst. You see the horrendous things that people do to each other, but you also see resiliency, the power of love, the power of caring, the power of commitment, the power of commitment to oneself, the knowledge that there are things that are larger than our individual survival. And in some ways, I don't think you can appreciate the glory of life unless you also know the dark side of life” [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trauma reveals both humanity’s darkest actions and its deepest capacities for love, resilience, and purpose beyond survival. **In simple terms:** Trauma shows both pain and strength. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture resilience amid suffering. Themes trauma resilience love purpose humanity Mood reflective hopeful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - personal healing - community rebuilding Key Concepts psychology post‑traumatic growth meaning‑making Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance acknowledging darkness with fostering hope? - What practices strengthen resilience? A Different Perspective Healing can be hindered by denial or lack of support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-life/) [Dark side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-side/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Resiliency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-resiliency-6110373/) [Power of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-love/) [Resiliency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resiliency/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Trauma Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma-really-3525759/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [Childhood trauma is really what puts the rocket fuel behind addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/childhood-trauma-is-really-what-puts-the-rocket-fuel-behind-addiction/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [“The dark side of life has a way of finding us all anyway, so stop chasing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/the-dark-side-of-life-has-a-way-of-finding-us-all-anyway-so-stop/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I am attracted to the dark side of life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/i-am-attracted-to-the-dark-side-of-life/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [If you enter the dark side of life, and come through it, you emerge with more strength and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/if-you-enter-the-dark-side-of-life-and-come-through-it-you-emerge/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [We all have a dark side. Most of us go through life avoiding direct confrontation with that aspect of ourselves, which I call the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/we-all-have-a-dark-side-most-of-us-go-through-life-avoiding-direct/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [The dark side of life, and the horror of it, belonged to a world that lay remote from his own select little atmosphere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-blackwood/the-dark-side-of-life-and-the-horror-of-it-belonged-to-a-world-that/) [Algernon Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-blackwood/) > [I would never write stories with only despair and defeat and the dark side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-would-never-write-stories-with-only-despair-and-defeat-and-the-dark/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [You can't see the glory of life if you haven't seen the dark side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/you-can-t-see-the-glory-of-life-if-you-haven-t-seen-the-dark-side-of/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [Only in the darkness can you see the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/only-in-the-darkness-can-you-see-the-stars/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-real-tragedy-of-life-is-when-men-are-afraid-of-the-light/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Ninety percent of all prisoners in all jails get out some day. So why not give them a little levity in what's otherwise a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/ninety-percent-of-all-prisoners-in-all-jails-get-out-some-day-so-why/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [“No matter how dark life became, shutting out the hurt was as easy as opening a cover.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kristoff/no-matter-how-dark-life-became-shutting-out-the-hurt-was-as-easy-as/) [Jay Kristoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kristoff/) > [“Looking out over the mezzanine to the endless shelves below, the girl couldn’t help but smile. She’d grown up inside books. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kristoff/looking-out-over-the-mezzanine-to-the-endless-shelves-below-the-girl/) [Jay Kristoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kristoff/) > [“I was living a dark life, where the only bright thing was frosting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-elizabeth/i-was-living-a-dark-life-where-the-only-bright-thing-was-frosting/) [Bailey Elizabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-elizabeth/) > [“Some had come to look upon death as a mercy. Death meant warmth. Death was light. Life was cruel, cold, heavy and dark. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-steadman/some-had-come-to-look-upon-death-as-a-mercy-death-meant-warmth-death/) [Sage Steadman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-steadman/) ## More by Bessel van der Kolk > [“While reliving trauma is dramatic, frightening, and potentially self-destructive, over time a lack of presence can be even more damaging. This is a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/while-reliving-trauma-is-dramatic-frightening-and-potentially-self/) [Bessel Van Der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [The single most important issue for traumatized people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/the-single-most-important-issue-for-traumatized-people-is-to-find-a/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [The parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/the-parent-child-connection-is-the-most-powerful-mental-health/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/traumatized-people-chronically-feel-unsafe-inside-their-bodies-the/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [People have a range of capacities to deal with overwhelming experience. Some people, some kids particularly, are able to disappear into a fantasy world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/people-have-a-range-of-capacities-to-deal-with-overwhelming/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) > [You can't see the glory of life if you haven't seen the dark side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-van-der-kolk/you-can-t-see-the-glory-of-life-if-you-haven-t-seen-the-dark-side-of/) [Bessel van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) [Explore all 7 Bessel van der Kolk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-van-der-kolk/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) [Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trauma really does confront you with the best and the worst. You see the horrendous things that people do to each other, but you also see resiliency, the power of love, the power of caring, the power of commitment, the power of commitment to oneself, the knowledge that there are things that are larger than our individual survival. 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