Key Concepts
What does “creating meaning” mean in recovery?
Finding purpose or understanding in your experiences, even difficult ones.
What are personal values?
Beliefs or principles that guide your decisions and behavior.
What is resilience?
The ability to bounce back or recover from challenges.
True or False: Growth can happen through pain.
True.
Why is meaning important for recovery?
It gives motivation, direction, and helps you stay grounded when things get hard.
How do hobbies relate to meaning-making?
They provide joy, skill-building, and a sense of purpose.
How can finding meaning make you stronger?
It helps you view challenges as part of your growth, not the end of your story.
True or False: You can only learn lessons from positive experiences.
False — hard times often teach the most.
Name one way people create meaning after trauma.
Helping others, personal growth, spirituality, setting goals, etc.
What is perseverance or commitment to values?
Taking small steps toward something important to you, even when it’s hard, shows this
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through hard times?
Open Reflection
Why is it helpful to look for lessons in the past?
It helps you learn, heal, and make better choices in the future.
How does reflecting on past experiences help create meaning?
It helps learn lessons and guide future choices.
What’s the difference between a goal and a value?
A goal is something you do; a value is something you live by.
What advice would you give someone who feels like giving up?
Open reflection; encourages empathy and hope.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned about forgiveness — either toward yourself or others?
Forgiveness helps release anger and promotes healing.