Special Episode: Making Meaning From Trauma (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Making Meaning from Trauma, Siobhan Cunningham explores how to process situational meaning after trauma, reconcile unmet expectations, and rebuild a sense of purpose. Learn strategies for emotional healing, thought reframing, and spiritual growth to move forward with resilience.
Making Meaning from Trauma: Part 2
By Siobhan Cunningham, LCSW | Host of Armed with Ambition
What do you do when life doesn’t make sense?
In Part 2 of Making Meaning from Trauma, we delve deeper into the essential—and often messy—process of understanding life events that shake our foundations. If you missed Part 1, we examined how global beliefs (like control, justice, and predictability) shape the meaning we attach to life events, especially after trauma. In this episode, we take the next step: processing situational meaning after an unexpected or traumatic event and moving toward growth, even when things seem senseless.
Situational Meaning vs. Global Meaning
Situational meaning arises when a stressful event takes place. We instinctively assign appraised meaning based on our instincts and past experiences—our gut reactions. When there's a gap between our expectations and reality, our minds and hearts start searching for deeper meaning.
Breaking Down Appraised Meaning
Instantaneous reactions influence our feelings about an event. Our past experiences—like my story of encountering a black bear in Alaska!—affect how threatened or safe we feel at that moment.
When Life Doesn’t Fit Our Expectations
Violations of our beliefs about what should happen create intense discomfort. Our natural response is to try to narrow this gap, asking "Why?" and striving to make sense of the unexpected.
How to Start the Meaning-Making Process
Making meaning after trauma isn't passive—it’s active and intentional. Strategies include:
Positive Reappraisal: Discovering glimmers of hope even in challenging circumstances.
Problem-Focused Thinking: Concentrating on actionable solutions instead of emotional overwhelm.
Spiritual Reflection: Turning to faith or a sense of greater purpose for comfort and clarity.
We also integrate new information through assimilation and accommodation, which helps us refine our global beliefs over time.
Emotional Processing: Trusting Yourself to Feel
Emotional processing requires courage. Instead of shutting down when emotions get heavy, we learn to:
Trust our ability to handle discomfort.
Recognize that tears, anger, and sadness are natural parts of the healing process.
Allow space for new understanding after you've released your emotions.
The Final Step: Resolution and Acceptance
Resolution isn’t about approving what happened—it’s about accepting reality and moving forward.
You create space for new beliefs, grounded in wisdom gained through adversity.
Sometimes, a "good enough" understanding is enough to live freely again.
A Personal Reflection
In this episode, I discussed how my identity was once connected to what I did instead of who I was, and how trauma taught me to base my leadership and life choices on my personal why, not on others' expectations.
You are not broken.
You are becoming.
Quick Recap: Steps for Making Meaning After Trauma
Appraised Meaning: Notice your gut reactions.
Discrepancies: Identify gaps between expectation and reality.
Meaning-Making Process: Apply positive reframing and problem-solving strategies.
Resolution: Find acceptance and integrate new understanding.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a life event that made no sense—if you’re searching for meaning after everything you thought you knew shifted—this is your reminder: healing is possible. Meaning is possible. A new beginning is possible.
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