Oprah and Bruce Perry Explain the Meaning of "Post-Traumatic Wisdom"
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In honor of their new book, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, psychiatrist Bruce Perry and Oprah sat down together for the latest episode of her new discovery+ Super Soul interview series.
In a clip exclusive to Oprah Daily, Oprah and Dr. Perry reflect on their collaboration and why they decided to co-author this book. What Happened to You? acts as a guide to understanding the impact of childhood trauma and how it can influence the lifelong behavioral patterns that follow you into adulthood. In the video, which you can view above, Oprah asks the brain and trauma expert to explain the phenomenon he calls, "post traumatic wisdom."
"That's referring to the experience where you've been able to get through adversity, and you're now at a safe place in your life and can look back and reflect," he says. "And take what you've learned and use that to see the world differently. You use your pain and transform it to power and help other people. I think of the most transformative people I've ever known, every single one of them had personal pain and traumatic experience that was a core element of who they became."
He goes on: "It didn't crush them...Those people tend to have tremendous empathy for those who are struggling. And they also tend to have wisdom. They are wise about the ability to live with pain and not have so much fear from pain."
To coincide with the book's release on April 27, Oprah is setting out on a virtual book tour throughout April in May in partnership with independent bookstores. Guests are set to include Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell, Rob Lowe, and Arianna Davis, Oprah Daily's senior director of editorial and strategy. You can learn more information about the tour on WhatHappenedToYouBook.com.
Perry and Oprah's conversation will air Saturday, April 24 on discovery+. It'll also be available on the former talk show host's “Super Soul” podcast on Wednesday, April 28.
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