After the Darkest Hour: How Suffering Begins the Journey to Wisdom

by Kathleen A. Brehony

In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to Good People , a book that explains the transformative power of suffering

Most people understand that suffering and sorrow are inevitable parts of every life and that illness, death, or loss of a loved one are universal experiences, not retribution or a symptom of bad luck. But few of us comprehend the ways in which suffering can give rise to growth.
In this sensitive and caring book, Kathleen Brehony describes the experiences of people who have endured life's trials and consequently found deeper spiritual and psychological meaning in their lives. Drawing on a rich selection of mythological and religious stories from many faiths, Berhony provides a historical and cultural context that enriches the meaning of these deeply personal tales.
After the Darkest Hour explores the qualities--psychological, behavioral, and spiritual--of those who have turned periods of pain and suffering into opportunities for growth and renewal. The final chapters offer exercises that will help readers approach the difficult situations they face in a more conscious, enlightened way, as well as specific suggestions for creating personal healing rituals.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2000

About the author

Kathleen Brehony is a personal and executive coach whose work blends decades of experience as a psychologist, writer, speaker, and media personality. Guided by the belief that people already hold the inner resources needed for growth, she helps clients pursue meaningful goals and live with purpose. A former Jungian-oriented psychotherapist, she spent more than twenty years in private practice and has taught at the university level while leading workshops on creativity, spirituality, and life transitions.
Kathleen is the author of several acclaimed books, including Awakening at Midlife, Ordinary Grace, After the Darkest Hour, and Living a Connected Life. Her work has inspired national media features, including a PBS special based on Awakening at Midlife. Alongside her writing and coaching, she has contributed widely to radio, television, and print, always aiming to bring insight to a broad audience.

Reviews

[Janice Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discuss this book on my blog post: Pain, Part 4 "What Others Have Said about Pain and Suffering" at www.appalachianmorning.blogspot.com. It's a profound book, get it in hardcover if you can because you'll refer to it often as you go through life. It is not a religious book, but Brehony does offer insights into suffering from various religious perspectives, as well as philosophy, and psychology. The author states she undertook to write this book because she wondered why some people crumble under the weight of suffering, while others come out the other side of it stronger and more compassionate. She discusses questions such as why bad things happen to good people and yet doesn't answer the why, other than to state that those who accept that life is unfair and that suffering is a part of life are better equiped to cope with hard times.

There is a lot of information and wisdom in this book and I have not yet finished reading it, as you can read some, muse on it, and then go back and glean more. I recommend this book. It is one of the books I value most on my bookshelf.

[Jean Carlton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read in 2001
This title transferred from my old 'records' notebook.
My notes say - "How suffering begins the journey to wisdom. After an explanation of the ancient Wheel of Life or Wheel of Fortune this quote:
"If we are wise and strong and willing to entertain the notion of hope, we a emerge psychologically and spiritually transformed by our experiences on the wheel of change we all ride."

Change is the natural order of the universe and change always incorporates loss.

Pretty powerful! May warrant a re-read...(2020)

[Edith Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very worthwhile book to read and has helped me immensely at 61 finally deal with the childhood traumas I suffered .However I think it's sort of it's just about learning ways to bear the burden and emerge from them " bloody and battered'. It could do with a talking about a defiant joy in life and learning to appreciate nature, God, and wonder of sexual love and spiritual love in marriage and the importance of family and all these other ways that life is indeed joyful not something to primarily experience grief in.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explore how suffering can be a powerful force for good in the lives of the people who learn the lessons that are available to them. Material for a variety of faiths and traditions are discussed, demonstrating that suffering is a universal experience, and that many traditions have learned to let suffering bring about growth. As a general survey, this book could be given 4 stars, but for me it's only 3 because I believe it fails to fully capture how God uses suffering to draw us closer to Him.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I'd give the first half of the book five stars. I borrowed this from the library, but have put it on my list to buy; it would have had lots of markings if it had been mine.