Worthwhile Difficulty

Bring it on.

Not all difficult experiences are worthwhile, but most worthwhile experiences are difficult. 

While not always pleasant, we long to sacrifice for the things that matter. It’s not that we are gluttons for punishment. Rather, we want to be part of something larger than ourselves.

Many of the best things in life involve some difficulty: committing oneself to another person, providing for a family, diving into one’s vocation, or building a community.

Russ Roberts asks, "Who with eyes open would willingly choose a path that promises the possibility of more suffering and heartache than joy and delight? Who volunteers for heartache and unease?"

Roberts responds, “Human beings.” 

He continues, “We like a challenge. It’s why people write haiku, join the army when there’s a war on, scale seemingly unscalable heights just because they’re there, run marathons, volunteer for work without pay. Pain, especially when it’s in service of an ideal, can be a source of meaning. That doesn’t make us irrational. It often makes us admirable."

Of course, harder doesn't necessarily mean better or more virtuous. We don't need to clean the floor with a toothbrush when a mop would suffice.

Still, many of the most beautiful things in life are also the toughest. Working hard to create something despite the struggle is one of the great joys in life.