“Most people mistakenly believe that happiness is the absence of a load. We want life to be easy, without challenge or difficulty. However, it is by having a load that we can have the traction needed to move forward in our lives.”
— Benjamin Hardy, PhD.
In a world that often teaches us to avoid pain at all costs, we overlook the profound truth that it is through struggle and contrast that we truly grow, expand, and awaken to our purpose.
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The avoidance of pain is, in itself, wounding. This reality — our planet, this life — is built on contrast, growth, and exploration, which means injury is inevitable. But it’s all in how we perceive it.
Our bodies grow stronger through stress and repair: muscles through damaged fibers, bones through microfractures and ossification. We require force and impact to maintain health. We are also deeply shaped by our thoughts and beliefs. We feel, and reason, to achieve purpose — conscious awareness is key.
We’re not automatons. A world without unpredictability would be dull, and time would stagnate. Constriction, whether spiritual, physical, or psychological, goes against our nature and curiosity. The struggles we face are in our best interest, making life interesting when we embrace possibilities. Why not question life with curiosity? What can we affect, other than our reactions and perceptions?
This is why we resist control. We value autonomy, expression, and the individuation of experience. Life is a continuous flow of moments, each shaping our journey, our humanity, and our legacy.
Our reasons for exploring pain are plentiful. Some endure gradual suffering, others choose extremes, transforming the world in the process. Our views on “death” are critical; it’s more important to focus on living than fearing the end.
Life is creative motion. It listens, leads, and gathers the players and circumstances to fulfill our desires. When we remember this, we may find that pain becomes a catalyst for presence, growth, and healing.
Solvitur ambulando