💡 "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." — Haruki Murakami. I dedicate a chapter of my book to how you will undoubtedly struggle against something on your path to success, noting that the way you feel when you're down is totally up to you. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, suffering grants one nothing.
If you think suffering alone can benefit you, you're wrong. For instance, when you take cold showers or an unimaginable amount of overtime work or work out so much, the whole body hurts. These actions taken without a plan will end up causing you suffering — and that's it; statistically, there are no benefits. On the other hand, if you have a plan and execute it, you will have a higher chance of achieving the goal without suffering.
Some people take pride in how much they suffer. They cut off carbs from their diet and feel miserable. They sleep 5-6 hours a day and feel miserable. They dismiss the family because they have "one more thing to take care of at work" and, yes, feel miserable. You must avoid misery at all costs, and the same goes for suffering. Work smarter, not harder. No one will ever pet you on your head because you are so miserable. The most you can get is pity.
Suffering without a purpose (and let's be honest, most of your suffering does not have a purpose) actively hurts your goal of becoming successful. Opportunity costs are everywhere, and when you spend time on unnecessary suffering, you are actively choosing not to spend time on something that advances you on the journey.
In my book, I compare the lives of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Who would you want to become when you grow up? It is tempting to make an uneducated choice toward the life of Elon. Alas, one of them sleeps in the factory — and another has retired with billions and lives the dream life doing whatever he wants.
Choose the dream life over sleeping on the floor. Choose virtue over unnecessary suffering. Choose progress over screaming at the skies for all the troubles the gods send your way.
If you think suffering alone can benefit you, you're wrong. For instance, when you take cold showers or an unimaginable amount of overtime work or work out so much, the whole body hurts. These actions taken without a plan will end up causing you suffering — and that's it; statistically, there are no benefits. On the other hand, if you have a plan and execute it, you will have a higher chance of achieving the goal without suffering.
Some people take pride in how much they suffer. They cut off carbs from their diet and feel miserable. They sleep 5-6 hours a day and feel miserable. They dismiss the family because they have "one more thing to take care of at work" and, yes, feel miserable. You must avoid misery at all costs, and the same goes for suffering. Work smarter, not harder. No one will ever pet you on your head because you are so miserable. The most you can get is pity.
Suffering without a purpose (and let's be honest, most of your suffering does not have a purpose) actively hurts your goal of becoming successful. Opportunity costs are everywhere, and when you spend time on unnecessary suffering, you are actively choosing not to spend time on something that advances you on the journey.
In my book, I compare the lives of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Who would you want to become when you grow up? It is tempting to make an uneducated choice toward the life of Elon. Alas, one of them sleeps in the factory — and another has retired with billions and lives the dream life doing whatever he wants.
Choose the dream life over sleeping on the floor. Choose virtue over unnecessary suffering. Choose progress over screaming at the skies for all the troubles the gods send your way.