I've been reframing what suffering and struggle mean to me. I had a tough childhood (strict parents, bullying). As an adult things got easier for a while. Without realizing it, I think I turned to running marathons as a way to bring back some "suffering" and meaning into my life. Now though, everyone (including me) seems on edge about the future, especially with the inevitable loss of jobs due to AI automation. And that's actually why I decided to start this new chapter in my life centered on resiliency and learning self-sufficient skills. We don't necessarily need to apply extreme forms of suffering (marathoners are kinda crazy, lol), but everyone can be a bit more proactive and add smaller doses of "struggle" back in, one skill at a time, like cooking instead of ordering out. That kind of stuff compounds and is just as effective as adding meaning back to life.
There’s of course a difference between the challenges we choose and the suffering we endured because we had no choice but to endure it. I’m sure you know this, and that’s why you put suffering in quotes when talking about the marathons. So maybe your marathons were about proving what you could do when you pushed yourself… though that push can go too far. I had not known of that “crazy” aspect to marathoners, but as a person who’s frequently being labeled an overachiever, I can see it. I’m glad you’re finding softer achievements that build resilience. Thanks for sharing.
How might you reframe your troubling experiences the way Joseph has?
I love watching this powerful relationship unfold!
Me, too.
I've been reframing what suffering and struggle mean to me. I had a tough childhood (strict parents, bullying). As an adult things got easier for a while. Without realizing it, I think I turned to running marathons as a way to bring back some "suffering" and meaning into my life. Now though, everyone (including me) seems on edge about the future, especially with the inevitable loss of jobs due to AI automation. And that's actually why I decided to start this new chapter in my life centered on resiliency and learning self-sufficient skills. We don't necessarily need to apply extreme forms of suffering (marathoners are kinda crazy, lol), but everyone can be a bit more proactive and add smaller doses of "struggle" back in, one skill at a time, like cooking instead of ordering out. That kind of stuff compounds and is just as effective as adding meaning back to life.
There’s of course a difference between the challenges we choose and the suffering we endured because we had no choice but to endure it. I’m sure you know this, and that’s why you put suffering in quotes when talking about the marathons. So maybe your marathons were about proving what you could do when you pushed yourself… though that push can go too far. I had not known of that “crazy” aspect to marathoners, but as a person who’s frequently being labeled an overachiever, I can see it. I’m glad you’re finding softer achievements that build resilience. Thanks for sharing.