values need difficulty
As stated in my previous note, to live true to your values, you need to prove them through your actions.
But here's what's hard to remember — or accept: It's only possible in times when that value is required.
And those are not good times.
Nope.
In fact, those are the most difficult times.
- To be brave, you need to feel fear.
- To be resilient, you need to feel pain.
- To be committed, you need to have attractive alternatives.
I want to emphasize this even further.
- You can't be brave if you have nothing to be afraid of.
- You can't be resilient if you're not hurting so much that giving up starts to creep into consideration.
- You can't be committed if you don't have any worthwhile alternatives — that almost feels crazy to say no to.
Yet, when you actually experience those difficulties, it feels like unjust punishment dropped upon you by some cruel higher power, just for you to suffer pointlessly.
And it feels like suffering in the moment. It's supposed to.
But it's not pointless.
You will look back at them with gratitude. You never wish them on anyone. But maybe you should — a little bit, every now and then. For a good reason.
You need difficult times to prove your values.