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When Suffering Is Confused for Strength

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Needless suffering rarely leads to personal growth.

Resilience comes from freeing ourselves of unnecessary harm, not from re-experiencing it.

Perseverance can help us survive pain, but resilience can help us evolve beyond it.

We’ve all heard the expression, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” On the one hand, this phrase brilliantly encourages us to evolve through discomfort; to keep pushing through so we can come out stronger on the other side. From this perspective, we cannot grow if we don’t push ourselves out of our comfort zones and feel uncomfortable at times, mentally or physically.

On the other hand, this phrase can become an excuse to stay in a situation when conditions are poor. While we know pain equals gain at the gym, that is not always true in relationships, careers, friendships, finances, or other life circumstances. Discomfort doesn't always lead to evolution. Sometimes it's just needless suffering: pain that will not likely enlighten us just from the continued experience of it. Walking away from things, people, and places that could harm you or have harmed you doesn't make you a coward; it makes you the bravest version of yourself yet.

The Sunk Cost Fallacy

Letting........

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