On Suffering.
It’s gonna happen. Might as well make it meaningful.
There are two kinds of suffering: meaningless suffering and meaningful suffering.
Most people endure—what’s more, cling to—meaningless suffering.
Why? Because they’re familiar with it. It’s in their control. At least they predict it.
- They know the bottle of Jack Daniels will be half-full when they get home from the job they hate.
- They know their boyfriend is verbally and physically abusive.
- They know they’re going to wake up tomorrow only to relive the same terrible day over and over again.
These people will suffer their entire lives and be none the wiser because at least it feels like them.
Speaking as somebody who spent twenty-years in meaningless suffering, let me tell you, it doesn’t have to continue.
There is another way.
(Unfortunately, there’s still going to be suffering).
The way out of meaningless suffering is to aim for the highest possible good in your life.
Let that marinate for a moment: the way out of meaningless suffering is to aim for the highest possible good in your life.
Soon after you do so, all suffering in your life instantly has meaning.
Why? How?
Because its hardening you.
Because its making you stronger.
Because its equipping you with the skills you need to overcome obstacles.
Because its serving as lessons you can pass on to future mentees.
Harry Potter had to suffer in order to gain the strength he needed to defeat Lord Voldemort.
Neo had to suffer in order to defeat the agents.
Katniss Everdeen had to suffer in order to win the Hunger Games.
Do you get it?
“But Hunter, how do you change your suffering from meaningless to meaningful?”
Simple. Aim higher than your current position.
And if you’re brave enough to aim higher than your current position, then you might as well aim as high as you possibly can and become the hero—rather than the victim—of your own story.
There’s no way out of suffering in this thing we call, “life.” And let’s be real: you’re gonna die. So if you’re going to suffer, (which you are) then it might as well be with a fuck ton of meaning attached to it.
To meaningful suffering,
Hunter
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