“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

― Bruce Lee

 

Last summer I was trying to teach my son how to swim.  He was improving, and could just make it across side-to-side in the shallow end, and felt very proud (and to be honest, I felt a bit of pride too).  He then looked at the deep end and said “That’s too scary over there, it’s way too deep.  I’m NEVER going to the deep end.”

I didn’t think about it in the moment, but it does reflect our outlook in life at times:

• Taking the job or going to school across the country is too far from home.
• Asking that someone who is out of my league out on a date.
• I’ll do the 10k, but no way will I try a marathon, even though I’d like to.

While it would be nice to have an ‘easy’ life, this isn’t necessarily the ‘best’ life:

• My career is stalled because I didn’t take the job across the country
• I feel like I “settled” in my current relationship and am not really enjoying it
• I’ll never know what it’s like to finish an endurance race.

The ideal pathway isn’t always the easiest one.  I can “run” a mile in 60 minutes without sweating, but I haven’t really stressed my body, and therefore haven’t exercised.  I can buy an online degree from an unaccredited school without any coursework, but I won’t really learn anything, nor will I likely be hired.

Learning to handle stressful situations, especially through failure, can bring confidence in the ability to cope with future similar issues.  This approach can be difficult and slow, but in the end allows one to handle a greater range of issues and situations, rather than fearfully worrying about the “what ifs” of a difficult path.