We all love the hero myth. The tale of the underdog who struggles through pain and obstacles to achieve a goal is universally inspiring but when we encounter that pain for ourselves it becomes a different story. But it’s through challenges that we realize our values, shape our opinions and sharpen our skills.
When it comes to our own journeys many people would like to skip packing the bags, the long uncomfortable flight and the slog through customs when we land but our adventures are made richer through the contrast of good experiences and challenges. Would we care about Frodo & Co. if the the trip to Mordor was a piece of cake?
There are all kinds of pain and the better you become at welcoming it with open arms the faster you’ll grow. I’m not saying you should become a masochist but you should be prepared to accept a challenge. This could be the pain of daily practice, asking for critical feedback, pushing beyond your gut reactions or first drafts or the real pain of pushing yourself physically.
The process of making things isn't easy. If it was easy everyone would do it.