Why is life bad if it has what is otherwise considered not-so-good elements?

People hate life when it gets boring, or must suffer through some ailment or difficulty, are confused about the future and frustrated things aren’t as clear as they would like.

I consider these motivators. We wish we never had to face parts of life that just “suck,” but the reality is that they are every much as vital as the parts we really enjoy. First, it helps build an appreciation for what we have and we we don’t. It can lead to contentment and embracing life as we find it, or are able to change it, versus always griping about what we have no control over.

Bored? Good. It motivates you to try something new, get out of a rut and keep moving.

Suffering? Good. It makes you appreciate good times — even if those good times weren’t so hot and flashy — and helps you appreciate other people in worse condition than you.

Confused about life or how to deal with a situation? Good, it makes you learn how to find more information, to introspect yourself and clean up your life and how you deal with people.

Further, simple situations like these prepare you to help others in the future. Life isn’t all about you — God allows us to face difficulties so that we can help others through them. Do you think the best role models in this world are those who have faced nothing and have learned nothing? Or those who have faced everything and come through with raised chin and straight back? (Sometimes only metaphorically, but you get the idea.)

Open your eyes to realize the value of every phase of life. Life isn’t about fleeing discomfort in pursuit of comfort, but about developing from beings easily tossed and changed by the slightest circumstance to stalwart individuals and communities capable of assessing the storm and knowing how best to weather it. That creates longer lasting peace than merely avoiding difficulties.

Imagine a world where people systematically faced coming troubles, actively learned how to deal with and overcome them, and then actively taught successive generations the same techniques, as well as an appreciation for lessons already learned?

Trouble, suffering and conflict of all types are inevitable in life. We can’t hide from it behind money or threat of violence. It can only be accomplished through an attitude of engaging every element of life and learning from it. Do you want to be trampled by the horse or learn how to ride it?

Do you think the first people jumped on the first horses? Nope. They probably ran away from them. But when they learned to master horses, and then wolves (which became dogs), and then the powers of nature — we grew! We became more powerful and intelligent! We advanced! That came from engaging difficulty and overcoming it. If you want the same, you can’t sit on the sidelines — you have to get involved.

So don’t think of these as negative parts of existence, but opportunities to master life!