Learning It The Hard Way and Why It Pays

It is usually through life experiences that we learn, and often through bitter ones, too. Not the most comfortable or enjoyable route, learning through challenges indeed builds character, definite resilience, and a good base for whatever the future has in store. I will say this: I had my own fair share of lessons learned the hard way, and though these proved a painful process then, it is one that has substantially paid off big time. Be it having to go through years of schooling, making personal decisions to stand up for values considered important, or even learning new skills, the challenges I went through made me better than ever.

I learned from one of the most important areas: while in school. Just like most, I have had my good and bad moments in my school life. Yes, there were achievements, but they didn't come on a silver platter. From the long hours of studying to the mental pressure and having to maintain focus in the midst of numerous distractions, that was just it. This is something to which all students can relate, especially to the higher levels of education.

It is a stage in life when demands are high and expectations even greater, for that matter. These struggles, though, as I now look back, were meant to be. They were the ones that taught me how to persevere and managed my time so as to go through difficult times. This feeling of accomplishment was greater than it had been when everything else used to come easy. It's so easy to slip into bad lifestyles when the world encourages them, but making strong decisions to live with purpose and faith do have their rewards.

It is not an easy journey, but more often than not, the fulfillment from feeling true to oneself and one's beliefs far outweighs the momentary temptations of easy pleasures. Another area in which the struggle can be real is learning any new skill. Be it learning to play a musical instrument, knowing how to code, or even learning a new language, frustrations and mistakes are always present during the initial stages. You should know that success is never instantaneous, and the journey of working through the tough times is what builds mastery.

Unfortunately, we are living in a generation where instant gratification is an order of the day. It is actually disheartening when one sees the way young people want life to be easy nowadays with minimum required effort. Having a tendency to seek shortcuts in life, sometimes for building a career or in personal growth is understandable, but a person who has never experienced challenges lacks the potential for development through the process of surmounting the obstacle.

Without this ability to stand adversity, long-term success cannot be attained. While it is not easy, learning the hard way is an absolute necessity for growth and success. Be it education, wrong or right choices of life, or development of some skills, difficulties always stand tall to shape up one's character and skill for facing life. In addition, the rewards of perseverance and resilience are far greater than temporary discomforts. While the easiest route may often be appealing, only in facing challenges and learning from them are people more 'equipped' to face whatever life throws their way.