The Task Must Be Made Difficult

"The task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted." — The Journals of Kierkegaard

Challenge, adversity, complexity—even enemies. These things, when viewed in hindsight, serve many purposes. But let’s focus on one: they exist to separate the winners from the losers.

Overcome great difficulty—in war, in sports, in business—and you become a model of resilience, an example of courage, a hero. And what is a hero? Perhaps Andrew Bernstein described it best:

"A hero is someone of high moral stature and great ability who relentlessly pursues their goals despite formidable opposition. True heroism lies not in victory, but in unwavering devotion to the good. No obstacle can deter the great from their chosen path. If one remains true to rational values, never yielding, never betraying one’s soul, and relentlessly pursuing excellence, if one embodies all this and never cries for mercy, then one is a hero, even in failure." 

Waste no more time arguing what a great man or woman should be, echoing Marcus Aurelius, but Be One. Go out there, today, this year and pursue difficulty, embrace challenge, and laugh in the face of your enemies.. If you encourage yourself daily, if you strengthen your mind and body daily, if you educate your heart and soul, you have nothing to fear.

You will win. 

Cancelo Alvarez