One of the best books I’ve read in recent years is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I was particularly fond of the first third where the main character, Edmond Dantes, finds himself serving a long prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. The prose draws the reader into Edmond’s deteriorating psychological state as he rots away in a dark, damp cell. The conditions are so nightmarish and Dantes is so powerless, that the reader can’t help but put themselves into that same awful situation and thereby gain appreciation for their own lives and the simple everyday freedoms that we so often take for granted.

If I'm ever feeling depressed, I’ll think back to Edmond Dantes in jail and allow myself some time to be grateful for all the freedoms I have. The Count of Monte Cristo is just one fictional example, but there are many ways this same process of comparison and perspective can be used to put ourselves into a more positive mindset.

This new way of viewing life got me thinking about the challenges and hardships I’ve gone through, and how the periods with the greatest challenges and mental struggles have often made me a much stronger and more capable person. While times of comfort and ease made me weaker and emotionally vulnerable.

For example, I was unemployed for quite a while a few years back. The future seemed uncertain and dark. This period was somewhat difficult, but I also noticed how it hardened me and provided me with an assertiveness that allowed me to focus on big-picture issues. Nowadays, I’m back in a comfortable position and the trivial details of life affect me once again. It's as though the difficult times are required, as they humble you and help you see what’s important.

I also noticed a similar phenomenon when I went backpacking for a few months in my early twenties. It wasn’t an unpleasant experience, but it was a challenging experience. I was constantly forced to push myself out of my comfort zone and deal with situations that were new to me. Again, after spending a few months doing this, I found myself feeling more capable of taking on any challenge.

Challenges bring us into direct contact with reality. They sober us, ground us, and provide the perspective needed to appreciate the stability and comfort that come as a reward for overcoming them. When we face obstacles, we’re forced to confront our limitations and push beyond them.

However, the mental toughness that develops from being hardened by life’s realities is often missing for many of us who live in developed countries, have had a good upbringing, and are financially secure. The ease and convenience of this lifestyle can inadvertently create mental weakness. Without significant hardships to test us, we may find ourselves ill-equipped to handle even minor setbacks.

The human mind always seems eager to create new problems for itself. In the absence of real suffering and struggle, a sense of uneasiness can emerge from nothing. We might find ourselves restless, dissatisfied, or anxious without understanding why — simply because we lack meaningful challenges to engage us.

Meaning is the key word to focus on here. If you think about it, meaning is often produced through challenge. A life with no conflict soon loses its juice. Perhaps challenges aren’t the source of our suffering but are essential to allow us to fully live.

And with that in mind, maybe it’s time we reframe how we view challenging situations. Instead of attempting to escape them, it might be more beneficial to seek them out.

One way to think about this approach is building resistance. Life as a human being is tough. Even the existential bind alone is difficult to come to grips with. As we seemingly have no choice but to deal with repeated hardships, are we not better off strengthening ourselves on our own accord? Thereby being more prepared to face the bigger challenges when they do present themselves.

If you can push through, you’ll soon become superhuman in your ability to face the cold winds of life head-on and with a smile. And your glowing appreciation for simple pleasures will brighten your life in ways most people are never able to access.

Embodying this principle doesn’t mean you should purposely put yourself into terrible situations, but look for experiences that have the potential to strengthen your fortitude and develop your ability to adapt. It’s exactly these types of opportunities I’m seeking more frequently in my own life and I hope that this head-on approach will give me the strength to conquer seemingly unsurmountable challenges in my older years.

Ben Worrall