Effort is not optional

The wonderful and funny Ava @noampomsky wrote the following passages in a recent post:

I think a lot of people want to be but they don’t want to do. They want to have written a book, but they don’t want to write the book. They want to be fit, but they don’t want the tedium of working out. They’re ashamed of rejection and they’re ashamed of imperfection. Fantasy is easy and effort is punishing. Seeming is always easier than being.

But she's not done yet...

Here’s what I know: if someone’s much better than you at something, they probably try much harder. You probably underestimate how much harder they try. I’m not saying that talent isn’t a meaningful differentiator, because it certainly is, but I think people generally underestimate how effort needs to be poured into talent in order to develop it.

And we don't like to hear that right? We like to explain the big successes of others with sheer luck and talent. Because then we are off the hook.

It's no surprise we wiggle ourselves out of responsibility when we see the accomplishments of others. Because effort is under our control. And as Ava wrote...

...Seeming is Always Easier Than Being

Putting in the effort means that we need to try a lot. And trying looks ugly. Trying is not glorious. There is years of wanting and hoping and working when reward is uncertain.

But whether it's in our relationship, our career, our hobby or our life as a whole:

Effort is the price we pay for unlocking everything beautiful and worthwhile in the world.

There is no way around it.

Effort is not optional if we strive for a meaningful life.

And genuine effort seems to be where meaning comes from...but that's for another time.