Hardship is a necessary ingredient for deep gratitude.
Without hardship, beautiful things get taken for granted and a sense of entitlement can develop.
With hardship, beautiful things are seen as gifts that could be lost at any moment and that sense of deep appreciation emerges.
The greater the hardship, the deeper the appreciation potential. For example:
- The person who has always had running water doesn’t have the same appreciation potential as the person who hasn’t, who has spent most of their life thirsty, and who is suddenly given access.
- The person who has always had many friends doesn’t have the same appreciation potential as the person who has always struggled to make friends and suddenly has a great one.
- The person who has always had access to money doesn’t have the same appreciation potential as the person who grew up poor, with no alternative sources or connections, and is suddenly making a bunch of money on their own.
This is all to say, don’t curse your hardships—understand that your roots for appreciation are growing deeper with each passing day. And what’s really happening is you’re setting yourself up to be able to fully receive the blessings that come on the other side.
P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.