2022-09-26 Suffering vs. Struggl

In a recent conversation with Vitaliy Katsenelson (author of Soul in the Game), we discussed the art of having good problems. Katsenelson explains, “There is a difference between suffering and struggling.”

How do you distinguish suffering from struggling?

For Katsenelson, the struggle connects with a purpose (or a worthy pursuit). Similarly, Marcus Aurelius said, “Become indifferent to what makes no difference.” The American philosopher William James put it like this, “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”

We experience suffering when we focus our efforts on pursuits that do not truly matter (and that are outside of our control).

Things that are worthy, the ones that have the why usually come with some amount of discomfort: Writing, kids, exercise, relationships, etc. “Once you figure out why you are doing something, and that why is important to you — suffering turns into struggle and thus becomes more tolerable,” writes Katsenelson.