Is a life without struggle or difficulty a life worth living?

Life that is too easy; a life without struggle or difficulty isn’t a life worth living.

Poverty creates experiences.

I grew up in poverty, and it was the best thing for myself. Why? It taught me the value of a dollar. It taught me much about life; in terms of a personal philosophy of money and effort, and taught me the downsides (and upsides) of poverty.

I learned to hustle hard to earn a dollar. I learned to only depend on myself, and to never blame my circumstances. I learned that nobody was ever to blame but myself. This was incredibly empowering for myself, because it meant that I had 100% control of my own life in my own hands. If I was lazy and a degenerate (like my dad), I would amount to nothing. But if I hustled hard, put forth effort, and took on big responsibilities, I would become great.

When you’re lifting weights at the gym, if the weight is too light, it is boring and uninteresting. When the weight is heavy (400+ pounds), things start to get interesting. You learn to tune out distractions, you learn how to focus, and you give it 110% of your effort. It doesn’t even matter if you succeed or fail in powerlifting; it is about having the courage to push your limits.

And I think this applies to photography, business, entrepreneurship, and life. A life without difficulty, struggle, or pain isn’t a life worth living!

How to make food taste better

Food tastes 100x better when you’ve fasted all day for it. I don’t eat breakfast or lunch, and when I break my fast, I have 100x appreciation for the food. Hunger teaches us (real) appreciation for food. Going through poverty and being broke teaches us appreciation and respect for money. Difficulty and pain in your personal life also teaches you appreciate for the calm and joyful points in life.

In life, no pain and struggle means no joy or happiness.

Life wouldn’t taste sweet without the bitter.

Never lose hope, stay strong, and let all the difficulties and struggles of your life be the positive stimulus to your life!

BE STRONG ERIC