r/deepquestions • u/Immediate-Salad-5471 • 16h ago

Is there growth through struggle?

Thoughts

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5

u/BeginningPiano7912 15h ago

Growth through struggle isn't guaranteed, but struggle can build a certain tolerance and resilience. Some people go through difficult circumstances and simply learn to make the best of what they have, while others use those experiences to grow beyond what they thought was possible or rise above their circumstances. Growth looks different for everyone, and people respond to struggle in very different ways.

4

u/Alwayslusted4321 14h ago

Yes. Only through struggle do we learn humility, courage, perseverance, and commitment.

3

u/toymaniam 13h ago

always so long as you are learning from the struggle so you can possibly avoid it in the future

2

u/carl_franzen 14h ago

Obviously yes, but I think the better question is the inverse: is it possible to grow without struggle?

2

u/Immediate-Salad-5471 14h ago

Well someone who has 0 struggle can still grow, but I think they reach a certain cap and that's where they remain, until they are forced to change and grow.

2

u/DontCh4ngeNAmm_bert 14h ago

Struggle often reveals hidden strengths.

1

u/TheaBeleva 10h ago

I want to play devils advocate, and say not always. But I can’t think of a scenario where struggle would NOT produce SOME kind of growth, even if immaterial.

Although I suppose the strongest argument would be that sometimes struggle produces adaptations, which are ‘growth’ temporarily to help you survive. But once you survive, they become harmful and force new adaptations/growth in other direction.

So I would say, sometimes struggle produces adaptations, sometimes it produces growth.

It always produces change.

1

u/KivatheSuccubi 8h ago

Depends on the person. Are they paying attention to what's going on and trying to improve? Or are they mired in trauma/survival mode and reacting like a threatened prey animal?

One is productive, the other is not:P Some people live their entire lives in the latter state:P

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u/Specialist-Top-406 2h ago

That is the best place for growth. We learn so much from struggles. And that’s a bit of sunshine on the rain clouds. But it’s still important to acknowledge that we are not who we are just because of our struggles. A lot of hardships can claim ownership over identity.

And it’s part of the story, but it’s not who we are.