Your approach will define results of whatever you are struggling with. Ethereal idea, not easy to catch directly. To get that easier, let's take an example and think about punishment - it can be pure pain for you and nothing more, but also it can be a salvation. Are you unsure about the idea? Fine, let's do a thought experiment.
Greek mythology brings us perfect example - Sisyphus. Long story short, he was punished for his trespasses by gods, and he is doing the same, useless job for the rest of eternity. Sounds familiar?
Taking natural approach, this is a really horrible thing to do. You are doing maximum, forcing yourself to push this great stone to the top of the mountain, and then everyday you see that there is no result, no gratification. Pure despair. We can see it sometimes in our lives (especially if you are an employee of a corporation / public office, where the only thing you do is doing some documents, where you cannot see the bigger picture nor the effects of your work). This could happen to any of us. This is how the hell looks like.
But hell is not about how the things are set up, nor about type of struggle you are facing. Hell is about how you are approaching whatever life brings. If you are reinforcing wrong thoughts, if you are amplifying your despair, if you are continuously focusing on how miserable you are - then, you are in hell. Someone build it for you, or you made it by yourself - does not matter. What matters, is that it is about YOU and how YOU approach life.
And that is what Sisyphus could do. He can be grateful, because he does not have to search for a job. He knows his goal. His task is simple, yet requires him to do something more than lazy walk. Day by day, he can get stronger. He can use the time during his physical job to think, to contemplate. Sisyphus can have a very good, very pure life, after all.
Yes, indeed, he won't reach his goal - but he do what he can, he can shape himself, and most importantly - he can accept his burden and embrace it. And if we'd apply ancient measures, Sisyphus could become the one that is always getting up after a fail, the one that is accepting how the worlds works, and is doing his best to be the best version of himself - a saint.
