Hard things over time can seem simple via getting used to repeating the same process again and again.
I’ve noticed it with meditation, that even after practicing it consistently, there’s always an element of hesitation before starting and my mind comes up with all these “what if” scenarios which somehow persuade the emotions to start rebelling against engaging with the process, which culminates in the body refusing to be still during the meditation.
It’s an enlightenment of sorts when I get to observe this dynamic play out in a bit of a detached sense. I think many hard things are perceived as such because 1) there’s an inherent resistance against taking action and 2) we don’t get immediate feedback or satisfaction from doing them, which makes it harder to see their worth in the moment, and 3) maybe because hard things demand consistenc and consistency doesn’t come naturally to most of us.
It’s not that we can’t do them, but that doing them every day, regardless of how we feel, is the part that tests our patience the most.
Also, there’s usually no immediate tangible reward for doing hard things other than the process itself. Engaging with the quiet grind of effort that doesn’t show results right away and sometimes it even feels like you’re just moving in circles, and that’s when doubt starts whispering louder.
The reward, however, is mostly settled towards the long term. You don’t notice the changes at first, then one day you realize something that used to be hard now feels easier.
For the most part, writing structurally was a really hard thing for me to do. I also didn't see much of the value from it until I compared and contrast between writings with structure and ones without it. The former is easier for the message to land clearly, and that then began my awareness that structure is what gives freedom its shape, at least in this context.
The short-term-ish reward for doing hard things is probably that small sense of accomplishment after having done hard work giving one a small push forward, something that fuels the next effort. That feeling alone can be enough to keep the cycle going for a while.
I like such types of days a lot, the ones where I manage to do things with less interference from the mind/emotions complex. Much can be done on days like that.
Keeping the momentum, sadly, can be hard against the limitations of objective reality. At some point, you get tired, throw in the towel, and try moving with the change of circumstances as opposed to resisting them.
Again, over time, you tend to realize that doing hard things is a transformation of will power, a training of the mind, and a bit similar to meditation itself, where the reward is mostly the process.
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