Why I crave pain

Using pain to grow yourself as a person

Principles, by Ray Dalio is one of my favourite books. I’ve read it 3 times in the last ~7 months.

One of my biggest takeaways from it is:

pain + reflection = progress

I’m a teenager with a lot to learn. I’m currently optimizing for as many novel experiences as possible.

I want to understand myself, and I want to learn.

I spent Feb 2020 on the West Coast of the United States in Nevada and California (plus a quick day-trip to Utah).

I’m a student, with limited funds and a lot of excitement. I got creative in how I spent my time. I talked to a lot of strangers, hustled many free meals and spent plenty of time in nature.

It has been an unforgettable experience.

I would be lying if I said it all went smoothly. There were times in cities (ahem, LA), where it was next to impossible to order an uber. And other points when I accidentally went on 4 hour walks.

Several things I did didn’t go as planned.

Pain is present in many forms. One of them, is the form of things not going as planned.

Pain has an element of surprise.

If you go up the stairs and fall, you’ll experience pain because you’re used to not falling. It’s surprising.