#5 The Concept of Struggle | 1-2-3 Fridays

Man must struggle. Not for suffering’s sake, but because struggle adds meaning to life.This week’s newsletter explores Aristotle’s two types of happiness: Hedonia (pleasure) and Eudaimonia (meaning and purpose). I share the story of playwright Tennessee Williams, who worked menial jobs while writing in the margins—and when success removed all struggle, he felt empty and depressed. Without vital effort, he became “a sword cutting daisies.”Struggle is a feature, not a bug. It’s a teacher when examined, a destroyer when ignored, and a filter that reveals character under pressure. For young people especially, embracing struggle is the path to becoming the best version of yourself.But struggle must be for something. For your family. For your mission. For growth. Not just for struggle’s sake. Because when you optimize for comfort and eliminate all hardship, you don’t find peace—you find emptiness.Struggle for something that matters.