“Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any miseries, any depressions? For after all, you do not know what work these conditions are doing inside you.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke
Simplified Meaning:
Life isn't always easy, and sometimes we feel sad, worried, or down. It's normal to want to avoid these bad feelings, but they can actually help us grow. Think about how exercise works: when you lift weights, your muscles get tiny tears, and as they heal, they become stronger. In the same way, facing tough times can make us stronger and wiser. For example, if you lose a job and feel upset, you might rethink what you really want to do. This could lead you to find a career that makes you happier. These difficult emotions push us to change and improve our lives. Avoiding them means missing out on opportunities for growth. Next time you feel uneasy, try to see it as a chance to learn something new about yourself or the world. Embrace these feelings and trust that they are making you a better person.