Embrace the Suck
We crave constant excitement and entertainment. We yearn for life to be an endless series of enjoyment. While these are what we desire, they are not what we need. What we truly need are skills, and gaining these doesn't always involve fun. Fun is instant gratification and immediate happiness, but they have a cost later on.
Focusing on fun is how we develop addictions. We seek immediate satisfaction, oblivious to the long-term consequences that could potentially ruin other aspects of life. Fun is inherently high time preference.
A mental shift towards maturity and responsibility involves learning to appreciate the initial unpleasantness of acquiring new skills - or as I prefer to call it, "embracing the suck". Trying to do something you're not skilled at isn't "fun". It's frustrating and demands considerable discipline. More than anything, it requires courage due to our inherent fear of monotony.
But there's no harm in boredom. In fact, it's the default state of life. Excitement is, and should be, the exception rather than the norm. By learning to manage boredom, you'll cultivate a much-needed trait - patience.
We demand immediate satisfaction because we are entitled brats. If we don't find fun in a task instantly, we tend to surrender. But that joy in doing something, that joy in being good rather than having fun takes years to develop. This requires a patient and mature mindset, one that prioritizes long-term gains over immediate satisfaction.
