The Formative Power of Struggle

Struggle, encompassing breakups, failures, losses, and mistakes, plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' characters. Malcolm Gladwell's book 'David and Goliath' shares stories of successful people like Brian Grager and Gary Cohn who attribute their achievements to their struggles with dyslexia. Despite the challenges they faced, they believe that their disabilities were instrumental in developing valuable skills and perspectives. However, when asked if they would want their children to go through similar struggles for the same benefits, they expressed reluctance and concern. While no parent desires pain or hardship for their children, they understand that suffering can be inevitable and even beneficial in life. This paradox presents a challenge for parents to navigate: determining which struggles to save their children from and which ones to encourage as formative experiences.