I agree that people should do things that they don't enjoy. I believe this is the basic part of growing up and becoming an adult. Some things that aren't fun are still good for us if we consider the long-term benefit.
Let me use my personal experiences as an example. Who enjoys going to the dentist? Very few people enjoy having their annual checkup with the doctor. Not a lot of people enjoy changing the oil in their car or mowing their lawns. These are all things we do because we have to, not because we want to. We realize that taking care of our physical health is the sensible thing to do. We know that if we don't change the oil in our car, it won't run. We understand that grass grows and if we don't mow it, our lawns will look like tropical forests.
Professional tasks are another part of the problem. No one likes to be stuck with a boring assignment or to be told to work with someone we don’t get along with. Sometimes we have to put up with unfair criticism from a supervisor or resentment from those we supervise. If we're in a management position, we might have the unpleasant task of having to fire someone. No one would think these are fun things to do. Unfortunately, they’re all part of earning a living, something the majority of adults have to do.
On the other hand, sometimes doing something we don't enjoy can lead to enjoyment. Simply through repetition, we may eventually decide that we like what we do. For instance, we may agree to go to a club only to please someone else, and then after we try dancing for the first time, it may become enjoyable. We’ve been robbing ourselves of that enjoyment without even knowing it. The same can be true for trying new foods or going to a new place.
Doing things we don't enjoy doesn’t always have to bothersome. It’s an important part of our life that will benefit us in the short term and may eventually open the door to new opportunities and adventures in the long term.
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