[2] Joyfully Frustrated – Why fun is the secret ingredient in developing resilience

Moving to the suburbs and having a kid has surprisingly reverted me to a childhood pastime: video games (albeit with far less regularity). I’ve always gravitated towards the most adventurous and challenging games filled with puzzles (Zelda is a favorite) and have been surprised to find how much fun I’ve had being frustrated and confused while navigating difficult obstacles in the game.

The broader application here is recognizing that persisting through difficulty is a skill in itself and the secret catalyst for developing it is fun. Fun helps us flatten the steepest part of the learning curve by aiding persistence and by distracting us from the effort needed to acquire knowledge and skills. Further, the amount of fun our work entails is a function of attitude, not an absolute truth.

To apply this concept, look for ways to gamify your most challenging tasks, with each incremental improvement advancing you to the next level. Additionally, misery loves company so partner with a spouse or coworker and team up to a “multiplayer game mode” and collectively celebrate your achievements. To power boost your effort on these difficult tasks even further, develop the attitude of “I get to” instead of “I have to”. Challenges, even ones that you don’t sign up for, are a blessing that can both be enjoyed in the moment and will yield personal and collective gains once accomplished.