How does hardship sometimes lead to positive experience?

Questions prickle at the back of the mind as life exposes us to events that seem capable of teaching us something:

What is the relationship between challenge and enjoyment? 
 
Why is it that a meal tastes better after a gruelling physical effort? 
 
What binding interaction exists between a scary unusual experience - for example two strangers taking their first skydive together - and an increased level of acceptance and bonding? 

​We can observe a relationship between struggle and a positive outcome, (also often connecting us to others). Most of us are familiar with our own version of this interaction. Surely we all have experiences in life that are enhanced, if not completely generated, by their direct connection to something difficult. 

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On a recent overland walk multiple examples of this phenomenon were presented.

• The simple experience of standing still was actually a moment of joyous liberty, and a sensation of incredible lightness. This was only the case following the removal of a heavy pack after 20kms of walking. At any other time, it is just standing still. 
  

 

• A small artificially sweetened drink of bright pink cordial served in a plastic cup, suddenly presents itself as a decadent dive into flavour, refreshment and stimulation. This is obvious when the direct comparison is dry biscuits and a dry mouth. 

• The incredible comfort of a timber bench after a long day of loose rocks.  

• A sense of home and security conveyed by warm, if slightly dirty, socks compared to the frigid touch of a snow-melt stream rushing around stinging toes.  

​An adventure like a multiple-day hike is not required to understand this experience; our daily lives are imbued with these regulation moments that are injected with power and vitality in consequence of an adjacent hardship. This seems to be a common experience which is shared by many people; that a challenging time often leads to a positive contrasting moment.   
 
The interesting question then is, if we know hard moments could well bring about positive outcomes, 
why do we still instinctually shy away from potentially confronting opportunities?
If we know, with a truth born of experience, that those very same challenging moments are stuffed with possibility for growth and enjoyment, why do we avoid hardship?
 
The answer to that question is probably extremely simple, although maybe twofold:
1. Because hardship is scary, painful, upsetting and demands significant energy.
2. We don’t … people are constantly pushing through barriers and facing fears. It seems to be part of life, and often when we encounter examples of this behaviour it is impressive and inspiring. 
 
Why is it important, then, to ask the question:  How does hardship sometimes lead to positive experience?

​It is potentially not actually to determine a definite answer, but more to spend a little time reflecting on the fact that dealing with hardship, challenge and adversity can actually provide enjoyable and worthwhile experience. 
 
It seems valuable to recognize that when presented with obstacle, we know that there is potential for both hardship and positive experience. 
 
As we move through our lives, another challenge is most likely already coming towards us. It seems reasonable to anticipate not just the struggle in this reality, but also to expect the positive that will come with it.  
 
There will be challenge, be in it and expect the positive.