Inner Strength

We're already halfway through the decade. This one was probably the toughest year for me, but we got through it. I realized that life is full of suffering. Happily ever after is not guaranteed. It's probable to face setbacks and unexpected challenges in achieving goals. Despite the amount of effort put in, we can't always be successful. It's easy to fall into the nihilistic trap of thinking that we are all just here to suffer, and that our time here is meaningless. Logical positivism, from the 20th century, promoted the idea that only statements verifiable through empirical observation or proof are meaningful. This perspective has shaped how many people approach knowledge and truth in contemporary society, leading to an increased emphasis on scientific evidence and observable facts, moving away from the idea of a higher power, or spirituality.

It's interesting to learn about how the greatest thinkers thought about God, and the meaning of life. Einstein for example believed "in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings." Gödel held strong beliefs about God's existence, rather than "in empirical science", instead "only believe[ing] in a priori truths." Von Neumann said "there probably is a God. Many things are easier to explain if there is than if there isn't." We've been speculating on this question for as long as recorded history, and it's a question that will likely remain a mystery to many. People tended to attribute fortune as blessings from a higher power, and hard times as a punishment or test. From a biological perspective, our responses to adversity and success help shape our resilience and coping mechanisms. These traits, along with other aspects of our personality, are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The realm of untestable questions seems intangible, but what we can observe is how people's beliefs influence their actions, and the changes they effect in the world. For example, many religions teach kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. In contrast, some interpretations of others espouse violence and hatred. What I'd like to believe is that the true nature of reality is beyond our wildest comprehension, and that something like death is just the end of a chapter in a very interesting story. There are so many things we don't understand; its probably not good practice to keep changing the parameters of a model to fit our obervations.

My time at MIT taught me about perseverance. When faced with seemingly impossible problems, whether in math, entrepreneurship, or life itself, the key isn't fitting the axioms together to get the correct answer — rather, it's the willingness to keep pushing forward, because there will always be more to explore. Looking back at my darkest days, I see now that suffering wasn't just meaningless pain; it was a forge that strengthened my resolve. Each challenge overcome, each problem solved, each dark moment survived has contributed to who I am today. Perhaps this is the hidden beauty in suffering: not just that we endure it, but that we can reflect and see how far we have come, knowing we are better equipped to face whatever comes next.