Why do we choose to suffer

What do we get out of the pain and suffering we choose to experience? What does it add to our lives? Does suffering make us better, stronger, or more moral? Is there a pleasure in suffering so we can search for meaning? What categorizes the term suffering? What is the spectrum of suffering? Why do we seek out suffering?

One of the points Dr. Bloom made was that we seek out voluntary suffering as a means to serve other goals in life. The reward of achieving that goal is greater when we put ourselves through the "suffering". Suffering is a very broad term. As stated in the video, it does not have to mean a deeply traumatic experience. Suffering can be something as simple as a minor inconvenience such as choosing to stay home and study for an exam instead of going out to a party with friends. 

Ultimately, I think we put ourselves through involuntary suffering because it creates such a contrast with joy. It makes us acknowledge our happiness because we are grateful that the suffering has ended. It's almost like a drug. Many women choose to have children. All women who are pregnant know that childbirth is painful. Despite this knowledge, there are plenty of women who give birth. As my mom said, "Childbirth was the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life, but once I got to hold you in my arms, all of the pain went away and I was overjoyed". I'm sure 99% of that was felt out of pure love for her daughter, but the other 1% was definitely the hormones and endorphins kicking in and making childbirth seem less painful in retrospect. My point being, voluntary suffering adds value to our lives in some way, which is why we continue to do it. 

Suffering also makes us more knowledgeable. It gives us experience which guides us in making future decisions. It puts checks and balances on our potential to carry out actions. It reminds us of consequences. I know that I should refrain from cussing in front of my parents because my past experience was a grounding. That grounding was a form of major suffering since it was on the weekend of homecoming. 

I think suffering is one of the most influential aspects to evolution and preservation. Think about the saying, "the boiling water that softens the potato, hardens the egg". Sometimes altruism and compassion are necessary for survival, and other times callous and selfishness is necessary for survival. That's why monkeys are altruistic to other species when a predator is nearby. They will sound off warning calls to alert everyone in the community. That's why some abused dogs become aggressive. They are doing what they need to, to protect themselves. It's all circumstantial.

I attached a youtube video link: Monkeys Sound Alarm To Save Deer From A Tiger | Life | BBC Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-VCL7U_JEA