
Audio Overview
We live in an era where effort is becoming optional.
Craving a meal? Open Gojek or Grab, and it will arrive at your doorstep in 20 minutes. Need new clothes? A few taps on Shopee, and they’ll be delivered the same day. Feeling too tired to talk to someone? Just send a text or voice note. Life’s daily inconveniences are disappearing, erased by technology and smart solutions designed to make everything seamless and effortless.
At first glance, this sounds amazing. Technology is here to enhance our lives, saving us time and freeing us from tedious work. But the more I look around, the more I wonder. What are we doing with this newfound freedom? Are we using it to grow, improve, and challenge ourselves? Or are we becoming complacent and drifting toward an existence where struggle is minimized, and comfort is prioritized above all else?
Boomers complain that Millennials and Gen Z are lazy, entitled, unwilling to put in the hard work their generation endured. Meanwhile, motivational entrepreneurs preach hustle culture, while self-care advocates insist we need to slow down. And now, AI is stepping into the picture—promising to make life even easier, anticipating our needs before we even recognize them ourselves.
With AI tools like NotebookLM assisting with research, coding aids like Cursor speeding up software development, and generative models drafting emails and writing content, the line between productivity and mindlessness is blurring. We are moving toward a society where friction is eliminated altogether.
But here’s the burning question that keeps me up at night: Is a life without struggle truly fulfilling?
I recently came across an insightful article by Julie Zhuo titled Our Souls Need Proof of Work, and it resonated with me deeply. The idea she explores is simple but profound: we are wired for effort. Without it, we lose purpose, resilience, and genuine happiness.
Without effort, without discomfort, we risk living an empty existence.