Anitfragility

 Several years I ago, I read a book about antifragility.  Elder Anderson gave a talk that illustrated this concept.  

If a tree grows up in a windy environment, it's stronger than the same type of tree that grows in a protected, not-windy environment.  The wind actually stimulates cell growth in the tree that produces the trunk and branches to get bigger, and the roots to grow faster and stronger.

Elder Anderson related this to people.  We are on earth to experience temptation and trials.  Those things make us stronger.

Usually.

Several years ago, I hike the Grand Canyon (rim to rim to rim).  I had never done anything like that before.  Our friend, Brian, tried to warn me how difficult the hike was but I didn't understand.  How hard could it be?  You just walk all day.

Silly Krista.

It was probably the hardest physical challenge I've ever done and I came away from the experience with physical damage.  I had never had issues with my knee or my hip flexors before this hike.  I did serious damage and both my knee and my hip have been an issue ever since and probably always will me.

I wasn't prepared for that strenuous hike.  My body wasn't capable of what I demanded of it and because of that, I didn't strengthen my body.  I weakened it.

I totally agree that we need to experience hard things.  I think that they help us grow.  I also believe that we all have a breaking point.  Too much can break us and it's important for us to learn where our breaking point is and either walk away, or ask for help.

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