The ego says, “I shouldn’t have to suffer,” and that thought makes you suffer so much more. It is a distortion of the truth, which is always paradoxical. The truth is that you need to say yes to suffering before you can transcend it.
The pressure you put on yourself to succeed often blocks the desired outcome of those very achievements: a sense of contentment. Cut out the middle man and try to feel content amidst all your striving and planning.