What is 'effort', and what is the difference between pain and effort?
We often demand compensation for things we put 'effort' in. This can be a reason for getting a higher wage, because you put more effort into a project. But what does effort actually consist of? Effort seems to me to be close to pain, as it is an often unpleasant experience that we'd rather avoid. There is also the fact that people often look with awe at those who put a lot of effort at their work, which to me seems almost like a Christian ascetic or martyr going through a lot of pain. If effort is like pain, should we avoid it as much as possible? If so, why is working hard and putting a lot of effort into something valued so highly? Should we just say that it is a form of self-harm, or of asceticism or martyrdom for the sake of getting approval from others? And that we should only put in effort to the extent that it keeps us alive, as a necessary evil? I would also like to get some recommendations of literature about this subject.