"Suffering and conflict is the fuel of all higher pursuits"
I disagree. I mean, the combinations of education, travel, and hallucinogens has pushed me further in my art and intellectual curiosity than suffering ever has. For so many people, suffering simply stagnates them because it eats up so much mental and physical energy.
The lives are certainly not without conflict, however. Meeting social norms still creates some conflict (what, you want to be with only one person!?!). Most folks are, however, missing things that pushes them just a little outside of their comfort zone - but you certainly don't need conflict for that, but rather, just things that are different enough.
