Let me reiterate that endurance and tolerance are not the same thing in this context. Endurance takes willpower or force to sustain, while tolerance in a way just goes along for the ride. When you are in the process of enduring an event or circumstance, you are not popular or happy and potentially have hardship in the mix. Among the things that keep you going are integrity, values, and self-worth. Tolerating an event or circumstance requires nothing on your behalf because it literally means that you are accepting.

Of course, we must do one or the other at some point. Both are appropriate when coupled with certain circumstances. For instance, when the choice depends on whether or not you will live or die. When it is necessary to endure, you are going to struggle, figure out things, or find some way to get out of the circumstance. When it is necessary to tolerate, you will be compliant until you figure some way to get out of the circumstance.

However, when the circumstances aren’t that dire but require you to either take action or a stance, it depends on your values what you will choose. If you select endurance, you will go against the norm or majority and stand for what you believe. If you select tolerance, you may be silent or you may endorse the majority.

Whether or not we exercise endurance or tolerance when it comes to the things that are thrown at us, we should ask ourselves: Are we content with things or are we willing to push against them to remain true to ourselves?