This passage from Thomas Moore’s book “Dark Nights of the Soul” states very eloquently how it is.
Unconsciousness is like junk food. It’s an easy way to go through life, but it doesn’t give you the nourishment you need. You don’t have to bother with sorting things out or with thinking at all. In small portions it is worth pursuing for relaxation, but as a way of life it can lead to extreme passivity. It may seem painful to think and reflect, but bringing your own intelligence to bear on everyday experiences can add an essential dimension that gives its own kind of pleasure.
Thomas Moore suggests in his book that difficulties and suffering serve to wake us up from unconsciousness, to allow us to live life more fully.
