A basic principle of the spiritual life

You undertake different tasks, so you tell me, “in most cases unwillingly and without any eagerness--I have to force myself.”  But this, after all, is a basic principle in the spiritual life--to set yourself in opposition to what is bad and to force yourself to do what is good.  This is the meaning of the Lord's words, The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force, (Matt 11:12).  This is why following the Lord is a yoke.  If all were done eagerly, where would be the yoke?  Yet, in the end, it so comes about that everything is done easily and willingly.