Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow

A thought struck me from today's Gospel reading (Lk 9:22-25) and a reflection from DailyGospel.org: is it true that there is no other way to escape the cross that we are inevitably challenged with everyday except to reject virtue? Is it inevitable that rejecting sacrifice means embracing sin? Can one only carve out perfect comfort and self-indulgence from injustice to or neglect of others? Hmm..