On discomfort and hardship

There is no growth without discomfort.

If you think you live a comfortable life, try to put yourself through hardship and discomfort from time to time. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme.

Physical discomfort, such as exercising, fasting, sleeping on the floor, having a cold shower, etc. Mental discomfort, such as studying some complex subject, like programming or any science topics. Stoics also recommend regular negative visualizations. Meditation is probably also some kind of discomfort you can put yourself through, especially at the beginning when you are just learning to meditate.

Hardship and discomfort helps you learn, and prevents you from getting too soft or weak physically and mentally. And occasionally, when life challenges you, you will feel ready and will get through those physical or mental challenges a lot more smoothly.

Put yourself through hardship, create discomforting conditions intentionally from time to time to test yourself, if you are capable of enduring them. If you are persistent, eventually, your endurance will get better and better. In those moments, you will feel powerful, that you can learn and do anything you want. I believe this feeling is a great motivator to continue growing.

Never let this cycle stop.