Seneca had an odd habit: now and then he'd eat simple food and wear rough clothes on purpose, then ask himself, is this the thing I was so afraid of? Voluntary discomfort isn't punishment. It's a rehearsal that shrinks your fears. When you've chosen a little hardship and survived it, the unchosen kind loses some of its teeth. You learn that your comfort, while nice, isn't the load-bearing wall you thought it was. You're tougher and more flexible than the soft days let you believe. You don't need to suffer to grow, but a small, chosen difficulty now and then builds real confidence. Today, skip one comfort on purpose and notice that you're still okay.

Inspired by the old idea of voluntary discomfort. Written by Ugo Charles.