☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: The Purpose of Voluntary Hardship

Willpower is like muscle power.

1. Morning Contemplation

🎧 You can find the audio version of this morning’s contemplation below.

Good morning.

The practice of voluntary hardship is an aspect of Stoicism that can sometimes be misused. To some, it can turn into an egotistical pursuit. They want to prove to others that they can endure discomfort, and so they lose sight of the Stoic intent behind the act.

The thing to remember is that voluntary hardship must always serve a purpose. It’s a way to increase one’s ability to live a virtuous life, uninhibited by changes in external conditions.