Voluntary hardship
In this exercise we will enact a difficult scenario to assess the effects of its discomfort.
Preparation
Hardship vs premeditation
As opposed to the Premeditation of Evils exercise, this exercise is practical, meaning the participant needs to set aside a number of days to conduct this experiment.
Voluntary hardship exercise
"I am so firmly determined, however, to test the constancy of your mind that, drawing from the teachings of great men, I shall give you a lesson: set aside certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest (very small amount) and cheapest fare (food and drink) with coarse and rough dress, saying to yourself the while: Is this the condition that I feared?"
Seneca the Younger, Letters from a Stoic, Letter 18, p. 98 (Capstone, a Wiley brand edition).
Definition
Voluntary hardship is a useful practice in which an individual confronts something difficult and realizes that the anticipation and anxiety surrounding an event are worse, in many cases, than the experience itself. Its benefits can also be seen in the aftermath where the participant might realize what is essential and needed in life and be less afraid of discomfort in general.
Exercise
1. The default activity for this exercise is for a specific amount of days to eat plain food, for example: water, beans and cucumbers ; and to dress simply, without any added fanfare, this is supposed to mimic the difficulties from living in a state of destitution.
2. One can also complement this exercise and therefore increasing its difficulty by adding activities such as: not buying anything new, and sleeping in a simple (if possible uncomfortable) bed with little to no blankets. These conditions should feel challenging enough so that the participant is not looking forward to living through them.