How To Prepare For Bad Times
From Seneca
The stoics warn against attachment to objects but many stoics were very powerful people. Seneca is different because he addresses the issues directly. He distinguishes from having extravagances and needing extravagances.
He was known for having massive estates and riches while serving as advisor to Emperor Nero. He was cautious to make sure that despite his riches he would never depend on them. He started a peculiar practice to keep himself in check..
Seneca would regularly go missing for a few day. During that time, he would be dressed in rags living on the streets. He would practice having nothing at all so he would never fear it. He would spend long enough time that it wasn’t just a silly game and he truly suffered.
We should be practicing with a dummy target, getting to be at home with poverty so that fortune cannot catch us unprepared. We shall be easier in our minds when rich if we have come to realize how far from burdensome it is to be poor” (Seneca, Letter XVIII)
I see this passage applying to all hard things. By facing a hard challenge without backing down I’m halfway there. If I regularly force myself to do hard things voluntarily, I will be prepared to stand tall when hard situations naturally arise.
When I push myself to the brink of passing out while running sprints, my mind tells me I can’t do it. It tells me to quit and move away from the pain in my chest. But when I overcome that and I see my strength, I say to myself “Is that what I was scared of? If I just don’t quit, I will win.”
Being mentally prepared for hardship means showing yourself you can overcome it.
Question of The Day
When was the last time I showed myself I can overcome big obstacles?
Your Friend,
Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski