Resilience training to embrace discomfort.

Prepare for the worst to find our best.

Growing up, many of us had a shared rite of passage: watching The Princess Bride. It's hard to find someone from my generation who hasn’t seen this classic. The film blends romance, mystery, comedy, and revenge in a way that captivated us all.

One unforgettable scene involves a 'battle of wits' between the hero and the villain. The hero pours wine into two cups, secretly adds poison to one, and challenges the villain to choose the safe cup. The catch? Both cups are poisoned. Our hero, having built up an immunity to the poison over years, drinks with confidence while the villain meets his end. It’s a brilliant twist and a great example of preparation meeting opportunity. Watch the clip below.

The Stoics had a similar approach to dealing with adversity and embracing discomfort, which they called Premeditatio malorum or 'the premeditation of evils.' The idea is simple yet profound: by inviting small amounts of discomfort into our lives, we build resilience and prepare for more significant challenges ahead.

A few years ago, I started practicing this by taking cold showers in winter to prepare for a New Year’s dip in the icy Pacific. This physical challenge helped my body adapt to discomfort. But this concept isn’t limited to physical preparation; it’s about mindset too.

Embrace discomfort to build resilience

"Sweat more in peace. Bleed less during war." — Sun Tzu

It might seem counter-intuitive to invite discomfort into our lives when we can avoid it. Why not just grab that morning coffee, relax on the couch after a long day, or enjoy a beer after a bad day? While these choices are easy and gratifying, practicing Premeditatio malorum means making the hard choices to prepare ourselves for tougher times.

Athletes are an obvious example. They endure grueling training sessions to prepare for the most challenging games. It's a form of resilience training. They are pushing their limits in practice so that they can handle the physical demands of a match. This principle is straightforward but powerful.

And what about business professionals? We constantly adapt to ever-changing market trends and consumer behaviors. We strive to push boundaries during brainstorming sessions, or we refine our strategies through collaboration and customer insights. By staying ahead of industry trends and continuously honing our skills, we can prepare for challenging market conditions. This proactive approach ensures we’re ready to swiftly pivot and develop effective solutions, no matter what obstacles arise. As professionals, we can build resilience by embracing continuous learning and innovation.

The benefits of resilience training

1. Adaptation and innovation: By challenging ourselves, we force our minds and bodies to adapt. We become more creative in finding solutions. Maybe instead of that morning coffee, we try a glass of iced water or a quick stretch. Small changes can lead to significant benefits.

2. Gratitude and empathy: Facing small discomforts can open our eyes to what we usually take for granted. Remember how we all took travel for granted before the pandemic? Suddenly, we appreciated the freedom to fly anywhere in the world. Experiencing discomfort can help us see the world from different perspectives and develop deeper empathy and gratitude.

3. Mindfulness and presence: When we face discomfort, we often become acutely aware of the present moment. This focus is a form of mindfulness. For instance, try daydreaming in a cold shower—it’s nearly impossible. We’re completely in the moment, feeling every sensation.

Challenge ourselves

So, what small discomfort can we invite into our life today as a form of resilience training and to reinforce our gritty mindset? Maybe it’s a cold shower, skipping that coffee, or pushing through a tough workout. Whatever it is, remember that these small acts of resilience prepare us for whatever comes our way.

When we embrace the challenge, we'll find our best self in the process.

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