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The Art of Manliness #1019 · June 5, 2024 · 52m
10 Philosophy-Inspired Challenges for Becoming a Better and Happier Man
Ben Aldridge on using philosophical challenges — cold exposure, fasting, silence retreats, discomfort practice — as tools for building resilience, gratitude, and self-knowledge.
Canon
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Aldridge describes meditation as cognitive exercise: the practice of returning attention to the breath when it wanders is literally training the muscle of attention, which strengthens with repetition like any other.
Highlights
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Voluntary discomfort builds resilience that involuntary discomfort alone cannot
Aldridge argues that choosing to be uncomfortable (cold showers, fasting, sleeping on the floor) builds psychological resilience because it proves to yourself that discomfort is survivable and even beneficial.