In either case, this teaches you not only that you can handle your worst fears – and
therefore have less reason to be afraid – but also that you actually don’t need
material possessions in order to be happy.
This is actually something that is very important to cultivate. It takes great discipline
to part with your possessions and belongings but the result is freedom from fear and
also from many physical restrictions. If you are weighed down by possessions and
belongings, then you will not be able to move home freely. You will spend a lot of
time cleaning and attending to things that do not help you further your goals. And
ultimately, you will have much more to fear.
The more you own, the more you have to lose. This creates a sense of fear.
So, try to declutter and live a more focussed and minimalist life. At the very least,
learn to detach yourself from physical possessions and remember that they are
indeed ‘just things’. They are a means to an end and if you must sacrifice them, so be
it.
Selling your widescreen TV or turning down a holiday in order to pay off debt or pay
for your child’s tuition – those are
warrior-like choices.
Wear Ugly Clothes...
Another classic stoic move is to wear
‘ugly’ clothes in order to teach yourself
not to be ashamed. People might stare at
you, but this will simply teach you that it
doesn’t matter at all what others think –
only what you think.
This is an important aspect of the warrior