I once met a man who had summited Everest several times. I asked him if he didn't think it would be funnier to climb up, but turn around 50m before the summit, as a statement of moral fortitude and grown-up-ness.

I received a very blank stare in return.

— Ole Peters (@ole_b_peters) May 12, 2019

This is the kind of thing I do that no one understands why I do it. I have no desire at all to climb Everest but knowing you can do something is often just as good as actually doing it, and less time-wasting.

Not always, of course. Sometimes you have to reach the goal, capture the flag. But self-control and self-mastery is more than about reaching goals. It’s prioritizing your autonomy and your dominion over your own being and constitution.