Though not a classical Stoic, James understood a key Stoic truth: discipline creates freedom. He believed that by doing small, uncomfortable things daily — waking early, resisting distraction, finishing what you start — you forge a soul capable of facing larger trials. Like Seneca's cold baths or Epictetus' rejection of luxury, these little trials built endurance. Greatness isn't achieved in grand moments — it's built in daily discomforts we choose to face.