‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would give up a deed, even though he liked to perform it, for fear that people would follow him and perform it, and it would thus become obligatory for them.
شرح الحديث :
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would give up a deed, despite his love to perform it, lest people would do it as well, and therefore the deed would be made obligatory for them. The people would thus be put in a real hardship, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not like to put them into hardships.