Embracing Emotional Strength Through Cold Exposure
I have been drawn to getting uncomfortable in the heat for some reason. I seek out steam rooms, saunas, and hot yoga to do this, hoping to reap the benefits of the detox.
Then, I heard from my athlete clients about the benefits they were receiving from cold plunges. This was a new edge I was scared to explore.
Why would anyone voluntarily sit in a bathtub full of ice at around 34-37 degrees for 2-3 minutes? I could not wrap my head around it.
My clients told me that it brought down their inflammation, that they felt “exhilarated” afterward, and that it even warded off some very low moods for some.
Most interestingly, many talked about how doing something hard at the top of their day made them feel “unstoppable” and that any other hard task seemed to pale compared to the discomfort they could tolerate in that tub.
SO, I gave it a whirl.
I signed up, paid, and met with the owner to take my first plunge.
The water was so cold it literally took my breath away; my teeth were chattering uncontrollably, and my mind was telling me I was about to die.
The woman urged me to breathe and reminded me that I was safe and could persevere. When the gong rang, I was surprised that my two minutes had passed. I exited the tub with red-chapped legs, and a sense of accomplishment rose up in my body.
Not only was this massively uncomfortable physically, it was also wildly unpleasant emotionally.
I realized then that the hot and cold exposures are similar to the emotional strength work I do with my clients. I invite them to ALLOW their negative emotions instead of resisting, avoiding, and buffering them.
In the moment, it feels like the worst idea ever, but just like the plunge, the benefits are massive, as is exposing yourself to negative feelings.
The benefits are: You are present for not just half of your life but all of it. You go after big, bad a$$ things because you don’t let fear, self-doubt, or insecurity stop you. You live up to your full potential when you are willing to expose yourself to these feeling states.
Just like the feeling one gets after running a marathon, giving a big speech, or getting a PR in their sport, that feeling of accomplishment outweighs the discomfort.
If you are a busy professional woman who wants to go after a goal, like losing weight, stopping drinking in the evening, or going after that higher role at work, I can teach you how to allow all the feelings that come with it.
Like the cold plunge, the feeling afterward makes it all worth it.
DM me to learn about my 1:1 and small group coaching containers.
