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all right guys so today i want to tell you a story about cold showers so you're probably all thinking olly come on cold showers are you kidding me no cold showers are fantastic all right so for me cold showers um specifically the 30-day cold shower challenge is really what started me off into kind of my journey into self-discovery and self-awareness so let me explain back in first year i took part in the 30-day cold shower challenge which is very simple you take cold showers every day for 30 days that may mean you finish off a hot shower with a cold shower it may mean you go straight slap bang into the cold shower like a madman or you do an ice bath like you're a psycho all right but either way all you're doing is you're getting cold and by getting
cold you're getting uncomfortable and what does that mean the way i see it is you're implanting a wedge right in the middle of stimulus and response okay that's you that's your consciousness you have the choice to decide what you want to feel and how you want to act so for example in the start of the cold shower challenge my body was telling me bro what are you why are you doing a 30-day cold shower challenge and every time i walk downstairs to go to that shower my my whole body was swelling up before i even stepped in as i think nietzsche said we suffer more imagination than in reality okay so i was suffering more beforehand then stepping into the cold shower anyway so on the first day um i'm already suffering i'm like oh my god this is horrible it's gonna be so
bad i step into the cold shower and it is bad my whole body goes i hyperventilate you know the feeling and my body goes into state of shock but i found after a minute of breathing relaxing it's actually not even that bad i'm kind of enjoying this and i keep doing this for 30 days and eventually i get to the point where i'm almost enjoying these cold showers and so three years later i take cold every morning every evening i've been training the wim hof method for two years i've been i wear shorts and t-shirt basically all of winter and i love the cold from someone who absolutely hated the cold wouldn't even step in a cold shower to completely changing that experience around and enjoying the sensation how does that
happen and then it got me thinking why should i even trust my body in the first place if i trusted my body i would never tried i would never have started and this leads to so many other points in your life yes your body can be correct sometimes it's usually more intelligent than you are sometimes it's quicker it's fast if you've read thinking fast and slow it's the the type one of the brain it's the fast reaction but the type two is the one that says hey you know what this could be good let's try this and that's what i did with the 30 day cold shower challenge and now i feel like my whole life has changed and i've completely started on this journey due to that 30 day cold shower challenge so yes you may be thinking cold showers what does that even matter who cares you can look at it superficially and say right better skincare skin health better um hair increased
testosterone um more resilience to the cold you burn more calories more brown fat cool whatever that's another video what i'm talking about is this wedge all right between stimulus and response cold showers are a deliberate practice where i can practice that wedge that feeling over my body says to me this is too much it's almost like an evolutionary response it's cold water shock and i say to myself right breathe [ __ ] breathe relax breathe into this and you start to realize that breath is a way of controlling the body it's a conscious response by the mind when you can consciously control it you can learn to breathe and relax so now in life if i'm getting anxious before going on stage to talk if i don't want to talk to someone if i
don't want to go to the gym my body is telling me no but my mind my mind knows that it's good for me i've been i've heard from my people it's good for me i know from the past it's good for me and i think back to those cold shower days where my body was screaming at me not to do it and i over it over right now in life you can just take that same approach and you can apply it to everything in life and it's not just cold showers it comes in a plethora of other alternate almost like medicine kind of ideas of meditation qigong yoga exercise in general so many other ways to put this wedge between stimulus and response mind and body you your awareness and your body and you realize that you aren't the body you realize that you are something much bigger that's another video but if you guys who want to then maybe
get into cold showers after listening to this little talk i'd recommend just finishing off a hot shower but just turning into cold and just see how you react okay maybe it feels horrible maybe your body wells up and your chest tightens up and your belly feels like it's about to explode breathe relax and realize that you can do that in everything in life realize that you're practicing you're training you're telling your body that hey firstly i'm in control here and secondly we are comfortable when things get uncomfortable all right guys and you realize that you have a choice it's the whole point of being human right a monkey can't choose you can choose and you can train and you can practice and you can start to choose your destiny and choose how you react when you get angry and you get anxious when you get tense you can choose and
you can watch that just the same as the cold shower you can watch that emotion and you can say no i'm just gonna do this same thing with anger you feel angry you have to act on it you feel stressed you don't have to act on it it's not you it's the body all right guys so any questions you have with regards to cold showers please let me know in the comments below via dm on instagram facebook linkedin or any of those or look up the multitude of other cold shower and wim hof method and ice buff practices around there i'm making far more videos loads of videos on this link between the mind and body how you can train that calisthenics videos gymnastics videos but i wanted to start out my youtube channel specifically looking into how i started out my journey into self awareness in the first place
and i hope that maybe you guys might try this afterwards maybe tonight maybe tomorrow morning maybe after a gym workout just try that cold shower and watch yourself all right because by watching yourself you'll realize that you aren't the body and you have a choice and maybe it's about time you should start choosing who you want to be rather than riding the wave and being a slave to your body all right guys so choose your destiny
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In a world that often prioritizes comfort, the thought of stepping into a cold shower may seem counterintuitive. Yet, this simple act can serve as a profound catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth. By embracing the chill, we can learn to navigate discomfort, cultivate resilience, and ultimately transform our relationship with our bodies and minds.
The 30-day cold shower challenge invites participants to confront their fears and discomfort head-on. As one individual discovered, this ritual not only altered their perception of cold but also instilled a sense of control over their reactions. The journey into cold exposure (as explored in this deep dive) reveals a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection, offering valuable insights applicable to various aspects of life.
Why should I even trust my body in the first place? If I trusted my body, I never would have started.
30 Days in the cold shower challenge 2 Years training the Wim Hof method
Introduction to Cold Showers
Cold showers may initially evoke feelings of dread, but they hold the potential for significant personal transformation. By engaging in a 30-day cold shower challenge, individuals can begin to understand the relationship between stimulus and response. This challenge encourages participants to step into the cold, fostering a practice of mindfulness and self-awareness.
As one participant noted, "We suffer more in imagination than in reality." This statement encapsulates the essence of the cold shower experience. The anticipation of discomfort often outweighs the actual experience, revealing that our perceptions can shape our reality.
"We suffer more in imagination than in reality." — Speaker
Benefits of Cold Showers
The physiological effects of cold exposure are well-documented. Cold showers can improve skin health, increase testosterone levels, and enhance resilience to cold temperatures. Additionally, they may promote the development of brown fat, which aids in burning calories.
However, the benefits extend beyond the physical. Engaging in cold exposure can lead to improved mental clarity and emotional resilience. By practicing controlled breathing during cold showers, individuals learn to manage their body's responses, a skill that translates into everyday life.
Mind-Body Connection
The practice of cold showers serves as a deliberate exercise in cultivating the mind-body connection. When faced with the shock of cold water, the body instinctively reacts with anxiety and tension. Yet, through mindful breathing and relaxation techniques, individuals can regain control over their physiological responses.
This process creates a wedge between stimulus and response, allowing for greater awareness and choice in how we react to discomfort. As the speaker reflects, "You can train and practice and you can start to choose your destiny." This empowerment fosters resilience, enabling individuals to confront challenges beyond the shower.
Applying Lessons to Life
The insights gained from cold showers can be applied to various life situations. Whether facing anxiety before a public speaking event or grappling with stress, the lessons learned in the shower can guide our responses. The ability to pause, breathe, and choose our reactions is a powerful tool for personal growth.
As the speaker encourages, "Realize that you can do that in everything in life." This mindset shift allows individuals to approach challenges with a sense of agency and control, transforming discomfort into an opportunity for growth.
Words Worth Hearing
"Realize that you can do that in everything in life." — Speaker
Practical Takeaways
Consider integrating cold showers into your daily routine as a practice of resilience and self-awareness.
Use breathing techniques learned from cold exposure to manage stress and anxiety in everyday situations.
Contrast Collective | YouTube
You feel stressed — you don't have to act on it. It's not you. It's the body.