A Cheat Code for Energy and Focus

Amber and I have recently committed to doing a cold plunge first thing every morning. This has been an exercise in Resistance, and the results have been surprising.

A few things of note:

• By committing to doing this every morning, we’ve completely removed the need for motivation. The plunge is constant. It’s a must, not a should, and thus requires no mental cheerleading. I do not feel like I’m using my “discipline muscles” because there is no choice involved.
• EVERYTHING else in life has gotten easier. The strength training, the office work, and all the mundane daily to-do’s seem far less daunting. I am reminded of Joseph Campbell’s line:
  “The demon you can swallow gives you its power.”
  By doing the hardest thing first each day, everything else has become less hard.
• I have become far more Resilient. My endurance in writing has increased due to the simple fact that the Resistance I experience in my mind when confronting the blank page is nothing compared to the Resistance of freezing cold water at sunrise.
• I am happier. Far happier.
  You never know how you will respond to the difficult. I have taken to yelling while in the cold, in a sort of gleeful celebration: “I am the man who gets in the water.” Making this promise to myself, and keeping this promise, has strengthened my relationship to myself. I more enjoy being me because of this commitment.
• I have far more gratitude. Walking into a sauna, rather than the plunge, makes me so grateful for the heat. My warm bed at night looks like a gift from God (which it is) compared to the plunge. Warm showers have never felt so…warm. Everything is better because of those few minutes in the cold.

I write all of this to echo the simple sentiment: to the degree that I do difficult things, my experience improves. If today you go for that walk, or pick up those weights, or end the shower on cold because of this email, then it was worth it.

I need this reminder, constantly. Maybe you do to. If that’s the case, I hope this reminds you to do something difficult today.

With all the love,
Chris