Over the years I’ve done a lot of work on myself to have a better EQ, but over the past couple of years as fatherhood entered my life, I realised I was still a bit too reactive for my liking.
I’ve always floated the idea of cold showers but just never did it. Fear? Uncomforting? I don’t really know why I didn’t. It changed recently when I came across some more understanding of the benefits and also, I got clearance after a recent heart disease diagnosis.
That diagnose scared me, and I know that if I don’t change some of my ways that my life could be seriously altered by a heart attack or stroke. That’s the reality that I live with, and for a time that was hard to reconcile in my own head. It reached a point where I made the decision that I could do everything in my power to try and reverse those odds.
Enter COLD SHOWERS- something I never thought I’d do. I wasn’t averse to entering the ocean for a quick dip every now and then, but it was time to step up for myself, my health and those closest to me. In the end, if I didn’t find the benefits, at least I knew that and could move on from it.
Here are some of my facts.
I’m day 23 today and have missed 4 days on that small journey.
30 seconds in the middle or the end of the shower.
Some days on my head and some days on my back.
The gasping for air at times has been quite daunting.
Is it working for me? Simple answer is absolutely.
Over the past 23 days the benefits I’ve found;
– Every day I feel calmer when the kids are throwing tantrums and in consultation with my wife, we have acknowledged I’ve been able to help her more effectively.
– My patience with clients who need a high level of physical or mental support has increased dramatically, allowing me to be a better support person in all my jobs.
– Clarity in everything I do has improved all aspects of my life.
– It feels like I have more time up my sleeve each and every day, despite actually having a busier schedule than I have ever had. It’s the management of the busy schedule which has I have impressed myself with.
– My ability to make smarter decisions in crucial moments has increased with my ability to see past the emotion.
– In circumstances where I feel I am getting heightened; I’ve been able to regulate my emotions via breathing with a lot more ease. (I am still human, and things still bother me)
– A big one is that I have been able to get to sleep each night easier and have been able to wake up with more energy to start the day leaving me on the front foot and not the back foot. Sleep has always been a huge issue for me.
– I haven’t felt the need to disassociate as often from life.
– Anxiety is a lot more distant as each day progresses.
Even as I’m writing this, I can’t believe the great impact of doing something so small has done for me and thinking about the long-term benefits of this makes me wonder what I can achieve moving forward?
Please remember to consult your professional if you need to prior to doing cold water therapy (the above is from my own experience and it’s important to understand that this won’t be beneficial for all, and I know for periods of my life it would’ve hindered my progress)