Knowing When to Take the Plunge

Newsletter #7

So yesterday I stepped outside of my comfort zone (again)...

I booked a single day retreat at the Peninsula Hot Springs with a group of strangers! Normally I'd be pretty nervous about this but since my Bali retreat earlier in the year, I was much less nervous than I expected (I ended up meeting some pretty cool people as it turned out)!

When I signed up to today, we had the option to add a guided "fire and ice" package. I have no idea what compelled me to select it, but by the time I arrived today, I was berating myself for being so stupid. I have been offered ice plunges before, and honestly thought it was the most ridiculous concept imaginable.

it felt amazing ... Afterwards

So fast forward to 2pm and it was "fire & ice" time. So with my two new retreat friends, I arrived at the challenge. I was more than a little bit anxious. 

1. First we got super hot in the sauna
2. Then they dunked us in the cold pool... wow, that was cold
3. Then back to the sauna
4. Then a 30 second ice plunge.. omg omg omg breathtaking (literally)
5. Then back to the sauna for a final heat up
6. And then a THREE MINUTE ice plunge... uh oh, RIP Bec...

Holy crap, how would I last 3 minutes when 30 seconds felt like a thousand knives stabbed into my body?

But guess what? I did and afterwards I FELT AMAZING.

The reason I could do it was because our facilitator was so inspiring. She spoke about how modern-day life had stopped us being accustomed to being uncomfortable. We live in this ultra climate-controlled bubble where we never have to be too hot or too cold and our bodies just simply weren't made for that on a cellular level.

She explained how cells can collapse and move through the body causing a host of problems like chronic pain, inflammation, cardiac disease, cognitive problems and so much more. However, through rapid temperature changes, our body can self-heal many of these problems. She coached us through the critically important breathing techniques and then cheered us along as we did it.

And it got me thinking about how this theory applies so perfectly to other parts of our life including, of course, our mental health.

So much growth and recovery is created from discomfort like:

• Coming to therapy
• Sharing difficult stories
• Setting boundaries
• Having uncomfortable conversations
• Challenging your thinking
• Doing hard things
  

Discomfort is where we start to experience transformation

Getting uncomfortable creates our biggest periods of growth. It's where we experience genuine transformation.

So, I'd love to ask yourself, where are you shying away from the potential benefits of getting a little uncomfortable??

I'd also love you to leave a comment and let me know!

Why not take the plunge (wink) and see what amazing things could come from it?

Bec x