A lot of people write me and tell me they’re miserable.
They hate their job.
They’re not healthy and they’re tired all the time
They don’t feel like they’re doing anything that matters.
But…when it comes to making a change…they hesitate.
When I bring up Cold Shower Therapy, they pause.
They have excuses, reasons they’re an exception or send me hate mail.
(Seriously, I’ve gotten more hate mail from people on that one piece than anything I’ve written in years).
They let me know.
It’s too uncomfortable. It’s too hard. It’s even miserable.
…or at least that’s what they tell me.
But, that’s what’s funny about it.
They’re already miserable.
They’re bored.
They’re sad.
They feel like they’re missing out.
Not because they’re taking cold showers, getting after it, pushing their limits and crushing it.
But because they’re stagnant, they feel suffocated, slow and embracing comfort at every term.
They’re miserable because they’re comfortable. They’ve lost the challenge, the drive, the will to push themselves, explore and live.
Here’s the thing,
Taking cold showers in January is miserable.
Running a long run when you want to sit on the couch and watch TV is miserable.
Doing the hard stuff is miserable.
It’s not always fun…
But it makes you better. Even better – it takes you somewhere.
It puts you in the game.
So you can either embrace the misery you’re in.
Or you can embrace the misery that takes you forward.
Embrace the misery of getting better.
Embrace the misery of getting stronger.
Embrace the pain of discipline.
Because it’s molding you, improving you and turning you into something better.
If you learn to embrace the misery, embrace the suck – you don’t mind when it gets hard.
If you can figure out how to make the switch in your head and enjoy the discomfort, it’s all gravy.
Enjoy the misery of being better.
Enjoy the suck of getting stronger.
Enjoy the pain of discipline.
And get after it.
Thanks, this is a great message. (I don’t know how you can ignore haters but try to.)
Thanks Joel, I needed that. I was having one of those types of days. So thanks. I take a cold shower every day anymore. Find it more enjoyable. I also try to hit the Steam Sauna-I like sitting in there at least 3 cycles love the feeling of sweat pouring off the body, then I rinse in between with an ice cold shower, then the Hot Tub, then the Dry Sauna, Swim some laps, Run some miles, Walk and generally for an old timer get after it as best as I can. I agreed with your post. I think the term is learning to be GRATEFUL more. Instead of the opposite. Not always easy but it sure is better than being sour. Have a great rest of your day or night wherever you are.
The suck of getting stronger is the worst. I’ve been getting my ass handed to me in grappling for the past 3 years. I refuse to quit because I can slowly see results on a daily basis.
Yes! Thanks for elaborating on this. It would have been useful for me to know this years ago, but what’s in the past is in the past. Now I know the way to go, and through every struggle I have with motivation, I always have a way to get back on track. The emotional pain of being stagnant has been so bad, (but I didn’t feel it until I got out of it) that now I can get back in action whenever I feel like I’m slowing down. Cold showers have been an integral part of that. Being in the cold in general has been something I’ve clung to, in no small part because it requires no skill, poses minimal health risks, and is relatively convenient. (I have only hot to lukewarm water where I live, no cold water until January)
This has bled into most other aspects in my life, and now I view many mundane tasks as challenges, as ways to enjoy myself, and as ways to bring meaning to my life. (because otherwise I’m just living to work, or worse, just living for pleasure, depending on someone else’s work)
I walk around campus, looking for fun parkour routes, occasionally taking them when my backpack load is light. I drive putting my best effort into perfect form, hoping to achieve what a self-driving car could do, or, when there are no other cars around, a bit of hypermiling, or low-speed racing.
Daniel, you mention that cold showers pose minimal health risks. You should do a little research and see the huge health benefits from cold showers!
Hey Joel, great post. It reminds me of the old saying that says “no pain, no gain”.
Instead of being paralyzed by pain we need to look for the good that it can bring us in our lives if we step out of our comfort zone and try something new.
Thanks Joel, I needed this!!! It’s a heat wave in So Cal so cold showers are welcome! I just moved to a new place, my whole body hurts. I haven’t been able to do yoga in 5 days. I just lost the love of my life. I have to go clean my old place tonight after working all day. I feel like crap. I just want to sleep. And I was feeling whiney…then I read your email just now and I knew it was for ME. So what if I am tired and my body hurts. I have a new fantastic apartment. I’ll dig into the miserable of cleaning tonight because it will be the last time I have to spend a couple of hours in my old apartment! My broken heart will heal. I’ll get my deposit back. I’ll suck it up and find that deep strength. Thanks!
Great post. Printed it out and put on the desk so that I can read it (and hopefully do something about it) whenever I am bored and sad (it happens a lot).
Joel, I’m not your typical CST participant. I’m 65 years old, morbidly obese, and pretty sedentary. But CST has changed my life! I started CST in May 2016 and immediately began to see improvements in my health. Even thru an injury in late June, I continued with the cold showers. I’ve started making small changes to move more and get out of the house more. For me this is enormous. I’m also investigating medically monitored weight loss options. I haven’t cared about my weight in several years – just figured there was nothing I could do about it. But CST has showed me that I CAN do anything!
Thank you so much for the encouragement!
F*ck what ‘they’ say…Keep spreading the word!
Joel, thanks for the article. My biggest problem is that my cold outdoor showers every morning are just not that cold, on Maui, at the beach! Nevertheless, I challenge myself with my businesses of http://www.shakacode.com/ and http://www.friendsandguests.com/.
“Friends and Guests” is in beta now. Please sign up, and I’ll get you on my guest list for Maui!
Such a good post – so true.
Something I’ve learnt over the past couple years is I actually get anxiety and depression when things start to stagnate. I used to think that having a full and busy lifestyle would be stressful, but its the other way round for me! I crave challenges and new opportunities and humdrum days just drives me crazy.
CST is something I do try to remember most days but I get lost in thought a lot of the time and I’m dressed before I realise I forgot! But when I do remember, it does help 🙂
Thanks for the inspirational post.
I’m amazed people would send hate mail over something as uncharged as how one takes a shower. Don’t let it get you down! There are far more people who don’t hate but just don’t write back behind each of those messages.
I have a neutral question about “dealing with the pain” – I’m on and off with CST and sometimes when I start up I get a cramp, either in a calf or the neck (where all my stress goes). Not a little cramp but a full lock-down that causes soreness for the rest of the day. Has that happened to anyone else? What’s the best way to work through that? I’ve only found an avoidance tactic, which is never to jump into cold, but start with room temp water, and turn it cold at the end. Any tips?
There is a saying that goes” People would love to suffer (misery) than make sacrifices (misery). Though both is associated with pain and discomfort they are a world apart. Thanks for your blog bro keep it coming!
Joel thanks for that uplifting post! I was already having cold showers in the morning before hearing about your CST and the reactions from the people I told about it were exactly the same. From my experience people always rather complain than solving their problems. I stopped trying to help everyone. Although it might be a mistake but I no longer offer solutions that I think I work to people who don’t ask for it.
Keep up your good work! I love it that you only post every once in a while!
Thanks Joel. I have been taking cold showers since December 2015 after a 30 day challenge turned into a lifestyle. I have not missed a day even when I got the good fortune to visit Switzerland in March. My mind continually will try to talk me out of taking a cold shower even after 10 months of doing it. Especially with the weather changing here in New England. I recommend cold showers to friends and strangers when we start to discuss good habits. They think I’m crazy. What is crazy is the results that have occurred from staying outside of my comfort zone on a daily basis. My day always starts with a cold shower.
Hey Joel
Mate I have been having a cold shower every day for the last nine months…including the dead of winter…it has to be the best thing ever…you cannot go back to warm or hot…cold all the way…and what did it was that TEDx talk you gave…since then I’m a convert…even though at times I still scream like a girl…oh my colleague at work she is now a cold shower convert also…