How Cold Showers Helped Me Come out of the Closet

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Abstract

ing day was just like any other day but I was not the same. I was changed, I felt the change. I had energy, I felt a little bit of fearlessness (yes you read it right) and more present-minded. It could be a placebo effect or not I am not sure but I felt it nonetheless and that’s what matters.</p><p id="7999">Keeping up the routine reduced the ordeal of daily gasping for air during showers and increased the benefits throughout my daily life. As I said earlier for reasons unknown, I felt daring and tried things which I was afraid of doing. Don’t get me wrong it didn’t turn me into a knight in shining armor. But the cold showers did increase my audacity to test waters which were unknown to me before.</p><p id="ce7e">How? I found myself more confident during my corporate job. I spoke during conversations and meetings where previously I would have chosen to stay silent. I found appreciation and praise in people’s eyes. This similarly like the cold showers, became my routine. I found it increasingly easy to communicate with people. I started sharing my thoughts and feelings more easily and openly.</p><p id="a160">Just as when you open the tap at 7:00 am after getting out of your comfy warm bed, you have accomplished the most difficult task of the morning. Its all downhill from there, similarly when you speak up the first time when you previously hesitated to, when you give your opinion on some matter when previously you chose to refrain, you have accomplished the most difficult matter at hand. It is all downhill from there.</p><p id="42e0">The same thing happened to me. I started doing things which I only thought of doing. The feeling of actually enduring the ice-cold water gave me the push to do instead of just dreaming.</p><figure id="6382"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ZmRIDlLG_qxkGt5_6lT_SQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@fan11?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Fa B

Options

arboza</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="6af4">I always wanted to write. There is always so much going on in my head. The thoughts, the theories, the emotions. I always felt if only I could be able to share it to the world. I could yell what I felt and want to do at the top of my voice but never had the push or courage to do.</p><div id="abde" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/shallowness-in-our-children-bab7d913dc06"> <div> <div> <h2>Our Children Are Going to Be Shallow and Emotionless</h2> <div><h3>Do we need our future generations to ignore details, emotions and lack empathy?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*hnZSs3kiQS0qGGmU1Qfc8Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="d6fa">With little dozes of braveness every morning I started to implement my desires. When I started to write I was even shy to use my real name. I felt embarrassed to share myself and thought of choosing a pen name. But one step at a time, one small nudge every morning in the direction of doing, one small pull from procrastination after every shower changed my life.</p><p id="f549">Unfeelingly and unknowingly, I found myself doing what I always wanted to do. I found myself <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-love-hate-relationship-with-public-speaking-777c6162507c">speaking in front of a crowd</a> which seemed a distant dream previously. I found myself writing. I started to enjoy writing, initially about the world than about myself. The journey is still going on and I am not looking for the destination as it will be a shame for a journey so beautiful to end so early.</p></article></body>

Procrastination Got Afraid and Ran Away

It is not what you think. So proceed with your own will.

The first time I decided to take the cold shower was when the temperature was just above freezing (1degree Celsius or 33 degrees F). I woke up at 7:00 am when the sun hadn’t yet come out. I stepped in the shower and turned on the tap without thinking.

Wim Hoff’s philosophy of cold showers has been around for quite some time now. It is gaining traction with more and more people trying it.

It helped me with self-control, motivation, overcoming the fear of unknown waters, anxiety and a lot more. The moment cold water poured over my head, I found myself gasping for air. I have never been through a panic attack but I know the symptoms (thanks to The Internet) and I was having the same. I was having a panic attack at 7:00 am in my shower.

The ordeal lasted for 3–4 minutes and as soon as I turned off the tap an instant wave of warmth encircled me. I felt cosy, warm and relieved. There is a lot of scientific evidence as to why it happens but at that time I thought the reason is maybe I have done something extraordinary. I have done which I thought difficult, I have conquered a fear. And that sense of warmness, tranquillity at 7:00 am after taking a cold shower comes when you face your fear, overcome it, and endure it.

The following day was just like any other day but I was not the same. I was changed, I felt the change. I had energy, I felt a little bit of fearlessness (yes you read it right) and more present-minded. It could be a placebo effect or not I am not sure but I felt it nonetheless and that’s what matters.

Keeping up the routine reduced the ordeal of daily gasping for air during showers and increased the benefits throughout my daily life. As I said earlier for reasons unknown, I felt daring and tried things which I was afraid of doing. Don’t get me wrong it didn’t turn me into a knight in shining armor. But the cold showers did increase my audacity to test waters which were unknown to me before.

How? I found myself more confident during my corporate job. I spoke during conversations and meetings where previously I would have chosen to stay silent. I found appreciation and praise in people’s eyes. This similarly like the cold showers, became my routine. I found it increasingly easy to communicate with people. I started sharing my thoughts and feelings more easily and openly.

Just as when you open the tap at 7:00 am after getting out of your comfy warm bed, you have accomplished the most difficult task of the morning. Its all downhill from there, similarly when you speak up the first time when you previously hesitated to, when you give your opinion on some matter when previously you chose to refrain, you have accomplished the most difficult matter at hand. It is all downhill from there.

The same thing happened to me. I started doing things which I only thought of doing. The feeling of actually enduring the ice-cold water gave me the push to do instead of just dreaming.

I always wanted to write. There is always so much going on in my head. The thoughts, the theories, the emotions. I always felt if only I could be able to share it to the world. I could yell what I felt and want to do at the top of my voice but never had the push or courage to do.

With little dozes of braveness every morning I started to implement my desires. When I started to write I was even shy to use my real name. I felt embarrassed to share myself and thought of choosing a pen name. But one step at a time, one small nudge every morning in the direction of doing, one small pull from procrastination after every shower changed my life.

Unfeelingly and unknowingly, I found myself doing what I always wanted to do. I found myself speaking in front of a crowd which seemed a distant dream previously. I found myself writing. I started to enjoy writing, initially about the world than about myself. The journey is still going on and I am not looking for the destination as it will be a shame for a journey so beautiful to end so early.