Doing Hard Things

I went for quick dip in the creek this week on a very rainy afternoon near a metal bridge by my house.

It was 40 degrees outside, and the water was about the same.

I went with a couple of people from my gym.

John…who has lots of experience with cold exposure.

And Diana…who like me…was giving it a try for the first time.

She had written it on her goal card just over a week earlier and was already going after it.

When I heard they were going…I was all in.

We met at the meeting spot at 1pm…and my stomach was doing flips and I couldn’t stop smiling.

I knew it was going to be hard…but I also felt really pulled to go through with it.

We got out of our warm cars into the January rain and wind, and I stripped down to my sports bra, biker shorts, and flip flops to protect my feet from the sharp rocks on the way into the water.

We approached the bank, and I set bag down, and folded it over on itself to keep my towel and phone dry.

I had intended on videoing the dip…but in that moment all I could think about was walking into that water.

John paused us at the bank and we took a few deep breaths….and then he said, follow me.

And in we went.

One behind the other.

And as the water got higher and higher up my calves to my knees and then to my thighs, I started to lose control on my breath and my senses became tunneled.

John said, now, dip down to you neck.

And I did.

And my breath was no longer in my control.

And I stood there, in the water up to my neck, deciding if I stay or if I run.

And then John said, I’d recommend you dunk your head.

And after a moment, I did that too.

And once again, I lost the feeling of controlling my breathing.

And it all felt very strange and swirly for a little bit longer.

And then things settled.

And my breath settled.

And my senses started to open back up again.

And I stood there in the water for a total of 2 minutes.

But it didn’t feel like 2 minutes. It felt both fast, and slow.

And then it was over, and we climbed out, one foot in front of the other while the feeling started to come back into my body.

I had done it…even though it was hard.

Even though I had to leave the warmth and comfort of my car to do so.

Even though my insides were screaming at me to turn around and go back.

Even though the people driving over the bridge were thinking that I was absolutely insane…

I did it. And I’m going to do it again.

Because there is so much to gain from putting ourselves into challenging circumstances on purpose.

And taking those forward steps…even though you know with all the certainty in the world that there will be pain.

And you also know that you indeed can do hard things.

And the more you do that, the better you get at it.

Just like we do when we make our art…and just like we do when we decide to put it out into the world.

Entrepreneurship is not always easy, it’s often times uncomfortable, and there’s no way to escape the pain that comes with it.

But things do settle, control will come, and you will surprise yourself with how badass you really are when you are willing to walk in to the freezing cold waters of your business and dunk that head all the way in.