Leaning into discomfort
A few years ago, I spent Sunday mornings jumping into the ocean. In the summer it was pleasant enough, but winter - bloody cold! During winter I joined a small group of 6-8 people in the morning darkness. We walked down the beach to where the water hit the sand, stripped down to our togs (swimwear), and stepped into the ocean. Everyone had their own approach. Mine was a steady walk with sudden stops to brace against the freezing waves. When my feet touched the water, my body and mind went into shock. "What the f**k?" I thought. As the water reached my knees, the pain kicked in, it felt like razor blades were cutting into my legs. A voice in my head urged me to keep going, and that's what I did. Gradually, as the water hit my crotch, armpits, and shoulders, I felt alive, despite the cold. This week, I started a new role at a different company. I’d just finished eight years in a job where I’d become comfortable, so comfortable I’d made a bed and fallen asleep in it. Every ...