Deep breath. Close eyes. Plunge!
Growing up, swimming was a huge part of my summer routine. Every Memorial Day, The Clarks would head out River Road to Palisades Pool and start the daily regimen of training for the upcoming season. To this day, I still remember the shock and dread of taking that first icy plunge into the pool each day.
Just recently, I renewed my morning swim routine with an old friend. A lot has changed in the forty years or so since those glorious summer swim team days. Marriage. Kids. Jobs. Age. But one thing has remained the same: the anxiety and pending dread of that initial plunge!
Recently, we were talking about overcoming our fears and diving right in, when my friend put the whole process in perspective:
“It’s actually good to feel an initial shock of cold from the water. Once we get warmed up, it will feel perfect. And if the water initially feels too comfortable, we will soon be too hot and have trouble breathing.”
Simple. But powerful.
My perspective on the whole process immediately changed. While not necessarily something I looked forward to, I no longer feared that initial dip into the water. I came to embrace the cold sting because I knew it would give me the motivation to swim harder and break through to the point of relative comfort. And that feeling of overcoming the discomfort and reaching my goals would stay with me all day.
Couldn’t we all benefit from a similar change of perspective in our work and personal lives?
Cold Water Can Make Us Feel Alive!
In our work lives, we take comfort in familiarity. And there is nothing wrong with gravitating toward what we already know. Existing clients can be a good source of new business. Taking on simple cases can give us a higher likelihood of winning. Facing easy opponents can build our confidence. Staying with the “devil you know” company can potentially prevent a huge misstep in our careers. But we can’t always wade into the lukewarm water.
If we stop challenging ourselves, we will grow bored and complacent, and the water will feel hot and uncomfortable. Sometimes, we need to reach out to new clients and diversify our base. Sometimes, we need to take on complex cases that seem “unwinnable”. Sometimes, we need to face the best team so we can truly test our mettle. Sometimes, we need to leave the nest and risk failure. Sometimes, a jolt of cold water is exactly what we need to feel alive!
We Can’t Always Seek Comfort
And the same is true in our personal lives. We all seek comfort, and that is only natural. There is so much suffering and anxiety in the world so anything we can do to reduce this is inherently good. But we can’t stop growing and exploring new challenges.
If a relationship doesn’t feel right, we can’t be afraid to make a change. If a financial investment yields mediocre results, we can’t be afraid to pull up stakes and double down on another opportunity. If we feel unsatisfied or without purpose, we can’t be afraid to attack a new hobby. If we make a habit of trading comfort for fulfillment, the water will start to boil.
There is a difference between seeking comfort and settling. We can’t ignore our authentic voice just because we fear the cold water. If we are driven to make a difference in our corner of the world, it is not always going to be comfortable. We can’t shy away from risks or potential ridicule. That shock of cold might be exactly what we need to jump start our lives!
We Have to Jump Back In
But there is a limit to what we can and should endure. Sometimes, we break out of our comfort zone only to break through the ice into unbearable water. Our business could fail. Our clients could reject us. Our finances could collapse. Our team could get embarrassed. Our relationships could turn toxic. We may suffer loneliness and isolation. There is no shame in jumping back out of the water to regroup. We don’t have to suffer hypothermia to find fulfillment in this world.
But we have to be willing to jump back in at some point. The next time we take the plunge, the water won’t seem so cold. We will gain confidence even in failure. And we will have the resolve to keep diving in over and over again.
We can’t always seek out the tranquil and warm waters. There is huge upside if we have the resilience to power through the cold and achieve comfort on the other side.
Sometimes, a little discomfort goes a long way.