When things get tough, I use to switch to my warrior mode: I imagine myself like an ancient warrior and see every problem like a death-match requiring all my strength, courage and stoicism. Every setback is a strike that I must endure. Every obstacle is a test of my will. Every pain is just a mean to harden my soul. In this mode, the harder it becomes the stronger I feel.
Last days have been hard for me. As anybody, when threats, bad news, and difficulties add up, my inner joy and energy tends to vanish. When this state of mind, lasts it can even lead to depression. And even if I didn’t reach that point, I must honestly admit that I was no more the optimistic, energetic man I like to be. I spent too much time in this mood, that’s why I’d like to share what I did to recover, hoping that it will speed up your recovery.
I clearly remember my first step on the path of self-improvement: I was 6 years old, alone in the dark, refraining from rushing inside my house, just standing in the yard at night, terrified by what could be lurking in darkness, but determined to stay where I was, determined to fight my fear. And that’s just what I did, for maybe 5 seconds the first time, 10 seconds the second one and so on until I could feel comfortable walking in the dark.
When I was suggested, years ago to experience cold shower, I had no idea of its usefulness. Now with many years of daily practice, I still discover some of its beneficial effects that I’d like to share with you.
First let’s define my cold shower protocol:
Getting wet with (very) hot water Wash myself with soap Set the water temperature to be as cold as possible Rinse with cold water I like to first wet myself with very hot water to amplify the thermal shock (ie.
Among all the qualities that will make you a better person, we’ll talk today about willpower.
I think there’s no need to explain why the force that will initiate your actions, help you endure adversity and prevent you from giving up is important. Willpower is a valuable asset to develop, so here are some techniques to improve it.
To help us structure our discussion, let’s use the commonly accepted analogy that willpower is like a muscle.
