FridayFocus #5: Slow. Down.
Bobby Humes- Dec 6, 2024
- 2 min read
I’ve learned to like the cold. Cold showers, cold plunges, cryo chambers. It was always this way. I started cold therapy to aid in navigating my stress and inflammation. I enjoy being comfortable, and being extremely cold makes me uncomfortable. As I would prepare for my cold session, I’d repeatedly think about the pending discomfort. My anxiety would rise, and there were times I chose not to go through with the session because of the stress. Imagine that - stressing about the thing that’s supposed to alleviate stress.
I realized that I was playing an unfair game against myself. What I wanted from my cold therapy sessions was worth it - focus, calm, and a healthier body and mind. When I think back to what got me through and past my anxiety to keep going, I appreciate the grace I gave myself in simply slowing down my anxious thoughts and reminding my mind who is in control—slowing down my session prep and turning packing my bag into a therapy all its own. Bringing mindfulness to the table as I packed each item. Holding gratitude for those items' warmth would bring when the necessary work was over.
As the weather in my part of the world cools sharply, I’m using the air as free cryotherapy and a reminder to slow down. I’m bringing this focused pace to my interactions with other humans to reflect what the firm accomplished in 2024, what we’re up to in 2025, and what it will take to get us there. No rush, no hurry, no imagining the discomfort that is not happening - simply present, gratefully on mission. Pacing it out.
I am mindful that not all of us have the ability or interest to invest in cryotherapy. I write a lot on this blog about the benefits of coaching, and I’d encourage you to find a coach - I’m partial to a particular coach (wink, wink), AND there are tons of great coaches out there who will walk with you as you explore slowing down. I’m also mindful that anxiety can be overwhelming and require the support of a trained therapist, and I want to encourage you to seek that therapist urgently so you can be freed up to be your best you. Walk slow.
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