Yesterday, I embraced the winter chill by taking my morning ice bath outdoors in a brisk -2°C/27°F temperature, marking my coldest plunge to date. And just a few moments ago, I took the plunge again, this time in snow—another first. By the way, I LOVED it!
Engaging in this daily ritual brings me a sense of pride for facing a challenge that I genuinely enjoy. Beyond the physical exhilaration, I’ve noticed lots of other benefits. My creativity explodes, I master my breath to calm my nervous system in the cold, and I marvel at how my body temperature adjusts.
Moreover, this morning immersion has become a powerful time for introspection. The real secret is that as I sit in the dark of 5:30 am, I connect with my inner child, offering the parenting she craves, and envision my Future Self applauding the breakthroughs and up-leveling.
As part of my Zone 1 morning ritual—drink water, dip into the ice bath, drink more water, meditate, make my Croatian-style macchiato, and write—I ask myself a crucial question: What else is possible for me? I mean…I just sat in ice water outside in the snow because I felt like it.
Amidst the hustle of the season, so many of us find ourselves racing to achieve a goal by January or overwhelming ourselves with busyness, turning December into a blur. Choose the perfect resolution! Leave 2023 in the dust! Hurry up and get a fresh start!
I get all of that.
Here’s the thing. Reflecting on our successes is crucial for building a foundation of self-trust and charting our path to future up-leveling. Many of us, particularly those socialized as girls and women, were ingrained with the modesty requirement—admonished not to brag, be humble, don’t show off. Breaking these rules often came with consequences, leading us to seek external validation and neglect our own internal markers of achievement.
I coach high-achieving women with advanced degrees and see it almost daily. The pressure to maintain momentum and stack up credentials is a familiar narrative. However, this drive sometimes propels us to move on without acknowledging our strength and accomplishments.
Recognizing our successes is not just a feel-good exercise; it is foundational for building confidence, nurturing self-trust, reducing anxiety, and living a life of excellence. You don’t need someone else’s approval of your success for it to count. My snowy morning plunge counts. Your silent persistence counts. Your public success counts. However, it only counts if you count it.
When the rest of the world is rushing toward 2024, I challenge you to slow down and strategize so that you can build effective, efficient, uniquely YOU momentum.