This past weekend, I did something I’ve never done before…

A Wim Hof-style ice bath, hosted by my friend Stephen Posner.

It was cold outside. It was grey. It was already raining.

Standing in front of a kiddie pool full of ice, there was just about nothing I wanted to do less than get in that thing.

But peer pressure (and my life philosophy) dictated that I must go in. Sigh.

At first? I did not handle it well. At all. I tried to breathe, but I just couldn’t. The body’s physical response left me feeling powerless.

But after about 30 seconds, I was able to breathe again. I was able to balance. I was able to find a sense of calm that let me stay in that water for another 2.5 minutes.

The feeling of self mastery and personal breakthrough was astounding, and it was so important for me to get over that initial hump.

How many things in life are just like this?