Wim Hof

episode 107

SHOW TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to the moonshots podcast. It's episode one Oh seven. I'm your cohost Mike Parsons. And as always I'm joined by the man who's rather IC it's Mark peace and feeling. Good morning. Ice cold. That's how I feel in this. At least in some parts of the world are sorted December-ish vacation vibe, maybe a little bit cooler than usual in the year.

I feel like this is a perfect time to really get into this rising stars star series, Mike. I agree. I think, um, you know, on the, on the last show we did Michelle Obama, but today we're taking another turn to somebody who got a huge, we got a huge response to the WIM Hoff Method (buy in Amazon) show. Um, we, uh, learned a lot from him and by my.

Has [00:01:00] there ever been a moment in time to think about what VMs to take? Th th the show itself was, and still is. In fact, when I listened back to it, um, it's kind of like taking a good ice bath for your body, as well as your brain. You know, there's so many incredible chap, you know, the amount of records and the accomplishments, you know, we, we can relist them in a second.

But for me, I was so excited when we got into this show because he is so physical and the physical elements that he goes into, particularly around breath work, which you and I have referenced a few times on the show makes a huge difference in your mind. But as well as your body and this concept of getting in, into a cold shower in the morning, or jumping in the sea or an ice buyer is, I dunno, it's kind of scary, but also kind of enticing.

Do you know what I mean? I think if [00:02:00] you're a moonshot, you can see the, the, the, the positive side at the end of it all, as for sure. But, but you're right. He's done some amazing things. Things like he's, you know, he's, uh, he's spent, um, he swam underneath ice and then I'm talking Arctic ice for 66 meters. He food in a container world covered in ice cubes.

Wait for this. For 112 minutes and it all comes back to breath because through breath, he can have this great power of mind over matter. It's an incredible story. He discovered this through the ah, heartbreaking suicide of his wife and through that, he's made it a positive. So through adversity, he's been able to find this gift and he's sharing it with the world.

Um, and. I think he is just signature moonshots. Don't you Mark? Exactly. That is the perfect kind of ingredients for an individual. Who's [00:03:00] gone through something potentially challenging and come out of it. Strong has something to teach us. And sometimes there might be a really physical, emotional thing with your family.

Maybe it's on the sports page or maybe it's in the boardroom, but all of our innovators, all of our moonshot thinkers. Have all these tips and bits of advice to teach us in how they accomplished it and how they got over it. And VIM here. He's, he's a fascinating one because not only did he go through such credible emotional hardship, but since then, he's kind of used it to demonstrate to you and I, and to our listeners and everybody around the world that.

It, it is mind over matter. You can climb Kilimanjaro as in your shorts. However, addiction amazing is that, you know, in these incredible and surprising feats of endurance, uh, he can show us well, if I can do [00:04:00] it in climb Kilimanjaro, you can do it sitting in the boardroom. You've just got to think about things in the right way and control your breathing.

Control your risk. Yeah, it's, it's very powerful way to think about dealing with stress and anxiety and fear of which frankly look 2020 has had a. Truckload of that, um, for everybody, um, you know, dealing with so much uncertainty. And so we really feel that going back to VIM Hoff, who is most definitely a rising star of 2020 to learn how to breathe, to be in the moment and to realize that anxiety is just an energy and we have all of the tools we need to.

Reduced stress and anxiety, and we can use it by the power of the mind. And what he's taught us is the way we can open that up is through breath. One big deep breath, and it re [00:05:00] uh, introduces us to our bodies, which is the vehicle that carries all those crazy thoughts and all those whispers, um, in the back of our minds.

So, Mark, are you ready? Breathe in I'm ready. All right. So as we all take a breath, let's, uh, reintroduce ourselves, um, to the unique character. He is mr. VIM, half. There are Wars. And I met a beautiful woman, the mother-in-law of Nigeria to come and not living with him for 15 years. And we had four children.

There were eyes there, those windows to the soul, as she was alive, he was so alive and so sensitive.

I say we can't touch by. I don't know. I want it. So I need his stress. Cause depression came in, [00:06:00] she became a different person, such a beautiful woman. So open the mother of my kids. 15 years later, she jumped from eighth story down.

I didn't see it coming, but as to what a declining line of life getting out of control and that I was alone with four kids, this is life beyond is I must open up power when I couldn't do it anything, but I always had this. Deep strange feeling. There's something more, and I don't know what it is and it's not in words, it's a feeling it's a graving from the inside, from the soul from [00:07:00] survival, but it got into me like a flash and I had to go on the spot to show the world don't we don't need to be powerless in the face.

The face of death, the face of darkness, depression, fair trauma, PTSD. Oh, schizophrenia. It wasn't that I was looking for it. I just wanted the answers of life. Like it is a booth, right? To know why you're here, why you're here as a father of two to bring purpose. That is the simple, and it is being torpedoed and Bo bought.

And my old character thinks and confusing sets in. No, this was too much. This was the emotion torn in my heart. To [00:08:00] be healed, not for only to become aware how to do that, to take away the darkness for the others to come. That was my journey. So how to begin. The only thing I had was my instinct, my intuition.

The way it started now, what do you do? You do 26 rackets in ice. Cold water is the most dangerous you go climb Mount Everest, you shorts that would kill most people. You swim under the ice and lose the weight and you don't know where you're at and it's frozen. And you don't know. There you go. So by, I was able to stay for five to seven minutes every time under the ice.

And the only thing I had down

[00:09:00] at the side, getting a win as D Bay inside, which we have lost silence. Too powerful silence is dense. It's what I filed.

Oh, what a, what a start to the show. Wim Hoff telling us is, you know, frankly, terrible heart-wrenching story, but it's got such a positive outcome. I mean, it's. It's it's amazing that he was able to overcome something so personal and, and haunting, but actually makes such a difference around him at the same time.

You know, this was such an event in his life that could have easily overcome him as well as his family. And what did he do? He refused to give up that resilience is something that we talk about on the [00:10:00] show a lot. And what he did was he went and did what was seemingly impossible. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro doing these unbelievable feats of human endurance.

And he came out and proved with science and data that actually the human body was far more powerful and far more resilient, I think, than, than anybody ever really assumed. Uh, it's actually very exciting to hear all of this from women. Isn't it? Yeah. And the interesting thing, it was almost like. He had to experience this extreme grief that drove him into extreme physical conditions in order to resolve the suffering.

Now, I know that all sounds a bit dramatic and what we're trying to do here is work out how to learn from innovators. [00:11:00] But I think. Uh, the story and the takeout for me there is that if we're embarking on any, creating anything new in the world to make our dreams come a reality, they are actually going to be moments of stress and anxiety and fear.

And we learn a lot about that, uh, with Bernay Brown. But what VIM is showing us is the other side of this, the physical side. And, um, what I've learned in my life is that if I want to be great in the office, I need to go be great at the gym, or I need to go be a great running, uh, you know, five, 10 Ks. Those things are interlinked.

And I think the story of him shows us that the linkage and the relationship there, and I think the big takeout for all of us on the show today [00:12:00] is that. We live in a world where we don't, uh, you know, have to chase tigers away and scavenge for food. So we often sit inside, comfortable places all day long, and now we sit in front of technology.

Often all day long and we become detached from our body, from our feelings because of that. So that's why we're looking at millennials being, uh, one of the highest suffering generations of anxiety. Uh, yeah, the world, um, has, uh, so many good things happening. And I think it's this disconnection from our bodies that we're going to learn about VIM is going to bring us back into ourself with breath, with cold showers.

And I think what we're going to reveal over this show is truly you are what you think, and you can do anything if you put your [00:13:00] mind to it. And, um, we're going to get some very powerful tips and tricks. Rituals behaviors and habits on how to do that. It's going to be a block Busta. Mark. I'm hoping that you and all of our listeners are really, really ready to embrace the code as Veem half would want us to, I can't wait to get started.

I'd say it's going to be a. Hot episode, but really the truth is it's going to be ice cold and very cool. Indeed, indeed. Now, um, we've been very fortunate to, uh, receive some more, uh, feedback and suggestions, uh, from our audience, which really truly does these days never stopped surprising me, uh, where we can find.

Uh, our wonderful, uh, audience, uh, giving us reviews and [00:14:00] ratings and sending us emails. What's been new in the mailbox, Mark. Well, it was lovely waking up one day this week and receiving a very nice email from Frederick who got in touch and said he loved the Jim Collins series. One of our series on, um, incredible innovator that you can find on our, on our show.

And he also gave us a good recommendation for Patrick Leon on the. Two, we'll add to the list and hopefully get to very, very soon. So thank you, Frederick for getting in touch. We love receiving your emails. We do. And, uh, we popped up, um, I thought this was rather neat. We've popped up in the top hundred list, uh, for the podcast in, uh, none other than, uh, Cyprus.

Uh, where else did we pop up for the first time, New Zealand, hello, to all the Zealanders and, um, the, the Brits are showing their hand as well. So it is wonderful to receive feedback and thoughts and suggestions from all around the [00:15:00] world. Ask all of you. If you're listening to the show right now, and you have the chance to grab your device, go give us a rating.

Give us a review, please, because this is how new people can discover the show. It's critical to getting the word out, to help all of us learn from innovators. And with that said, Mark, I think it's well and surely time to kick off, um, the next clip from VIM Hoff. So. Where shall we start? Well, we wanted to start, there would be no sense in starting this incredible episode on whim without really delving into one of his most well-known techniques.

So the first part of the show, we want to talk about, uh, physicality and your body and where we're going to start with is women telling us a little bit about how we can all take, uh, attention and ownership. From the first moment in our day and how we [00:16:00] can take ownership of something that will affect your body, uh, as well as your mind, but really, really give you a moment of, uh, should we say sharp, um, energy from the very, very get-go.

So here's whim telling us a little bit about taking attention right now with a cold shower. Killer number one in our society is cardiovascular related. It's big time. And that is because we were close. We are never being stimulated through cold, warm and pressure. It's no longer there. So there's a mediocre state of our vascular conditioning and that pulled that we take cold showers and there's some shock to the system that does the

We do it consciously. And with that, we connect even with the brain, with the vascular system all over. And it's amazing how simple it can be, how simple we can. Tech tackle this serial [00:17:00] killer they're cardiovascular related diseases. We can tackle it. A cold shower a day, keeps the, taking a cold shower a day, keeps the doctor away.

That's a new one back, but I will tell you this. Um, we have both. Recently converted to this idea. And I have to say as much as it is challenging and hard to take cold showers. I actually think it really, my personal testimony is it really, really works. Have you found it, man? Yeah. I think this is such an interesting, um, topic to really go over, uh, this idea of hormesis and reigniting those Capella trees, as well as, you know, giving yourself that wake up in the morning.

It is it's, it's certainly a challenge, but I love it because you really. Get out of the shower feeling totally awake. Um, what I [00:18:00] think is quite an interesting topic to talk about on the show is this developing as a new habit? So Mike, how long have you been taking these cold showers now? Uh, I think for third part of the year, so I would say at least three or four months.

Yeah. So that's perfect. So you've really, really developed this as now a daily habit, which is fantastic for me, who, um, you know, wants to pick up taking cold showers as a brand new habit. How long did it take you approximately until you weren't so frightened to hop into a cold shower every morning? Um, I think, uh, I think, let me, let me try and reflect back on it now, because you know the interesting thing now a bit like when you've broken the hump of exercise, I'm at the point, um, much like when you don't exercise, you know how you can get grumpy it's if I don't take a cold shower, I can get grumpy.

Well, that's what I was, what I was [00:19:00] gonna poke around for, because yeah. My  nice cold shower is similar to adopting a new habits, such as writing a journal every day or making your bed every day. And I read that it can take a good couple of weeks before your body starts responding well to it. And when it does, it can actually almost push back when you've stopped doing it.

It does. And, and first of all, before I talk about that, the habit process, the thing that I wanted to share with everyone is if you want to awaken in the morning, Wholeheartedly, you know, exercise is fantastic, but taking a cold shower is equally powerful. So, um, I just went for the tri-factor and every morning I wake up, I take a cold shower, followed by a double espresso, followed by a [00:20:00] 5k run.

And I cannot tell you how on top of the world, that makes me feel, it sets me up for the day. Like basically the days of success after that, it is incredibly hard for me to get to the end of the day and feel pretty down on the day. I think the most, uh, I want to get really specific about the benefit of the culture, the feeling I have.

Like, I'll go back to this morning. The feeling before and after the shower. So basically the ritual is before you shower, you do some really deep breathing because, um, I'm not a scientist, but my general understanding is that when you jump into cold water or take a cold shower, your breathing treaters and goes really crazy.

And that can be a, like a flight response. Um, so you want to control your breathing, control the situation. So I go into the shower. And I start, um, right in the middle. And generally I've always [00:21:00] been sort of, uh, I don't know, I guess a two thirds, if you look at the, the actual tap in the shower, so already starting it, halfway point is, um, a little bit on the chilly side.

It's not, not uncomfortable and what I've basically done. Is I try to stay under a cold shower for 30 seconds. The big difference over the last months is that I say in the absolute a hundred percent cold range for longer, and I start colder and colder over the weeks. Um, and what I find is even on the weekends, I choose to do the same ritual that I have every weekday, because I just feel so.

Damn good. And after I go into the shower, I'm breathing deeply. I'm trying to be as in control as I can. And I turn the faucet as cold as possible, [00:22:00] and I fully move around. I let the water go in my head and in particular, my shoulders and my back cause there's big muscle parts across my arms and it gets really cold.

And then I just go until I can't go any longer. And I just try and. Lost a little bit longer every week. Now, within seconds of stopping the water, my body has like this electrical current running. It that's the best I can describe it by the time I've dried up and got into my running gear. I am so, uh, Calm but alive I'm um, it, it was like I had an espresso 20, 30 minutes ago.

Um, and it's a bit different from the, you know, caffeination, um, it's a bit different from the run is high. You get after you run. It is, and this is a big theme of insert. I'm [00:23:00] incredibly peaceful. I'm incredibly calm, but very awake. So I'm not like kind of dopey sleepy later at night, come I'm really present.

And my breath is great. My body is great. And this one, I'm doing my best job to be an Iceman here and to present the benefits to you and all our listeners Mark taking this cold shower is. Really transformational. You've certainly described it in incredible detail and actually the way that you've described it.

I now want to go and have a cold shower, this idea of electrical current. I do know what you mean. I can't, I can't claim that I've done it for as long as you have. And 30 seconds to me sounds. Terrifying, but maybe I'll get this. I think you're exactly right. This is exactly what Wim is talking about in all of the rest of our clips.

This idea of being [00:24:00] present in the moment, but also being very, very calm laser-focused and awake. I think that's such a powerful word. Isn't it? That much like you to staying at the beginning of the show, this. Anxiety, uh, that I think a lot of people have nowadays is because there's a slight disconnect from our bodies.

But I think at the very cause of that, one of the simplest ways, which is exactly what women saying here is to just take a cold shower, we can all do it when we're at home. And that connects you back in. Yeah. Yeah. And you can't look at, you cannot think about anything else. Then breath and the cold for 30 seconds, because it's so intense.

And I find that so refreshing, I've such a, a heavy mental Workday that the fact that you can be very early in the morning, you can have just. Meaning yourself in the moment. It is such [00:25:00] a nice anchoring point for the day. And it really, I think what it does is it sets you up to understand that. This technique that VIM Hoff is bringing to us, um, gives us amazing capacity and amazing power, uh, to feel alive and to, to really go out in the world, uh, and be our very best selves.

So we have this next clip, which is all about. Embracing the things that come our way and to really harness both our capacity and our power. So let's again, have a listen to the Iceman, mr. VIM Hoff. If you go in to the eyes, you're really not thinking about your mortgage or your wife or this or that.

You're not going to picnic. You feel the focus will be on your feeling. How to get this feeling into adaptation and to [00:26:00] overcome the whatever is coming and it goes directly. And I tell you, the cold has been my teacher. I just followed the teacher. The feeling learnt to let go intuitively I felt I want to do this.

I did yoga. I did Kung Fu did all kinds of things and great. But the cold is really right. Merciless, but righteous and I was ready to go in. I felt intuitively I want to go in because it's got something. I don't know what it is. And yes, I went in and I felt it. The connection was there beyond any word. And that's what I was looking for.

This tapping into deeper parts of the brain feeling, pure energy, feeling, power, innate capacitative power. We have to deal with that. I was looking for that. [00:27:00] And since then I went on and on and on. I know I did all these records and many more challenges. I did crazy stuff, really sitting old at night in your shorts, outside in freezing temperatures and feel great.

That is something that is power and I've been venturing and discovering more and more. And finally I began to realize, but it's all in the mind. This idea of cold or the pain of that experience being a teacher, I think is pretty aligned with some of the, uh, topics and innovators we've discussed in the past, actually on the show, this idea of embracing.

The discomfort, embracing challenges using that, you know, pain? Well, they, like I say, Oh, as whim says the cold as an opportunity to you get a little bit tougher, get a little bit more power from it. Like you say, with the electronic vibe that you have a new experience, God shower [00:28:00] for me, that is your body kind of getting the energy from that discomfort.

Um, and I, I think he's, he's, he's directing us to find. Challenges or speed bumps or, or stresses in our lives and to go and experience that. What would, what do you get from that? Mick? I think what he's, um, touching upon is, I mean, I love that point that he made, it was very Joe Rogan ish, which is embracing the discomfort, but I think it, what it is, is it's.

More than that. If you follow this line of thinking, it's resetting yourself, and I think this physical reset, um, through maybe a cold shower or a hot sauna because of their intensity, I think part of the, the benefit is the [00:29:00] stimulation that it gives to your senses into your nerves. But I think more so.

Where it really helps us as we're trying to be. The very, very best version of ourselves is I think it is the perfect antidote to this always on hundreds of emails, notifications, lots of calls, lots of meetings, which are all in your mind and more than ever, we're often working from home. And so. We're not getting out into the physical world and putting our bodies, which are designed to go hunting together.

And, um, we are not, um, balancing this high cognitive load with a high physical load. And this idea that he is bringing to us is that we need to actually keep those imbalanced otherwise. We start to get, um, some [00:30:00] symptoms. Uh, we get some mental imbalances that lead to physical and emotional problems. And we see this as rife in society.

I really think this is the gold of what VIM is doing is getting us back to our primal state. To be the very best we can be in the 21st century. Oh, I like that. That's a great, uh, direction and I, I think you're actually spot on that's exactly what he's trying to encourage. So for me, what I, what I take away from what you've just said is as well as women saying is, is a challenge.

I, I, I wake up in the morning. Um, one of the first things I'll do either when I get to the office or from home is exactly, as you say, check emails, I'll see lots of notifications. And for me, my way of dealing with that, um, you know, perhaps anxiety is [00:31:00] either to go straight in and start responding to it, or take a moment, have a breath and go for a run.

We'll do some exercise and try and maybe work off some of that, uh, in modern view, what used to be called nervous energy. Maybe it's just now energy, I suppose, this idea of throwing, um, exercise or something physical at it, I think is what you're saying. And what women saying, which is finding that balance between an stimulated mind and an under-stimulated body.

Exactly. And what this leads us to is this idea of don't be a victim to the circumstances, right? Don't let the information drown you take control. And we actually have the means of doing this, whether it's in positive rituals and habits, not only of the [00:32:00] mind, but also of the body and of how you feel. Uh, so this just sets us right up to go into the next gift from the Iceman.

So let's have a listen to VIM Hoff talking about taking control. The scientist after giving me a endotoxin virus and bacteria, they, so I have no symptoms. I can control my fever. I can control it all through breathing and believing or the mind using the mind plus breathing suddenly I was able to serve press where others couldn't in all those controlled studies, all these audit tests.

Subjects didn't show dose or results of bringing down these inflammatory markers and showing to be able to go into the endocrine system controlled and such a controlled adrenaline shoot up through the body, making the body, being able to [00:33:00] function to the utmost completely under the will. Then bacteria has no chance.

Cold has no chance. Heat has no chance. Stress. In general, it has no chance. People who are under stress, like anxiety, depression, fear, trauma, PTSD, name it, any mental mood disorder or mental disorder is able. Now, if we bring this. Ah, through competitive study is done able to counter act and not be effective of distress or the out of control brain.

Bring back the sense of control. Make it feel good. Does this big demon is it's just removing. This is a clip that I think demonstrates women as being a real innovator. He's experienced this trilogy as we heard it earlier in the show. And he's. Essentially hurled [00:34:00] himself into experiences and challenges that have allowed or sorry, trained him to understand his body and understand his mind and what he is now proving through data and science is that if others were to follow him and others words who listened to his teaching, You can control and suppress, or maybe channel some of this anxiety that we're all for me, that's kind of, kind of like a new product.

Isn't it, it's a totally new way of thinking. It's a new approach to all of our lives. Um, and what I like most about it though, is it's founded in science, which I think is quite unique. Yeah. Well, let's put this in context. Um, Do you realize anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the us affecting nearly right for this nearly one [00:35:00] in every five people in the U S according to the who that is crazy 20%, that that's huge.

That's a lot of the population, the nation suffering from anxiety, and that affects your work life, your home life. Oh, thanks. Yeah. And so I think that, I mean, there's a couple of parts to this. I also want to share just for a moment, just to focus on some of the details of this test that VIM was talking about.

So he was injected with a viral bacteria. And he did this in a hospital, in the company of doctors and medical experts. And he was able through nothing but mental will to show [00:36:00] no symptoms of the virus. So everyone said, okay, VIM half the ice man is just a unique character. So he says, okay, I'm going to teach, uh, um, 12 other people to use the same technique.

And Mark, what happened when they gave the bacterial, uh, virus to those 12 people? It's exactly the same. What happened to whim? Nothing. Isn't that amazing. They were completely immune one day. They were. And so. Take this with a grain of salt, but I think what it demonstrates, what we've been able to take from VIM, remembering that this all started with the suicide of his wife, leaving him with four children is he has gone to explore in that sort of that grieving process.

These extreme physical States. In order to [00:37:00] balance out that physical, emotional risks and through breath and culture. How is, what he's learned is that we have this enormous capacity, city and power, and this is perfect for the modern age, for the post COVID age of suppressing stress and anxiety and fear.

And it shows you this long, long lasting truth. You are what you think. And the greatest gift that we have is that we do have, we might not control some of the crazy geopolitical things that are going on. We might not, might not correct, uh, control some of the societies, so disconnect, but what we do control.

Is our mind is our thoughts. And I think this is so powerful. If you're going out in the world, trying to design, build, create a product or service. If you're trying to build a company, if you're just trying to be the best you can be [00:38:00] in the office or at home, I think this central thought of. You are what you think.

And you can introduce these rituals to kind of frame your thinking through your body and your feelings. I think this is powerful, powerful stuff, but more than anything, Mark, I think there's never been a time where this thinking from VIM Hoff, the ice man. There's never been a time where this is more relevant and more applicable to how we work.

I think you're totally right. You're totally right. It's something that we all struggle with. Uh, you know, 20% of the U S wow. I mean, I, I certainly, as I've referenced already, I wake up, I see lots of notifications and it does, it's pretty off putting isn't it. And I'm like, I'm sure you're the same. If not worse with your emails and notifications, I will, I will tell you that, that, that the greatest gift is batching, uh, your [00:39:00] emails and, um, don't no matter what's happening.

No matter what's happening. Don't read your emails. First thing in the morning, at least make a diary entry, at least take a cold shower. Think about what you want to get out of the day, because once you open up the inbox, then your mind's racing and, um, You know, the, the sprint is is on, but let's just, let's just pause for a moment because we've still got a ton more to give you.

I hope all of you out there listening in these wonderful, exotic places. Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Norway, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands. Good on you, Netherlands. . Hope you're tuning in and enjoying it, uh, right through to chili, Vietnam, Slovenia, Estonia, Uruguay, Qatar, Nepal. We've got listeners all around the world.

We hope you're enjoying this journey where we kind of, [00:40:00] we kind of learn out loud. Don't we? Mark? It's sort of you and I just breaking it down, trying to work out. How to do things just a little bit better, that's it? And we love it when our listeners get in touch. So thank you again to Frederick for reaching out and giving us a recommendation on who he'd like us to cover.

We've had a handful over the past few months of great suggestions. And what I'd love to encourage is if you are listening to us, Leave us a review, leave us a rating, share it around with friends, but also send us an email@helloatmoonshots.io and let us know what you're thinking. Let us know your feedback.

Uh, if it's criticism, please be gentle. Um, but also send us any recommendations for innovators. You'd love us to cover because our list is always growing and we're always keen to hear what you all listeners really, really get from the show. Absolutely. And, um, I think, uh, there's nothing better [00:41:00] than, than receiving suggestions from our audience because, uh, it's a real gift to, to break down these amazing innovators and then share it with the world.

So we love it. When you send us your ideas, people who inspire you, um, we can always find something to learn from these great people and talking about learning something from someone surely, right? VIM, Hof, the Iceman has gotten more install for us. In fact, I think it's safe to say Mark. We're about to go next level in the power of thought in the power of your mind, where shall we go now?

Well, I think based on the clip that we just heard about suppressing these feelings of anxiety and stress, I think a lot of that comes from fear. Whether it's opening your emails in the morning or considering whether going for a run in the rain. I think this idea of, of fear [00:42:00] is, is, is quite powerful. So the next clip we're going to step into is a little bit more around your mind.

And this first clip of this section of the show is about whim telling us that key to getting there is really about laser focus. I'm a man on a mission. I want to take away fare, you know, uh, irrational fears. Traumatic fears, PAs Korea, because you do not handle mental issues, grief, emotion, PTSD, uh, trauma, depression, those things we are going to tackle, and somebody has got to do this and I shoot half.

No for you. To accomplish that, you know, a man on a mission should not think in fear, he should go and accomplish its mission and be focused. So there I am. I feel like everybody, because it's natural to feel fear of failures, or you said no, no, I fear. I [00:43:00] feel fear like everybody, but your, it doesn't hold you back from moving forward.

Absolutely not. Come on, man. It's much too important. Come on, man. It's not too important. So, um, he's talking about focus, uh, in your mind and really eyes on the target, but there are things that come along that can cause us this, this stress and this fear. Um, so. What's your little habit and your little ritual of when there's something that could cause you this anxiety.

Ma what do you try and put in place so that you don't get blocked by fear? Yeah, I love it. It's great. I'm so glad you asked me because I've I've. I wanted to delve into it with yourself as well, Mike, I mean, for me, It's it's particularly prevalent when I'm really busy when we're doing late [00:44:00] nights or early mornings or lots of heavy work during the day.

And sometimes it just comes from doing new things. It doesn't, it can be a little bit of, I personally, I get a little bit afraid of trying something that I haven't tried before. So the way that I counteract that is, uh, when my mind is very busy and it's running a marathon, thinking about different things and tripping over itself.

I look at something I focus on. Maybe it's a white board or the keyboard or my pen and paper. And I look at the details. I'll look at their little shape of something. I'll look, light's reflecting or the material of, uh, of my jeans or whatever it might be. And for me, that's, that's a nice way of anchoring myself back into.

Reality. So to speak, bringing myself back into this present moment. And then for me, at least it anchors me again and I can start to think a little bit straighter. [00:45:00] So rather than my mind running. Nice. Yeah, it's kind of like my own version, I guess, of a cold shower. Maybe not quite as confronting, but, but a little bit more private, perhaps focusing on the detail.

And then in a little meditation, right. It sounds like you're just disconnecting for a second, taking a breath, just getting context, right? Yeah, exactly. And said taking context of the situation, reminding myself. Okay. Where am I? Okay. I'm here. I'm in the office. Perfect. Perfect location to do work. Now I can get back into it and he contextualizes it.

Yeah. Yeah. I think that that's really interesting. And how do you feel, so think about a moment that you did that recently. How do you feel when you've had this little, uh, this little meditation? How do you actually not too dissimilar from your electric [00:46:00] current? Actually, that's very interesting. So as fascinating.

Yeah. You feel a little bit more awake sometimes. You get a little bit cloudy when your mind is overrun with anxiety or stresses, doesn't it, it kind of feels like you've got a lot of cotton in your ears or around your eyes and you can't see everything in detail because you're laser focused. It's something in your brain.

You're thinking about an email or something that somebody said. And for me, this is a nice way of sort of. Giving everything, a bit of a wipe kind of sticking your head under a car shower or on top of a mountain, you know, you've got all the breath, uh, and the wind, um, kind of rustling everything away. Um, D dusting, everything perhaps, and for the, I feel more awake, I feel more focused.

I think. Um, the, um, the interesting thing that I do is I do a couple of things, very [00:47:00] different. So I'm going to try the little meditation thing. Um, In line with what you do. I create movement. Like I physically just get up and move. Um, whether it's walk around the office, go for walk outside. I, I find that very, very helpful.

Um, but to kind of frame sort of a different type of behavior, uh, this is gonna sound very different. Is I attack the fear. Okay. So, so what I'm talking about there is if something's bothering me, uh, I try to identify it. I tried to break it down. Uh, I tried to speak to people directly related or seek advice because.

What I have learned in [00:48:00] my early career is I kind of avoided the fees and the wineries, and they would always just fester and come back and be 10 times worse. So the habit that I've built, if something doesn't feel right, I attack it. And I don't mean. With aggression. I mean, forensically, I get into the problem.

I write it down. I seek advice. I actually try and explore what actually is worrying me the most. And it's generally it's the possible most negative outcome. So if you break things down, if you attack it, um, what you will often find is that if you do a couple of things, you can minimize the stress, anxiety, and fear related to that.

And then. One of the greatest gifts that I'm still trying to work out and adopt is to compartmentalize, which is the capacity that once I have attacked, what is causing me, anxiety, stress, or [00:49:00] fear, or try and put it in box. And I try and go through a ritual of resolving that I've done, what I can and what will be will be.

And this. Uh, is something that I'm really exploring. So I encourage, uh, to go and explore it. And if we have any listeners that have got some advice on compartmentalizing, putting things in a box so that they don't worry, um, I would love to hear from you@helloatmoonshots.io, but here's the thing, Mark. I want to be in a place no matter how big.

Well, how small the issue. I want to do everything that I can, that when I turn off for the evening or when I have finished with the thing itself, that it doesn't continue to return to my mind, because if it's returning to my mind, it tells me I haven't dealt with the fear itself. Because my brain is coming back and saying, Hey, what about this?

What about this classic [00:50:00] example? Math? Have you ever thought about something that happened at work through Monday to Friday? Have you ever thought about that on the weekend? Yeah, too many times. Absolutely. Right. So I have the same thing. So what I try to do is this ritual of compartmentalizing by the end of play Friday.

So. As little as possible comes to me through a negative lens over the weekend. Sometimes I get some really nice thoughts about work on the weekend, um, which are growth related. Uh, breakthroughs on some products I've been thinking about or whatever. But the thing that, that for me is key here is don't let the fear block you.

That's what VIM Hoff is really reminding us of. And whether it's the, the, the Matt Pearson Freeling meditation, or there it's. You know, attacking the [00:51:00] fear, forensically, riding it down, breaking it down because you know, once you break down the things that worry, they're often not nearly as big as you think.

And the stress really comes from the unknown, not knowing what might happen, but if you're taking ownership of that, writing it down, working out what worries you and taking a course of action. It can actually be deeply relieving of stress. And it shows my that if, whether it's the meditation or the compartmentalization, we can get on the bike, we can go and be the best version of ourselves.

We can do amazing things. And I think this is the power of what we can take from Jim Hoff, right? No, it's, it's so powerful that ownership of, um, Noticing those moments when you feel that anxiety and then trying to take the proactive approach of dealing with them is exactly what he's telling us here. I think you will, [00:52:00] compartmentalization is so valuable.

I think we all struggle with that. Um, for me, especially in my previous job, what I'd used to find was. Encouraging somebody who was dealing with something very stressful to talk about it to me, uh, or, or any other colleague really who was not directly involved with our project was quite a nice way to allow them to voice over their concerns or maybe their solution.

And like you just said, once you've written it down, once you've set it out loud to somebody. You, you kind of work out the problem as you go. It's not quite as bad as I thought now I've said it out loud or now that I've put it to paper, I think once it's in that maelstrom of your mind, and it's not until you take ownership and write it down, talk about it with somebody or, you know, compartmentalize it and, and, you know, deal with it.

It'll just keep on [00:53:00] being in there, stirring away, distracting you from. You know, a enjoying yourself, but also be getting good work done, I guess. So I, I totally agree. I think this is bang on exactly what we'll be saying to us here. And this next clip from VIM speaks to exactly that. It is really the power of the mind to heal and to adapt to any situation imaginable.

And I can tell you if him half has been in some situations, uh, running out in desert, swimming in ice. Um, so let's have a listen to the Iceman himself talking about the healing capacity of the mind. The power to adapt to this in general, we lost this connection is because we were close all the town and we live in a comfort zone behavior.

We think we can control nature, [00:54:00] but by being non stimulative in our behavior, we lost the connection in the depth. Of our physiology, because we are able to adapt about to anything. We are built to be able to adapt without stress into any stressful situation and get a solution. The body knows. But because we got into this comfort zone behavior, hundreds of years, I would genetics have changed.

Our physiology has changed. Everything has changed and we lost actually the full power of the mind. And I'm here to bring it. Back. So how do we bring it back? I did many studies already because I don't like speculation. I go through study the scrutiny and let any scientists prove me wrong. Cause I like to go through root.

Cause I think there [00:55:00] is more than meets the eye. I did many studies and yes, I could resist the bacteria as thought off, not being able by humans. We changed the medical history by showing a group of people compared to. 16,234 people becoming sick after injection of a endotoxemia and then suddenly 1200% score within a quarter of our complete control over the innate immune system and the specific.

By the way, the adaptive immune system. And how did I learn to do that and to pass it on because it's already there in us. It only needs to awake. That's he summed it up really well at the very end of the clip adaption. This idea, no matter how difficult something might seem matter how impossible it could become or how incomprehensible it might be [00:56:00] when you read that email or when you get that brief, or when you hear some really troubling news, you can adapt to, it is nothing that you can't your body, as well as your mind.

Can't adapt to you just need to take control of it. You need to take ownership of your, your body, your mind, your breathing, your ability to have cold showers in the morning. And once you start doing those, they, um, they're collective and they build up and then you can adapt to that situation. I think that's really, really, uh, encouraging, empowering from whim.

Isn't it, Mike? It is. And I mean, what's really fascinating is, um, this really speaks to this idea of building new habits and new behaviors. So actually is a little bit of a teaser. The next three shows will be. Our habit design series, where we're going to investigate the work of James clear, Charles du HIG and [00:57:00] William H McRaven.

What a great name that is indeed. If your really digging a bit of often the power of the mind, you are going to love the cup coming series. We are going to go deep on habit design. And when I was so listening to VIM Hoff, then it just reminds me that if you do. A little bit, every single day, don't try and climb the mountain on day one.

But just start, for example, if you're inspired to start having cold showers, just have a normal shower and just finish for a second on cold, doesn't have to be totally cold. And then the next day, maybe start you share just a little bit, uh, less warm. And then over time, make these gradual improvements and you will be amazed at how, how adaptive we really are.

And I think VM is reminding us, we have this enormous capacity inside of them. We just need to awaken that healing mind. And I think that is [00:58:00] such great advice on a mindset. If you're going out into the world. And trying to do something brave and audacious. I think being adaptive is sort of an essential trait.

Don't you, man? Yeah. It's, it's a real trace of being an innovator. Isn't it? Um, a recent example could have been Elan Musk. Uh, he was so focused on getting off the planet and then he heard his, his life, uh, life heroes. The astronauts kind of went against him, but he was adaptive enough to. Not focused too much on the negatives, not focusing on the criticism and instead use that as, as a little bit of fuel for his own, um, you know, achievements.

So I think it's a real trait of being a good innovator. I agree. Totally. And it brings us to a very powerful final clip. Um, and this is very much [00:59:00] a celebration of breath, a celebration of believing in oneself. So for the last time on the moonshots podcasts, let's have a listen. To the man himself, better known as the ice man.

Mr. VIM. There's a lot of unnecessary suffering going on, just because people believe the wrong things. They believe in pills who believe in medicines. They believe depression cannot be tackled. They believe you cannot enter into your brain. And I tell you, we found a way to get back to yourself, but got back to mother nature within us and make some sense.

Sounds within yourself. You are the one who is able now to make yourself happy, strong, and healthy. And that is entering in all those systems just by, by your mind. Yeah, we are showing this through sites, but do you need science? [01:00:00] When I already show this? In science with data scientific results, brain scans, no speculation.

I tell you, but it takes time for publishing and, and to get it into books and to get it in mainstream. I tell you, uh, here I am right now, if you just believe in and breathe and take a cold shower for, for God's sake, because it's good for you. System then you will become, uh, in the ability to realign with the control within yourself to become happy, strong, and healthy, to control your mood and your energy management and all, look it out a wise up because it is simple, very effective.

It's here right now. So my message to you is tears. Breathe and believe. Uh, when thank you for that perfect outro clip, everybody really ties it all together. Believe in yourself. You can do it. You take ownership, [01:01:00] you control the ability to have cold showers in the morning to compartmentalize your challenges and speed bumps and so on.

And it all starts with something so simple breath. That's where we can go and do does perfect. It's a perfect way to wrap up a journey, uh, with VIM Hoff, which had just the most, uh, tragic stop the journey, uh, into the power of breath and cold showers and how it revealed to him, the power that lays within us.

And I hope that. You Mark are feeling turbo charged. Uh, do you think you'll turn the dial down even colder tomorrow, tomorrow morning, I'll start with another quarter inch towards cold for sure. 100%. I'll turn off. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I can just feel it right now. Um, well, listen. Mark. [01:02:00] It's been wonderful to take a bit of an outlier for the typical moonshot podcast to find that once again, where confirmed that the mental models and the mindsets that we take, uh, can really help us be the best version of ourselves and that there is just.

So much to learn from innovators and it's, market's pretty good, fun, learning out loud and sharing these lessons with thousands and thousands of listeners all around the world. Right. It really is. I love the process of researching the recommendations that our listeners give us as well as having a chat with you.

Mike, I think this is great. So. Let's keep, keep it going. And I can't wait for that next series that you've just teased as well. I think we're going to have, Oh yes. They're habit series. And if you, if you want to get ahead of, uh, ahead of things, you can, uh, you can totally go to moonshot, start IO. You can see the list of [01:03:00] future shows and they you'll be able to look up James clear.

Charles Duhigg and William H McRaven, some amazingly powerful habit design advice will be coming your way. But we did say we started with the mental model, the first and most primary thing, what you think. So just breathe and believe it. Maybe take a coach out too, and you can do amazing things. Thank you to you.

Thank you to all of our listeners, whether you are in Cambodia, Vietnam, the USA or India. We know that you're tuning in from all four corners of the world and sharing this journey with us. As we learn out loud, as we find millions and millions of points on how to be better versions of ourselves, how we can learn from innovators.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Any here at the [01:04:00] moonshots podcast, we've come to another episode of the ice Iceman. That's a wrap.