The flat frozen tundra of the Arctic circle is an inhospitable place inhabited mostly by polar bears. With temperatures of -25 degrees it’s not the sort of place most people would go for an outing. But Wim Hof, known as the “Iceman” is not most people. Wearing only shorts and sandals he completed a 26.2 mile marathon across the ice and snow. These conditions would kill most people let alone one running half naked for several hours. But he has also climbed Mt. Everest without oxygen and wearing only shorts and sandals. He sat in a tub of ice for an hour and 12 minutes and has accomplished dozens of world records.
At such extremely cold temperatures it’s hard to breathe. Frostbite, then hypothermia sets in as skin freezes. Yet this man in his fifties claims that he has learned to control his body through the power of his mind. “I’m able to control the body through just the power of the mind,” said Hof, who calls himself the “Iceman.” “Cold is merciless. It shows you where you are. What you are.”
Hof attributes his ability to withstand the cold to practicing the ancient art of meditation called Tummo which means “inner fire.” “[Tummo] enables [me] to heat up by concentrating my mind,” Hof said. “It makes the body warmer. It’s like pushing a heat button.”
Otto Musik, a pediatrician in Wayne State University’s School of Medicine did a series of tests on Hof to try and determine how he is able to do what he does. He found that when Hof is exposed to cold he activates a part of his brain that releases opioids and cannabinoids into his body. These can inhibit the signals you get that you are feeling pain or cold, and then release dopamine and serotonin that create a feeling of euphoria.
In another study performed by Magda Osman, an associate professor of experimental psychology at the University of London, it was found that spending time working on our mental and physical skills we can make actual changes to our brains and how they function. “When we spend a vast amount of time cultivating our mental and physical skills, this translates into neurological differences when compared to those that don’t practice these skills to the same degree,” says Osman.
Just to be clear, I’m not advocating that you go out and dive into a frozen lake or climb a snow capped mountain wearing nothing but shorts. But Wim Hof is proof that we can ask much more of ourselves than we do. That the body and mind are capable of a lot more than we, or science for that matter, think can be accomplished.
Wim Hof has created a program to teach others to be able to do what he does. He firmly believes that we can take control of our body and minds. He claims, “what I am capable of, anyone can learn.” His mantra is “You are stronger than you think you are.”
How much more can and should we expect of ourselves? I believe that whatever we have accomplished is just a portion of what we are truly capable of. That hidden within us are powers far greater that we imagine and therefore we don’t push ourselves to try for greater. Our lives are consumed with the day to day activities of life. We go to work, come home, interact with family and constantly feel rushed and stressed. It seems to be all we can do. Then if we throw in some exercise we feel like we are maxed out on what we have time for. But what if we focused on being more, being better? What if we took control of our lives instead of our lives controlling us? What if we identified the things of real importance to us and had the courage to go after them? What if instead of making excuses we set goals to go after what is really important to us?
If we start to see the impossible as possible, then we can open our minds to new opportunities. We realize that making the money we want or getting in the shape we want or finding the happiness and fulfillment we want are all within our reach. When we remove the limits that we or others have put in our minds, then anything is possible!
Points to Consider:
Are there things you wanted to do but were told you couldn’t? Can you?
What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Could you do more?
What would you do if you weren’t afraid to try?
“We are built to be happy, strong and healthy. I fear not to live. We have everything to live up to our dreams. You have everything to achieve that, and in a very short period of time you can get all the tools to manifest who you want to be.” Wim Hof
https://www.wimhofmethod.com/iceman-wim-hof
