Episode
Dry January and Cold Plunges: The Ancient Practice of Doing Hard Things
- Published
- Jan 3, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3047
- Processing state
processed
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Summary
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Food for Thought podcast remains listener-supported. To support this work and receive perks and exclusive engagement, please consider becoming paid subscriber (but don’t go anywhere if you’re a free subscriber)! Welcome to 2026—and to the 20th anniversary year of Food for Thought ! I’m kicking off the new year with an episode about stretching our comfort zones through small, intentional practices that help us live with more clarity, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, I explore: * Why the idea of “doing hard things” isn’t new at all—and how it’s rooted in Stoic philosophy * What thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius actually meant by hardship (hint: it wasn’t suffering for suffering’s sake) * How we can manifest this ancient practice in our modern lives * Why trends like cold plunges miss the point if we focus only on promised (and alleged) health benefits * How Dry January fits perfectly into this framework—not as a detox or moral stance, but as an experiment in awareness, habit, and choice I also reflect on looking back at 2025—what I learned, what I practiced, what I shared with you—and why I still believe that setting intentions (whether for 24 hours or 365 days) is a powerful way to orient our lives. If you’re feeling curious about: * Doing something different this year * Letting go of what’s familiar just long enough to learn from it * Or giving yourself a gentle nudge instead of a total overhaul …this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.💛 And if you’re a paying Substack subscriber, I’ll see you in our weekly live chats. Happy New Year—and thank you for being part of this journey with me. For the animals,Colleen Patrick-Goudreau Support the Podcast (20-Yea…