What playlist is in on repeat in your head?
I step into the cryotherapy booth and convince myself that three minutes standing in a freezer that blasts air at 150 degrees below zero is worth it. It’s worth it to reduce the inflammation in my body and to experience the exhilaration that comes with conquering something hard, both physically and mentally. Physically there’s a shift, but mentally there’s a shift too. I can do this. It’s just three minutes, right?
I’m dressed in shorts and a tank. The facility where I go offers socks, slippers, gloves, head warmers and a face mask to keep extremities covered. They also offer headphones and a wide selection of music to listen and dance to in the cryo booth. Today I choose “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys because it seems like a good idea to be thinking of fire when I’m surrounded by ice. The experts at VyFy Wellness know that sometimes it takes a good song to inspire you to get through the hard things. I’m not a stranger to this concept. I’ve got a playlist a mile long of songs that I listen to when fear and uncertainty creep into my head, remnants from the most challenging time of my life that often threaten to occupy every thought. What we listen to matters … whether it’s a song or a repeated mantra that can propel a shift, or keep us from moving forward.
It’s easy to get lost in the messages we tell ourselves. That’s one of the reasons I founded Stronger Girl. By being accountable to others with my messages, I’m being accountable to myself. What we repeat in our heads often has an impact on our actions … and how we feel about our future. Are we living through a song on repeat? Do its lyrics sing of fear or bitterness, or do they sing of hope and perseverance? Are we hearing things from the same, disappointing, unfair perspective? Or, are we reminding ourselves to have faith?
Small shifts in mindset can make big differences in how we treat others, and how we treat ourselves. Today, aim for the shift. I’ll do the same. And, if you’re eager to inspire others, please share our posts @strongergirlcoffee on social (and the playlist below) and help those in your circle stay in tune with positive, uplifting messages. When life seems cold and unbearable, it helps to put on your gloves, take three minutes and surround yourself with the messages that remind you you’re not just a girl, but you’re a girl on fire.