One year ago, I never imagined I'd be someone who swims in the ocean year-round. I’ve always hated the cold — and yet, here I am, dipping into the sea every Friday morning at 7am, rain, wind or winter chill.
It all started with a simple WhatsApp message to a few women on Waiheke Island… and now we’re a pod of more than 30 mermaids showing up every week. Some days there are just two of us, some days twenty. But there is always someone.
This episode is about what it really takes to do the hard things — and how something uncomfortable, even unimaginable, can become a nourishing part of your life.
I’m sharing 6 powerful insights that have helped me turn a cold plunge into a weekly ritual, and how you can apply the same principles to the hard thing you might be resisting — whether that’s starting a habit, making a change, or showing up for yourself in a new way.
We’ll talk about:
Why doing hard things in midlife feels different (and what to do about it)
The surprising role of dopamine and cold exposure
How to “joy stack” and make hard things feel easier
Why starting small is a superpower (even 2 minutes counts!)
The real magic of doing it with others
How to find your deeper “why” to stay motivated
This episode is for you if you’ve been putting something off, waiting to feel ready, or needing a spark to move through discomfort and into action.
🌊 Whether it’s a swim, a conversation, a creative leap or a career shift — this is your reminder that you can do hard things. And they don’t have to stay hard.
Links & Resources:
🧡 Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simonedennycoaching
Learn more about my work, courses, and community:
https://www.simonedenny.me
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If you loved this episode, I’d be so grateful if you’d share it with a friend or leave a quick review — it means so much and helps others find the podcast.
Thanks for listening lovely,
Simone
