Surf's Up, Fears Down

Not being able to anticipate what’s ahead begets mental angst.

March 23, 2022

In a small coastal town in South Jersey, the weather can get bitter cold with strong winds and ocean temperatures that do not rise until summer.

On these cold days, you may see a surfer or two riding waves with a heavy wetsuit on, as few could ever brave these elements without protection. But Rob Kelly is anything but ordinary.

Kelly is a local resident of Ocean City and an avid surfer. For his New Year’s resolution, he set a goal to get into the water, regardless of the weather, and ride a wave with nothing on but a bathing suit. He was essentially willing to do the polar bear plunge every day of the year and wrote this on his Instagram page:

On January 1st I set a goal to go in the ocean every day this winter. Cold, snow, rain or shine-no excuses. If it was rideable I’d try to catch a wave. If it was flat I’d go in for a few minutes and just breath. I’ll go deeper into how the entire experience felt from start to finish but for now I can say 79 days later I have a newfound respect for what the human body and mind is capable of when you push beyond what’s comfortable. This won’t be my last cold plunge (I’ll still go in whenever I feel the urge) but stoked to accomplish the goal that was set at the start of the year to go in every single day without question. It was a hell of a winter. Onto the next challenge, keep going!

Like Kelly, we have also set goals for 2022. But so many of us have already let them slip away.

Being able to handle the tough assignment day after day can be overwhelming. What made Kelly successful beyond his mental toughness and commitment, though, is he parceled his goal into one section of the year. He didn’t overcommit. Instead of saying he was going to do the polar bear plunge all year, he committed to 79 days —challenging, but far more manageable.

Kelly learned that pushing himself when he was uncomfortable is a form of fearlessness. And it’s what’s frequently required in order to achieve.

One reason so many of us are fearful is the notion of the unknown or what could happen next. Not being able to anticipate what’s ahead begets mental angst.

Fearless people, however, push themselves past their limits and work through the discomfort they may have to feel accomplished at the end.

The benefits of pushing yourself when uncomfortable include:

  1. Growing and exploring new things

  2. Feeling more confident

  3. Letting go and living in the moment

It is often difficult to push ourselves. However, the more we do so, the greater the chance that we can feel accomplished and fulfilled in the long term.

Not only has Kelly learned things about what the human mind and body are capable of once fear is removed, he has also taught all of us a valuable lesson as well.

Thanks, Rob, and enjoy some warmer water this summer.