try taking the plunge

I've noticed that when people are bathing – either at the seaside or in a lake, or perhaps even in the bathtub – some people jump straight in, whilst others are very cautious. They test the water, put a toe in the water first, and then slowly inch their way in. It can take them ages to really get into the water.

If you're one of the people who jump straight in, you probably don't need my encouragement. So this episode of Things to Try is really for those who are cautious. And it's simple: next time you intend to bathe in water, either in your own bathtub or in a mountain stream, or in the ocean, anywhere, just jump straight in as quickly as possible. Don't even think about it. Take the plunge.

Of course, there are some moments in life where it's appropriate to be cautious, where proceeding a little at a time makes sense. But jumping into a mountain stream is not going to kill you. It might be icy cold but you can climb straight out again. It's not really about whether you enjoy it or not. It's to do with the attitude: do I have to test everything before I commit myself? Do I have to be certain? Do I have to quell my fears? If we go through life like this we miss so much.

So taking a dip is a great place to start practising being a little more bold. Take the plunge. It's great if you are by some water where you can literally jump in: perhaps off a rock into a deep lake. But even if you have to wade in, do it as quickly as possible. From the beach, run into the water. Splash through the waves, dive in as soon as it's deep enough.

And don't think about it. That's really the key. Our thoughts often cripple us. The thinking mind can be very negative, always coming up with reasons not to do something. We miss so many opportunities this way. So, with this practice, we hope to at least reach the point where, now and again, we take the plunge; where we don't think about something before doing it.

And you'll see, it can pay dividends throughout life, not just when it comes to bathing. You know there are critical moments where the only way to act is spontaneously. How do you kiss someone for the first time? Not by testing the water, surely. You know the moment, you can feel it. And if you let it pass then it's gone, and the opportunity is lost.

So there are many situations in life where being spontaneous will help. And it makes us more authentic as well. Instead of thinking about things, and proceeding cautiously, we simply respond intuitively to the moment, without hesitation. And that authenticity comes as a great relief.

So try it: try taking the plunge.