New Research Shows the Power of Mindfulness to Withstand Cold

Discover and apply new research about the power of mindfulness to mitigate the experience of feeling cold. —In a recent study, researchers investigated if listening to a mindful paragraph being read could improve a person’s motor performance and cold tolerance in a low-temperature environment. The participants were exposed to cold by submerging their hand in 2°C, or about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, cold water while listening to a mindfulness passage read aloud. The control group was not given the reading.After the training, researchers put each person from each group to the test to see how well they could withstand cold exposure. In the motor task tests, both groups fared similarly. However, members of the mindfulness group were able to tolerate cold exposure for considerably longer than the other participants.How can you and I put these findings to use? First, you’re not likely to read a mindful based paragraph before going out into cold weather. But what you can do is use a simple affirmation such as, “I choose to maintain Present Moment Awareness during the period I’m out and about in this cold weather.”This simple affirmation sets your intention to maintain Mindful Present Moment Awareness. And, in do so, you’re not likely to notice the cold or, if you do, you won’t engage in negative self-talk complaining about the cold. That type of self-talk is a story. When there’s no story about how uncomfortable the cold feels, you’ll proceed with whatever you need to do in greater comfort.More information about the study: Kaitlin Mugford et al, The effects of mindfulness and repeated cold exposure on cold tolerance and motor skill performance, International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics (2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2021.119051—Host:Stephen Carter, CEO, Stress Solutions, LLC. Email: [email protected]. Websites: https://www.MindfulWayLiving.com and https://www.EFT-MD.com.—Technical information:Recorded and first edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Audacity. Final edits and rendering done with Hindenburg Journalist Pro.Microphone: EV RE320.—Keywords:mindful, mindfulness, present moment, present moment awareness, frigid, cold, comfortable, cold weather,