The art of trusting your limits.

After I sent yesterday’s email about my own hesitation to turn the shower to cold, a few people responded. One person shared they look forward to cold showers, and another said they’ve done them for so long that a shower feels incomplete without a cold burst at the end. Thank you for sharing—these responses made me feel part of something!

And then someone else wrote about a different kind of moment. They had a swim practice scheduled—something they usually love. But that day, something in them said no. So they skipped it. Not out of laziness or avoidance, but because something inside needed rest. And while there was a touch of FOMO, they were glad they listened.

That response has stayed with me. Because yes—sometimes what we label as resistance isn’t something to push through. Sometimes it’s wisdom.

But how do we tell the difference?

I recently finished reading Endure by Alex Hutchinson. He talks about the Central Governor Theory, first proposed by Dr. Timothy Noakes. It suggests our brains act like a kind of safety valve—like a governor on a car engine. It steps in, not because we’re out of fuel, but because it’s trying to protect us from burning out.

But, get this, the Perception Effect, proposed by Samuele Marcora is the idea that what we believe about our limits can shape how our body responds.

In other words, mindset isn’t just fluff. It’s the lens through which our brain interprets physical signals. If we expect something to feel hard, it probably will. If we trust we can stretch, our body often follows.

So now when that hesitation creeps in—whether I’m standing in front of a cold shower or debating whether to push through a workout—I pause and ask: Is this resistance… or protection? Is this my body calling for rest, or my brain playing it safe?

There’s no universal answer. But here are a few cues I listen for:

• If I feel energized after skipping, it might’ve been the right kind of rest.
• If I feel regretful or uneasy, maybe my Central Governor overreacted.
• If I feel curious or slightly afraid, that’s often the edge where growth begins.

And here’s what I’ve come to realize: how we respond in those moments doesn’t just affect our own growth—it quietly shapes the space around us. Not because we’re trying to prove something or set an example, but because our presence becomes part of the emotional current – with our colleagues, our kids, and community.

The way we meet discomfort—whether with courage, pause, or curiosity—can invite others to do the same. It’s less about performance and more about resonance.

Tomorrow, I’ll share more about those ripples—what it means to stretch limits gently, for ourselves and in the spaces we hold.

But for now, I’d love to know:

When was the last time you overrode your hesitation… and were glad you did?

And when did honoring your hesitation feel like true self-trust?

Hit reply and share. These stories help shape the conversation.

Until tomorrow,
Shannon

P.S. Know someone who feels frustrated and stuck, wondering whether to push or pause? Forward this email. These are the quiet, brave conversations that help us all move with more trust.