TRP says go lift for your body. This post is going to teach you how to strengthen your mind. How to exercise your psychological fitness.
HOW TO FLEX YOUR FRAME PART 1
Ever take a contrast shower? If you have you know they are fucking buckets of fun. You turn the shower on how you would normally, probably equal parts hot and cold (maybe more hot if you’re a little stressed out pampered bitch who needs a day at the spa) and then you turn the hot completely off… and you wait. And when the cold fucking water hits your body and you begin to convulse, that is when your mental training has begun.
Then once you’ve stopped shaking, and the cold water has lost its shock to your body (after around 2-3 minutes of standing in the stream) then you switch to a hotter shower. Now for you idiots out there who are going to turn the cold handle completely off and the hot handle completely on and then tell the jury that SWTDO told you to do it, DO NOT FUCKING DO THAT. Just make the water hot enough that it is a bit steamy, but not enough to burn your skin. It should be comfortable.
HOW TO CONTRAST SHOWER WITH THE DOOR OPEN
In order to get the most out of your contrast shower, you need a certain frame of mind. When the water is cold the frame is “Is this it? This is what’s supposed to make me shocked? This is what’s supposed to make me feel bad? Wow… this is unimpressive Universe, try harder next time.”
When the water is hot the frame is “Is this it? This is supposed to please me? This is supposed to be desirable? This is the big payoff I was supposed to want? Psht, no big deal.”
This frame is the “Is this it?” frame and I fucking love this frame. If you’ve studied buddhist philosophy you’d recognize this frame as equanimity. It is the mind’s disposition when you are unimpressed by the pleasures and pains of the world. You see through them as just little minor events that have no ability to make you react. You view them with an open and detached mind, meaning you literally train yourself to not care about the alleged pleasure and pain.
One of the highest levels you can take it to is this. This is one of my fucking hero’s and inspirations, Thich Quang Duc, who poured gasoline on himself, sat down and lit himself on fire to quietly burn to death to send a message. More interestingly there was a photographer there to capture the moment and witnesses who reported that as his body burned, he didn’t move, make a sound, and furthermore the expression on his face was neutral. Once again, do not fucking try this at home kiddos, it is meant as inspiration and as a thought experiment for what your mind is capable of doing if you continue this training I am laying out.
Talks With a Chode
Ok so I hear the questions already:
Chode: But WTF does contrast showers and buddhism have to do with getting my dick sucked?
SWTDO: Just like you must have an strong, attractive body to get the bitches, you must have a strong mind.
Chode: Bullshit, I know dudes who are fucking idiots that pull hotter girls than me all the time.
SWTDO: true but fuck those guys. Are you trying to be BuffChode or are you trying to become Zen Master Chodicus?
Chode: What the fuck, fuck a Zen master! Stop calling me a Chode!!!
SWTDO: Dude I’m joking. Here’s what it has to do with getting your dick sucked. Monologue light comes down on SWTDO, stage left. Life is hot and cold. Life has pleasure and pain. When we go into the contrast shower we are training for life. We are training to meet the petty pleasures and pains of our daily existence. When we choose to put the water on cold and stand in it without jumping back, or reacting to it’s “pain” in any other way, then we show to ourselves that we will not react to the bullshit pains of our day to day. We will not flinch when the car breaks down. We won't react when our girlfriend throws a tantrum. We wont give a fuck when the boss makes a snarky joke at our expense. We wont give a fuck.
When we choose to put the water to hot without mentally indulging in it, we are training to resist all the seductive pleasures that can ruin your life if you let them. We are resisting addiction, we are resisting comfort, we are seeing through complacency, we are seeing through sugar filled shit and all the other low level pleasures that attract us. And I’ll tell you what, when you’ve mastered your desire for low level pleasures and your fear of non life-threatening pain through equanimity, you will have literal hordes of women banging down your door to suck your dick if you have an ounce of personality. The irony is that once you’ve trained like this, you naturally see the stimulation as empty, but who the fuck cares? You’ve now got a full harem of 9’s who treat you like a God. That’s what you wanted right?
THE END
Next time you’re thinking your little life with its problems is too hard to handle, man the fuck up. Better yet, Monk the fuck up. Contrast showers are a great tool, of many in your arsenal for training your frame.
Now go fucking break your water heater!
Peace,
SWTDO

TheGurw 10y ago
1) I do this unintentionally because my water heater has a stupidly small tank and i haven't gotten around to installing a new one yet. 2) I love doing this at the swimming pool. Soak in the hot tub for a few minutes then jump in the cold tank. No, not the regular water. It's basically a hot tub where the water is kept a balmy 2°C. They have two lifeguards posted by it constantly because some dumbass tried to impress his friends by staying in it until he went into shock. Now they won't allow you in there longer than ten minutes, and will pull you out sooner if you look in a bad way.
TRPApprentice 10y ago
I'm not sure about the whole shower-torture thing, but this was a fascinating read all the same.
rundownweather 10y ago
I have cut open animal hearts, remained unfazed while getting my teeth pulled, walked on hot coals, walked away from bike and car crashes and got sunburnt several times, but I will never understand the appeal of cold showers.
ColonelMitchell 10y ago
Is getting sunburnt supposed to be impressive?
rundownweather 10y ago
No, it was meant as a funny addition to actually intense experiences. It is pretty annoying and makes me feel drowsy, however.
Myrpl 10y ago
Or how they differ when compared to, let's say dive into the cold sea in a hot summer day then come out 5 minutes after.
RPTA9000 10y ago
Live in Florida. I take most of my showers cold. 'Cold' water isn't really, and much more refreshing than a hot shower.
[deleted] 10y ago
Maybe because you live in Florida. In Scotland, cold water is cold. Except in summer, which is my favourite day of the year.
[deleted] 10y ago
Oh I love our national day of summer! Nice bit of 24 C degrees!
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KingoftheAssholes 10y ago
Also live in florida. During the winter it's decent cold summer forget about it. Came up with a situation. Get a couple of 1 liter bottles of water put in your frig overnight. Take normal "cold" shower then pour the cold water over you to rinse off.
leekish 10y ago
The idea described here crossed my mind a while ago. Also heard it at some point from a mentor/friend. Never tried it. Thought it was too out of the 'regular' and not for me. At the same time, I'm not the guy that goes by the rules on a daily basis so it amazes me how blinded one can become.
Anyway, I'll check it out when I'm back from work, looking forward to it.
switters15330 10y ago
My man! Don't hate on the long hot showers!
**I guess maybe a disclaimer is due. I am still alive after 20 years of doing the following. However, one can die or cause serious internal damage if their core temp gets too hot. So maybe if you'd like to try this, do some research first, and take it easy the first few times. Ease into it. Hope somebody out there digs this bc it took me like 10min to type on a phone.
I do what you're calling a "contrast shower" here,and they're great. I highly recommend them to others.
BUT! I never hear much about this on the interweb, the blazing hot shower. I've been doing this since high school & find it especially great when the muscles are ripped & sore. Here's the plan:
I put on the shower, wash hair & body, all as usual. Once finished, I start to crank up the heat incrementally. First I take it as hot as I think I can stand--then I stand there for a minute until it no longer feels so hot, and again crank it up until it feels like too much. Repeat until you reach the end of the dial - or until it really seems just absurdly hot - many people have their water heaters on turbo, you'll know when you reach the upper limit. Your scalp is a good measure. If it burns,its too hot...but don't be a bitch, press on if you can.
Now that we've got that water hot as the fires of hell, we begin focusing it on individual muscles or muscle groups, one by one,leaving that blazing water blasting directly upon them for approx. 3-5 minutes each. I also do the same for my scalp. You get the point, I don't need to explain that. I will say, leave each muscle in that water until you can barely feel it any more. You'll know what I mean when you get there. It's not tingly, its not numb, its...in another universe.
When you finish this routine you WILL feel incredible. Relaxed, limbs like jelly, hair hair will look and feel better...its great.
I recommend this in the evening or after any intense workout,but not before work . not really a morning thing. Morning's when you do the hot followed by cold thing.
ALSO another neat shower trick for after working, when your body is spent. Get that hot shower going ahead of you. Close the bathroom door. Get that place hot & steamy like a sauna. At the last minute, right before you hop in, grab yourself a cold beer. Take it in the shower, and then take that mother fucker to the head. You are not going to believe how good that feels, either. Big ups to my little brother for teaching me that one.
AdonisHera 10y ago
I'm an amateur boxer, and the shit takes discipline. Running 3 miles a day fucking sucks dick. But thanks to a lot of post on TRP, I mentally tell myself to man the fuck up and do it. I'm definetly gonna do cold showers from now on. Meditate in hot conditions. Great post. Thanks
coarseturf 10y ago
@SWTDO - I must say, this stuff is pure gold. Why? Let me tell you something guys here can relate to. I have started hitting the gym again and man the endorphins make you feel awesome after the work out. While at work today, I read your post on mental framing. After coming home, I hit the shower and tried your technique of hot and cold shower just enough to cause mental distress. I must tell you after getting out of it, I feel exactly how I feel coming home from a good workout. Going to the gym makes you physically strong while the contrast shower pushes your emotional balance. It strengthens your capacity to gain emotional strength, just as you gain strength on lifting weights! Thanks. Personally, I think this should go the red pill advice list! Cheers!
ShitsWithTheDoorOpen 10y ago
Good work putting it into practice immediately. Best of luck man.
adam_varg 10y ago
Cold shower release endorphins, excercise too. Thath is reason why you felt same.
coarseturf 10y ago
Agreed. Both release endorphins. But the difference is the change you experience switching back and forth between hot and cold experiences. It sort of jolts you to alertness and makes you feel good. The endorphins are later but switching in and out of comfort zones is the point I'm trying to make!
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coarseturf 10y ago
agreed. Consciously forcing yourself helps it strengthen.
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[deleted] 10y ago
Always love a good implementable tool, thank for the post!
That monk.. I genuinely used to think meditation and mindfulness were a waste of energy; that is a fantastic visual representation of a mind of steel.
Autodidact-Sanchez 10y ago
I've never been a coffee drinker. The taste never resonated with me, however when I was studying and working, I needed to introduce something into my routine that would give me a morning spark. That's when I introduced cold showers into my life and I haven't looked back ever since. It's great to hear the message being spread through people like Joe Rogan and this post here on TRP.
Now... With regard to RESPONDING to the 'pains' of your life, as opposed to reacting, I've understood this concept for some time now and have put it into practice. However during a recent Ayahuasca ceremony that I participated in (Amazon of Peru), I became my highest self (God-like state) and saw all of my problems laid out in front of me. I squeezed every problem with my pinky finger and they blew up into dust right in front of my eyes. Having such a visual set this concept into stone. Your problems aren't as big as you make them out to be...squash them with your fingers.
Totsean 10y ago
What if I get an erection while doing this?
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[deleted] 10y ago
Pour scalding hot water on it. Your dick will become stoic as fuck.
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Plai_Guitar 10y ago
It's a lot like the basic ideas behind Mindfulness meditations. You can feel, you can have things happen to you, but it's your choice to act or react rather than having a reaction dictated for you.
I've been working on it a little while, but it certainly helps.
[deleted] 10y ago
Very insightful, thanks - I used to actively try to shut out when I meditated; I must have started with the wrong purpose in mind.
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ShitsWithTheDoorOpen 10y ago
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
khanistan 10y ago
What are some other (daily) activities I can do to strengthen my frame?
[deleted] 10y ago
Word of caution don't try this in the UK, one microdegree on the tap is the difference between freezing and scalding. I just go with one or the other.
[deleted] 10y ago
Yeah, my shower is a cusp catastrophe as well.
I_have_secrets 10y ago
I am so glad this is not just me.
TekkomanKingz 10y ago
Temperature control is difficult in North America as well depending on the plumbing and the city.
ChadThundercockII 10y ago
It's like cryotherapy. It's below freezing temperature but it doesn't kill you. Why you would tap water in clod climates be worse ?
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
What is your feeling on straight cold showers?
[deleted] 10y ago
This is the only thing I take. I love it because my body changes states immidiately
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
I love the constant flow of energy sensation you get
Monocle42 10y ago
I've read somewhere Contrast showers are pretty good for muscle regeneration
McPinus 10y ago
Cold showers make your body stronger and also lose weight through a process called, "Cold Thermogenesis":
https://youtu.be/M-2zuLeoK1I
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
That makes sense. The cold makes your metabolism speed up which leads to accelerated weight loss.
ShitsWithTheDoorOpen 10y ago
I dig them as well. They have the pain and not the pleasure. If you're trying to make yourself more stoic in the face of pain rather than unaffected by pleasure, then I could see the value there.
RocketManV 10y ago
This is really interesting, I'm excited to try it. I've been on cold showers for over six months now, and doing things that are on the pain scale are considerably easier though.
But on the pleasure scale, I'm much more inclined to falter. I am going to try this out and see what results I get.
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
Yeah. I love them, I've been doing it for a couple years now and don't want to go back. Same way the combat sports like boxing or Jiu jitsu help contribute to rock solid frame. Cool post.
ChadThundercockII 10y ago
I don't take warm showers anymore, my body thinks they are lame lol. Also, boxing is hell of a sport. A weak mind won't last a day in a gym.
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
Yeah a boxing gym is a TRUE male space
ChadThundercockII 10y ago
I heard that in the US, some boxing gyms let women in. I live in North Africa. One day a girl came in, she lasted a whole session and never came back. Long live the patriarchy !
Kiwikeeper 10y ago
In my gym we have girls, and Most of them Just don't train as hard as us. one of them actually trains like us, and it shows. She is hot as fuck
ChadThundercockII 10y ago
She must have an incentive. Others just don't care that much. Some people are comfortable in being average.
EquestrianWrangler26 10y ago
Yeah the patricarchy got us to the moon.
Plai_Guitar 10y ago
And feminism's made sure we won't go back anytime soon.
nugboots 10y ago
I don't think that's true. NASA is still rather male-dominated, and their rationale is that further human missions to the moon offer very marginal benefit over what a robot could do (and even then, there are higher priorities for explanation). Furthermore, NASA actively wants to put humans on Mars in the 2030's and is working towards that with intermediary goals, so the spirit is definitely still there.
Plai_Guitar 10y ago
A little bit to the side of the topic, but I don't think that we're going to go back with NASA. If humans end up back on the moon, it'll be through private industry efforts pushed along by NASA-funded research.
[deleted] 10y ago
Bullshit. When you have nothing to hold on and to make you a man you need cold showers.
When I'm finished with my 10hrs work day and also after short hand to hand combat course held for local special police forces, I like to come home fuck something and relax in a steamy spa while listening bora bora lounge music.
Go on and call me pampered bitch, but you sell bs to this guys here. Man should find something real and productive and nail it to feel as a man and not rely on fucking showers.
To strengthen your frame find and form your core beliefs and values. Understand what them. That is the only way.
To gain confidence achieve things and break obstacles.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 10y ago
Good post and it's relation to stoicism. Forget the other chodes here making jokes ;)
jkonrad 10y ago
How do I maintain Shower Frame with a sunburn?
StrokeGameHusky 10y ago
Haha just take a cold shower.
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homeliss 10y ago
Cold showers are difficult, not destructive.
In fact, they are healthier than lazy hot showers, from cold thermogenesis to not breathing in chlorine from the steam into your lungs.
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ShitsWithTheDoorOpen 10y ago
I'm not comparing contrast showers and self immolation in the physical sense, that'd be ridiculous. I'm comparing them in the fact that they both test mental strength, at obviously different levels, but the concept is the same. He did it through intensive and transformative meditation practice. I've been meditating for 6 years now so don't think I'm knocking meditation. And yes meditation can be superior to contrast showers if you're doing them right but TRP is already saturated with the advice to "go meditate". This is an easy way to get tons of college age men into mental strength training. First they do this, then they learn to meditate. They ultimately work together.
adam_varg 10y ago
Meditation is more effective in long term.
I am doing contrast and cold showers for years, started meditating before couple months.
Cold shower will release endorphins and speed up metabolism (and can help with inflamations in body) as physical part. Nothing more is proven.
Taking cold shower for first few weeks is really uncomfortable so it works as discipline exercise as direct mental effect. But after few weeks you will look forward for them and personally i don't feel good when i can't get one in morning.
Released endorphins help with "depression" so it have indirect effect on your mental helth too.
Killigraphy 10y ago
"but fuck those guys"
Bro science at work gentleman, nothing more to see here, move along.