Misogi Challenge
The Hardest Thing you do all year
What is the gnarliest thing you’ll attempt this year that will likely end in failure? That’s your misogi.
At 30,000 feet and 2 hours from Japan, the Japanese word misogi keeps popping into my head. Maybe its because its one of the only Japanese words I can remember? Maybe its because I think too much about goals? Maybe its because I’ve watched one too many videos about how AI Slop is ubiquitous and want to focus on something real and challenging and awesome.
The word misogi first crossed my radar while reading Michael Easter’s excellent book, The Comfort Crisis. This book should be required reading. Simply put, a misogi is doing something really really challenging to you. It should scare you and failure should be more than a coin-flip probability.
His misogi may not be your misogi
I mentioned the concept of a misogi to a friend while on a leisurely bike ride one day and the next time we met he had committed to doing the equivalent of recreational masochism; a 44-mile bike ride that starts at 5,300 feet elevation, ends at 9,400 feet elevation with lots of ups and downs in between, then doing a 13.3 mile hike which includes 5,000 feet of elevation gain peaking out at 14,250, then riding 44 miles home.
Based on trail reviewers and people I’ve met, the hike alone has a fail rate over 30%. I did the hike last year, while in great shape, it took 10 hours and the word’s “I will never do this f’ing hike again” may have crossed my lips…multiple times. Thus far, I’ve offered to support the ride/hike while doing the actual hike (again) but am considering going for the full catastrophe because—and this is important—it's hard enough where failing spectacularly is quite possible while being absolutely brilliant to attempt.
Below are some examples of misogis. Use the list to personalize something awesome and inspiring, thrilling and scary as hell just for you.
Examples of Misogis
Physical Challenges
Carry a rock underwater for 1 mile.
Swim across a freezing alpine lake.
Run a marathon.
Bike 200 miles in a day.
Do 1,000 burpees in a single session.
Do a solo backcountry hike with no GPS or map.
Paddle-board across a large body of water (e.g., 10+ miles).
Ruck a heavy load for 24 hours nonstop.
Mental / Emotional Challenges
Sit in complete darkness or silence for 24 hours (dark retreat).
Spend 3 days alone in the wilderness (solo vision quest).
Give a public speech on a vulnerable topic with no notes.
Spend a day without speaking (silent day).
Cold plunge every day for 30 days.
Write your own eulogy and read it aloud to someone.
Go to a 10 day silent retreat.
Creative / Social Misogis
Create and publish a piece of art or writing every day for a month.
Talk to 100 strangers in one day.
Ask 10 people for something you’d normally be afraid to request.
Perform in public (busk, dance, read poetry).
Host a dinner for 10 strangers and lead a vulnerable conversation.
Do the majority of these scare the crap out of you? If so, we’re on the right track.
As you get your goals in place for the rest of the year, consider sprinkling in a misogi. If you’re lucky, you might not fail. Either way, you’ll get a great story out of the attempt. Just remember rule #1 of misogi’s: don’t die!
Like what you just read, disagree with anything or want to add your own advice?
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