Defying The Odds #9

The Story of a Unique Adventure: "The Misogi" (1/2)

What is in it today?

- Explanation & rules of the Misogi ritual

- My Personal Misogi Adventure: Hiking 160km in 40hrs without sleep

- Set your own Misogi Challenge

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The Misogi

This weekend I am doing my Misogi for this year. The Misogi is a traditional Japanese ritual and involves standing under icy waterfalls to purify the mind and body. Nowadays, the tradition has been modified in the Western world to include physical and mental challenges that help individuals reconnect with their mind, body, and spirit.

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash

Whether it's conquering a fear, running your first 5k race, or starting your own business - the Misogi is all about pushing yourself to uncomfortable places where growth, wisdom, and transformation happen.

The Misogi has two rules:

1. you have (at best) a 100 50% chance to succeed and

2. don´t die (sounds dramatic but just sets a clear boundary)

The idea is to do something for yourself that is as meaningful as it is challenging. The Misogis' power lies in its ability to create lasting memories - the kind that defines your year and stays with you forever. It's the perfect way to sharpen your focus and keep the spirit of growth and challenge alive throughout the year. It's the joy of the journey and the pride in having accomplished (or gloriously failed) at something unique and extraordinary.

Do something so hard one time a year that it has an impact on the other 364 days of the year. Put one big thing on the calendar that scares you, that you never thought you could do, and go out and do it.

Jesse Itzler

Forget New Year's resolutions, try a Misogi instead

At this time of the year, most people reflect on their resolutions and intentions for the coming year. They want to start 2024 strong and kick ass!

However, surveys show that 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by mid-February. I stopped with New Year's resolutions myself some time ago because I did not follow through with my actions in the long run. One year, I signed up for a gym membership in January but did not go there even once (who can relate to this🙄?). I felt relieved and slightly better when I discovered that this happens to 67% of all people who sign up.

Forbes: Top New Years Resolutions For 2024

Misogi offers a different approach to growth and challenge. The Misogi has been used in samurai tradition to help warriors build mental clarity and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. And the best part? You do not need to be a samurai to do a Misogi and you get to choose your own challenge🏯!

It can include learning a new skill or language, quitting smoking or drinking or more ambitious projects such as ultra-endurance races, changing careers, or writing a book. It is about keeping the spirit of growth and challenge alive throughout the year, culminating in a day of Misogi.

What is your personal Misogi for 2024?

Like many others, I’ve been practising Misogi for a few years without knowing that it is an actual concept.

My own Misogi adventure happens this weekend. It consists of hiking 160km in two days and two nights with no sleep, finishing in 40 hours max. The event is called the Bello Gallico. While I have (at best) a 50/50 chance to succeed, my biggest fears include

1. 🍫Nutrition and hydration challenges 

I will burn 12.000 - 15.000 kcal during the hike and need to carefully plan my nutrition strategy to not “hit the wall” at some point

2. 🐗Getting attacked and eaten by a bunch of wild boars in the middle of the night 

Training and preparation included simulating similar conditions like the ones I will encounter during the race: never got eaten by a wild boar though…

3. 😴Sleep deprivation and bad decision-making due to exhaustion

Sleep deprivation will cloud my judgment at some point. I prepared a rulebook to overcome decision-making fatigue.

So, what's your personal Misogi for 2024?

What is something you fear but have always wanted to achieve?

This is the track in a quick video animation. In part 2 of the article, I will share why I have chosen this particular adventure, how far I made it and what I learned from it.

If you need help finding inspiration for your own Misogi or practical support drawing up a plan and the execution, leave me a comment or message me directly.

Don´t forget to stay awesome, join me in this exciting challenge, share your Misogi ideas below and let´s kick ass and make 2024 a year to remember!