The Misogi Challenge

What is the Misogi Challenge

The Misogi challenge is the idea of choosing a significant, challenging event or task to complete each year.

Do you ever reminisce about old times or see a photo from years ago and ponder where the time went? Year after year time goes by with nothing memorable happening. The Misogi challenge stops the years merging and creates significant milestones for every year.

The origins of Misogi come from an annual Japanese purification process which aims at purifying the mind, body and spirit through physical and mental challenges. This generally involved standing under an icy waterfall to cleanse their body and mind. In more modern times it has steered towards completing a tough task in the aid of personal growth.

The challenge become a lot more mainstream due to entrepreneur Jesse Itzler who has credited the challenge for pushing personal limits.

5 Benefits of the Misogi

1. Mental Resilience

When participating in the Misogi, discomfort and uncertainty are guaranteed. Pushing through such conditions helps develop mental toughness and a growth mindset.

2. Overcoming Fear and Limiting Beliefs

The challenge is designed to be difficult, often with a low chance of success. This can help participants confront fears of failure and overcome self-imposed limits

3. Stress Relief

Like many physically and mentally demanding practices, the misogi challenge can serve as a release for built-up stress and tension, leaving participants feeling refreshed and revitalized.

4. Personal Growth, Discovery

Participants are forced outside their comfort zones, which allows them to learn more about their capabilities and potential. The journal of self-discovery can lead to greater self-confidence, benefitting all areas of their life.

5. Self Reflection

After attempting the Misogi challenge, successful or not, participants can reflect on what they learned during the process. This can lead to insights about their character, resilience, and values, helping them grow and gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

Choosing your Misogi

When choosing your Misogi there are only two rules:

1. It has to be hard

2. You can’t die doing it

Below is a list of some example Misogi challenges

• Run a marathon or an ultra-marathon

• Silent meditation for 24 hours

• Swimming in icy water

• Hiking a mountain or multiple peaks

• Solo travel for a period of time

• 75 hard

• 1000 burpees challenge

• 3 day fast

• Digital Detox

I completed my first Misogi this year when I took on the challenge of completing a marathon. After several months of training at the start of the year, I finished with a time of 3:23 which gave me a deeper understanding of my personal potential. With this year’s Misogi already completed, I have already lined up 2025 where I have signed up for a 50-mile ultramarathon in March.

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Thanks for Reading,

- Oli