Misogi Guide: Updated

More ideas for your own Misogi - 31, to be exact.

One of the most common questions I get is “What should I do for my Misogi?”

The problem: I can’t answer it, even though I put the idea in your head.

For the unfamiliar, a Misogi is an epic challenge we take on once a year to learn something about ourselves and uncover new possibilities.

Marcus Elliott, from the Misogi chapter of The Comfort Crisis, explained: “Misogis are an emotional, spiritual, and psychological challenge that masquerades as a physical challenge.”

There are two rules:

1. Make it really hard (defined as a 50/50 chance of completion).

2. Don’t die (self-explanatory).

There are also guidelines. One of which is not to publicly advertise it.

Marcus continued:

Everyone today has such outward-facing lives. They do stuff so they can post on social media about some badass thing they did to get a bunch of likes.

Misogis are inward-facing … I’m going to do something really uncomfortable. I’m going to want to quit. And it’s going to be hard not to quit because no one is watching. But I’m not going to quit because I’m watching. And then I can reflect on how I was the only person watching myself, and I still rose to the occasion in a big way. There’s some deep satisfaction in that. We had this guideline before social media, and it seems more relevant today.

The personal nature of Misogi is what makes it powerful. You plan an epic and offbeat challenge that will help you, and then make a bold attempt.

This is also why I can’t tell you exactly what to do.

Fifty-fifty is different for everyone—my 50/50 is not yours, his, hers, or theirs. And many factors alter 50/50, including landscape, weather, preparation, your age and background, etc.

The point is to find your edge. Joseph Campbell described “the edge” as the interface between what’s known and what’s to be discovered. The edge is different for all of us, but the point is to get out and find it. He explained:

What all of us have to deal with is a transformation of consciousness—that you’re thinking in THIS way and you have now to think in THAT way. How is the transformation performed? By trials and illuminating revelations. Trials and revelations are what it’s all about.

The other problem is this: The quirky and unpublic nature of Misogis makes it harder to get ideas for your own Misogi. The options are endless. It takes reflection and creativity to come up with your own.

I love the self-examination of dreaming up what weird task I may or may not be able to complete.

But I also realize that some people need more direction. Paralysis by analysis is real!

And I’d rather someone do a Misogi with a little guidance than never try because they can’t figure out what to do.

The Misogi list

And so, three years ago, I asked you to send me your Misogi. Nearly 100 of you did. Then I asked again last week, and the submissions kept rolling in.

I read about many inspiring tasks.

Below is a sampling¹ of Misogis by theme: Quirky Misogis, Walking Misogis, Misogis that Break Psychological Barriers, Spontaneous Misogis, and Wilderness Misogis.

You did these Misogis despite life’s inevitable challenges: self-doubt, anxiety, hectic schedules, deaths of spouses, and after overcoming dire health diagnoses like cancer.​

A warning: your Misogi won’t be an exact copy of any of these. Use them as jumping-off points rather than IKEA instructions.

The list is getting me fired up as I plan my own Misogi this fall. Let’s roll …

---

🎙️ On the Two Percent Podcast: Lessons From the Most Dangerous Job: Hotshot Firefighting with River Selby

River Selby spent years on elite hotshot crews—the firefighting equivalent of Navy SEALs—who jump into the worst blazes in the wilderness. We talked about lessons from fires, the physical and psychological qualities that make someone a good hotshot, why proximity to danger brings a proximity to life, and more. Their book is Hotshot: A Life on Fire.

• Listen to the episode here.

• Watch the episode here.

Check out our partners:

• 💪 David Protein Bars have the highest amount of protein per calorie of all protein bars. They’re a great option for anyone who wants protein on the go without the excess sugar and fat of most bars. Visit DavidProtein.com.

• 🧪 Function Health offers 5x deeper insights into your health than typical bloodwork. The info can guide you into feeling better every day. It helped me identify a mineral insufficiency—and was cheaper than my insurance. Go to my page here to sign up, receive a discount, and pay just $340.

---

Quirky Misogis

When designing your Misogi, consider making it quirky, creative, and uncommon. When you remove superficial metrics, you can accomplish far more. Here are some of the quirkier submissions I received. Let’s start with Francis, who left for his Misogi the day after he submitted this: