Once a year, do something so hard, so out of your comfort zone, that it changes how you show up the other 364 days. That’s the idea behind misogi.
Rooted in an ancient Japanese purification ritual, the modern interpretation of misogi has been adopted by high performers and thinkers like Jesse Itzler, who challenges himself to do one thing each year that pushes him to the edge—physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Entrepreneur and endurance athlete Jesse Itzler sums it up perfectly: “If you do it right, your misogi will impact the other 364 days of the year.”
That means it’s not a bucket list item. It’s not a resolution. And it’s definitely not something you know you can accomplish. A true misogi should have a 50% chance of failure. It should stretch you so far that you’re forced to meet a new version of yourself in the process.
It could be a physical challenge, like a cold-water swim, a silent retreat, or running an ultra.
It could be emotional, for example: having a difficult conversation you’ve avoided for years.
It could be professional, maybe starting that business, publishing your work, or speaking on stage.
It could be a 100km walk in a single day – like Matt and Steve are doing!
It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about remembering who you are under pressure. It’s about reintroducing yourself to your grit, your creativity, your courage.
Because when you do something hard on purpose, everything else feels more manageable in comparison.
So ask yourself: What’s my misogi this year? And what kind of impact do I want it to have on the rest of my life?