How refreshing it is to be presented with a personal challenge which has a ripple-like effect on other aspects of your life.
During a recent interview with a high-performing sales leader based in Melbourne, Australia, I was introduced to an unfamiliar concept, The Misogi Challenge.
Shintoism, a religion indigenous to Japan, (more a set of practices than a fixed doctrine) places purification as the starting point of almost each ritual. One of the most well-known methods is Misogi, which traditionally involves standing under a waterfall, bathing in a river, or using some other form of water immersion to wash away impurities.
Reimagined to fit our more Western lifestyle, Misogi has been re-framed as a test of resilience, and even a form of self-discovery.
The modern version of The Misogi Challenge involves a personal commitment.
Once a year, do something so difficult - for one day - that it has the potential to reshape the entire year.
Growth through Discomfort.
The Misogi Challenge taps into the historical demands placed upon humans throughout history, where our very survival demanded constant adaptation to weather, predators, hunger, or conflict. An annual challenge presents us with a deliberate way to reintroduce that ‘healthy stress’, so we can expand our comfort zone and test our boundaries.
Core Principles
- 50/50 Chance: The challenge should be so challenging that you're genuinely unsure if you'll succeed, even with preparation.
- Year-Defining: It's a significant event that stands out and can influence the rest of your year, not just a casual goal.
- Beyond Comfort: It pushes you past perceived physical or mental boundaries to foster personal and/or spiritual growth.
Here’s to designing your own year-defining challenge.