What is your misogi?
Imagine the compounding effect on your physical and mental strength if you prioritized just one insanely challenging and fun adventure a year? Can you imagine if this one annual adventure took the same level of importance as mentoring your children, acing your profession, paying your mortgage.
An ancient ritual, practiced by Shinto monks in Japan, called Misogi identifies such importance. Literally translated, ‘water cleansing’ this ritual involved a significant physical and mental challenges that purified the mind, body, and spirit. This samurai tradition helped warriors build mental clarity and gain a deeper understanding of themselves by pushing their limits.
The key component of personal adventure is … simply, it’s personal. What pushes one person to another to their limit is individual and comparison of “limit pushing” is as farcical as comparing blue whales with ants. The key elements of making a decision on your challenge are;
Will it genuinely place you out of your comfort zone and;
Is it humanly achievable?
It may be delivering a TED style talk to an audience of 100 people, climbing a peak, travelling on your first trip as a solo or playing an instrument on the sidewalk to strangers. The benefits of misogi begin to flood in from the moment of making a commitment to execute your challenge.
Those of you who have travelled with me on a GirlsTrek in recent months will know about my misogi. I am now 22 weeks from go time and I am ready to spill the beans to the whole GirlsTrek audience.
On February 18 2025 at 7:00am Sweden time, I and 39 other competitors will begin a 5 day “Ice Ultra”. This self supported event will require me to carry my food and clothing for 5 days and battle it out with -20 to possibly -40 degree temperatures over very long distances each day through Swedish Lapland. I have never attempted an event as scary (or crazy) as this one and I have a reverence for this undertaking that is unparalleled.
However these are the benefits to my physical and mental wellbeing I have already begun to enjoy;
By the time I show up in Sweden I will have trained for a whole year specifically for this event. I am proud of the structure, discipline and patience I have taken to my training plan.
I have had gaps of NOT being able to execute on my training plan and instead of allowing my inner voice to give me a negative shellacking I have recognised that falling off the plan is part of the plan! Things happen, be flexible. When you get “bucked off” get back on.
I have asked for help. I am asking all kinds of people for all kinds of help and everyone I have asked has been so generous. People are so keen for you to succeed.
I have never slept so well!
I have noticed how in general my mood has lifted. I am not sweating the small stuff. I am moving on from things that annoy me quickly. I am sure this is due to me not having time to worry - my days are full of action whether they be training, working, socialising and of course eating to fuel my muscles!
Choosing your ‘challenge’ is so individual and it is not necessarily about a physical feat. I have chosen this challenge because for me it is the next step in moving the needle on my comfort zone with outdoor pursuit. I have been trekking and testing myself since I was 21. Arguably before then if I consider my free and adventurous childhood on my parent’s cattle property. This adventure is right for me. I am learning new things and pushing new limits in my wheelhouse.
Consider now, what is on your calendar over the next 12 months that scares you, just a little bit. Take action if there is nothing there.
One a year for the next 10 years.
I say press GO.
For information check out: