How I Use Big A** Challenges Each Year To Build My Life Resume

In the beginning of each year I evaluate my 25 wins of the year before and the things I should have avoided. Then I set myself one big, mountain?size challenge for the new year that keeps me in my lane. I call that challenge and goal my misogi. It's usually not connected to business. But more?importantly - my mind. I learned this from the amazing?Jessie Itzler.

The term "misogi" officially refers to a shinto "water cleansing" in Japanese that involves standing under a waterfall.

To understand misogi in context, I ask myself "‘What are you mentally and spiritually willing to put yourself through to be a better human to reach your?potential (which I know, you'll never reach)?"

Over the last hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, it was essential for our survival to do hard shit all the time. These weekly or monthly challenges were hunting dangerous animals, finding shelter in the cold, crossing ice cold rivers, getting resources for the tribe and so on. Each time we took on one of these challenges we’d learn what our potential is. We'd learn that we are stronger than we think, especially mentally.?If you're a student, young professional or an entrepreneur - you might ask, why is this important today?

In today's world, for the majority of us (I know millions of people are suffering) - we live in abundance. We have three meals a day, can sleep somewhere warm and can buy food and clothes around the block. Although this is comfortable and great, it has made many of us soft.?

It’s actually possible to live a life without being challenged. Think about it. You still have your local supermarket. You still have a home. You have people that love you. You have access to the Internet where you have endless of information (do you recall when we had to call or visit that friend who had the entire encyclopedia collection at home for answer to a question?) And that seems like a "fine"?life for many, but not for me.?

We have no idea what exists outside of our potential and our comfort zone. And by not having any idea what's outside our comfort zone...this makes us miss an important pillar for life.?

Since 2019, I've undertaken an annual misogi - a huge challenge done somewhere I'd be uncomfortable. For me, a misogi is a challenge humans used to face all the time, but not any longer. For me, misogis are inward-facing. Apparently, human beings have been doing it for thousands of years. For example, the Maasai tribe would be sending men into the savannah alone to hunt a lion with a spear as life challenges. Spartans would send their seven-year old boys to the wild to survive and meet life's challenges face to face. ?

Why am I undertaking this? Wouldn't it be far easier to just kick back and enjoy life? Siestas Freddie, beer, wine, beach??

Because throughout my yearly misogis, I’d crossed what I thought was the end of my comfort zone - the edge, the end but learned often that my persistence?have taken me further than I ever thought. After last year's misogi (I ran the Barcelona Marathon), I returned home exhausted, my body had pain everywhere, I was shaking - but most importantly, my perspective on life had changed, my mental sharpness had increased, my mind had strengthened. I was a better human being. Context, the furthest I've run before this was 14 km. A marathon is 42 km.?

I challenge you to create your own misogi for the year. It doesn't matter whether you're a student, young professional - if I can do it, anyone can do it.

I guarantee you. You'll become a better human being.?And that my friend, is something we all should strive for.