CONTEXT

“Discomfort” used to mean fleeing hungry predators. Discomfort now means an unstable wifi connection. Generally, this is wonderful news!

But we rarely leave our comfort zones anymore. The result?

Risk aversion, anxiety, and operating far below what our true potential is. You see, if you stop testing your limits, those limits don't stay static—they actually shrink.

The only way to grow (physically, mentally, spiritually, financially) is to push the edge of your preconceived boundaries.

Test your body. Strengthen your mind. Let’s dive in:

METHOD

Misogi is an ancient Japanese Shinto ritual that involves making a pilgrimage to an icy waterfall, and standing under the cold water (to symbolize intense purification).

The concept was more recently popularized in the U.S. by Dr. Marcus Elliott— a Harvard-trained physician who develops elite athletes. He more broadly interprets Misogi as any impossible (but safe) challenge in nature that tests your limits—both mentally and physically.

It’s about doing something so difficult 1 day of the year… that it shifts your perspective for the other 364 days.

There are two rules for a Misogi as Elliott defines it:

1. It has to be REALLY hard—with only a 50% chance of success.

2. You can’t die. (Meaning, you must take safety precautions.)

Examples could be: training for your first half-marathon, completing a 4-min cold plunge, swimming 500m to shore (with an escort boat), etc.

WHY IT WORKS

If a Misogi is challenging enough, it will bring you to a breaking point where you think you can’t keep going. You’ll say you’ve reached your “limit.”

But if you just keep going a little longer— a few more steps, a few more minutes— you’ll look back at that point and realize that wasn’t your limit.

You sold yourself short.

Which leads to the important question…

“If I sold myself short here, where else in my life am I selling myself short?”

By the way:

• Whether you finish the Misogi at the end doesn’t matter. Remember— you only had a 50% shot.

• Whether your Misogi is “harder” or “easier” than another person’s doesn’t matter.

The only thing that matters is that you pushed beyond what you truly thought your limit was.

My first Misogi?

Riding a motorcycle across Morocco for 2 weeks in 110º heat, through slippery sand and impossible switchback turns.

I was the youngest person (and only woman) to attempt the motorcycle tour.

I wanted to quit so many times. But each time, I found one more turn in me. One more mile. One more reason to push past the self-doubt. And I managed to finish.

(Yep, that’s me. 😂)

When I returned home? My mental toughness was strong.

All the tiny inconveniences that would have previously stressed me out were now put into perspective. And all the opportunities I used to pass up because of my high risk aversion… suddenly felt within reach.

So tell me, what’s your Misogi? It can be anything—not just physical challenges in nature! But you must have less than a 50% chance of success for the magic to happen.

P.S. To dive deeper, I highly recommend reading The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter.

(Or check out his podcast interview with Peter Attia. It’s fantastic.)

Until next week,

Jade

P.S. Sending a warm welcome to the astounding 19,600+ people who subscribed since last week! 🥹 Learn more about The Quiet Rich here. 🎉