"For almost ten years now, I've grounded myself with a weekly habit: swimming 2k at least once a week. Rain or shine, I'll find a pool (or any body of water) and count the laps. A moving meditation, more so than jogging, since swimming doesn't allow for podcasts and similar distractions. Somewhere along the way I came across the idea of the Misogi Challenge: Once a year, you take on something so difficult and intimidating that there's a good chance you might fail."
"Shinto is a religion indigenous to Japan, more a set of practices than a fixed doctrine. In Shinto, purification is the starting point of almost every 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- spiritual, or otherwise. Quite like mindfulness meditation, Misogi too has been reimagined to fit modern Western lifestyles."
Regular weekly swimming for a decade provides a steady, meditative habit without distractions. Misogi is a traditional Shinto purification practice involving water immersion under waterfalls or rivers. A contemporary Misogi is reframed as an annual challenge requiring undertaking a task so difficult there is a significant chance of failure. One-day duration of the challenge contrasts with its enduring psychological and behavioral effects that reshape routine, resilience, and self-understanding. Cultural practices like jogging and meditation moved from fringe to mainstream, suggesting modernized Misogi could follow similar adoption. Framing Misogi as a test emphasizes intentional discomfort beyond comfort zones.
Read at Psychology Today
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