Effectively Crafting an Eventful Year

Recently, I came across Jessie Itzler's idea of "Misogi," and it struck a chord. As someone always searching for ways to live intentionally, I decided to dive deeper into this concept as a practice to adopt in 2025. The idea of structuring a year around meaningful, transformative events resonates deeply, especially when so many of us find our calendars filled with commitments that don't necessarily align with our personal priorities. [Full episode here]

Your Effective Tip of the Week: Determine your 2025 Misogi - one transformative event that will define the year when you look back on it.

THE THEORY

Misogi is a Japanese Concept. In its origins, Misogi is actually a Japanese purification ritual, often involving challenging and uncomfortable activities to cleanse the body and mind. Modern interpretations extend this idea to annual transformative challenges. One big event each year that forces us out of our comfort zones and into growth. These aren’t just physical challenges; they are moments that help redefine who we are and what we’re capable of achieving. Anchoring your year with a Misogi provides purpose and focus, ensuring you prioritize something deeply meaningful that you will look back to with pride.

The Dopamenu Connection. This idea reminded me of the concept of a "Dopamenu," where "Specials" represent the standout events that bring long-term happiness and fulfillment. Although Misogis are meant to be challenging, still both frameworks encourage us to plan significant experiences ahead, making them intentional rather than incidental.

At its core, Misogi is about voluntary discomfort to build resilience. This is a concept deeply rooted in both Stoic philosophy and modern psychology. Stoicism encourages us to deliberately embrace discomfort to strengthen our mental fortitude and prepare for life’s uncertainties. Additionally, Angela Duckworth’s work on grit emphasizes that pushing through difficulties reshapes our perception of limits and improves our perseverance.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

A mini-misogi a month: Jessie Itzler expands on the concept of Misogi by suggesting we plan not just one major event each year but also smaller, monthly mini-events. Without this proactive approach, our calendars often get filled with others’ priorities (e.g. birthday parties, obligatory meetings, or routinary commitments we don’t truly value). By scheduling meaningful events in advance, we give ourselves permission to prioritize what matters most to us. Instead of declining a casual invite with no clear reason, you can say no because you’ve committed to something personally significant.

How I am personally implementing this: I like the idea of scheduling year-defining events in advance, but I don’t believe they all need to involve discomfort. For me, attending concerts, exploring new destinations, and going on nature walks with my family bring a sense of intentional joy that balances perfectly with the more challenging goals I’m pursuing (like strength training, building a business, and recording myself on video). While I could improve by identifying one major transformative event each year, I’ve found value in scheduling a collection of smaller, meaningful events. I believe, together, these will create a vibrant and fulfilling year through their combined impact.

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE

1. Set Your Annual Misogi: Choose one significant, transformative challenge. Make it ambitious but achievable, like hiking a renowned trail, completing a marathon, or launching a passion project.

2. Define Your Mini-Misogis: Brainstorm activities that excite and/or challenge you. Think concerts, road trips, workshops, or even a silent retreat. Include a mix of physical, mental, and creative pursuits.

3. Schedule Ahead: Block off these events in your calendar now. Treat them like immovable commitments to ensure they don’t get overridden by less meaningful obligations.

4. Include Voluntary Discomfort: Make sure some of your events push you out of your comfort zone (or at least your regular routine).

5. Prioritize Synergy: Combine activities to maximize impact. For example, pair physical activity with quality time, like a hike with friends or a family bike ride.

6. Reassess Quarterly: Life happens. At the start of each quarter, review your calendar and adjust as needed to keep your plan realistic and exciting.

7. Celebrate Your Progress: Reflect on your experiences and how they’ve enriched your year. Share your journey with others to inspire them to craft their own Misogi-filled year.

Life is too short to let your calendar fill up with obligations that don’t align with your goals or passions.

Intentionally yours,

Jorge Luis Pando

P.S. Curious about my 2025 Misogis? This will be the year I dive into podcasting (more details coming soon), launch a community dedicated to developing the skills that truly drive career growth (reply to this email if you’d like to be part of the invitation-only launch), and tackle a major personal milestone that’s still under wraps for now. I’d love to hear about the big events you’re planning for 2025 - Reply to this email and let me know what big events you are intentionally planning ahead!