A few years ago, I signed up for a marathon where the grand prize wasn’t a medal or a trophy but something more enticing: your weight in cheese. You read that right — cheese .I wasn’t a runner back then — far from it. At the time, I would have run only if chased. But the idea of winning a wheel of Brie was irresistible. It was bold, ridiculous, and way out of my comfort zone. It was also a great story for my future nephews or my first date with their grandmother. Most of all, I love cheese, so it was exactly the kind of challenge I needed in my life.

Signing up for a Marathon

🎯 This is Part 4/9 of the Series Your Best Year YetWelcome back! You’re reading part four of Your Best Year Yet: A Step-by-Step Guide — a special year-end series designed to help you reflect on the past year, set transformative goals, and create a plan to thrive in the year ahead. If you missed the previous issue, catch up here.In this issue, we will discuss the fascinating concept of Misogi — a transformative path that will define your year.In the upcoming issue, we will discuss splitting your big goals into smaller, more achievable steps. <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/publish/post/https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/subscribe">Subscribe</a> not to miss it!

[The Challenge] - Your Best Year Yet

But why does this work?<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus and Simplicity: You won’t juggle with multiple goals. Misogi directs all your energy towards one transformative achievement. Research from Psychological Science shows that people are more likely to succeed when focusing on fewer meaningful objectives.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The Power of Stretch Goals: A 2017 study in the Harvard Business Review found that stretch goals stimulate creativity and boost motivation.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Identity Transformation: Misogi reshapes how you see yourself. Running won’t be your hobby anymore; you will be the one who ran a marathon. </li></ol>Let’s see how to set up a Misogi now.

What Is Misogi and Why Does It Work? (2)

At the end of 2025, you should be able to look back and say: That was the year I [insert here your Misogi in past tense]. Maybe you ran a marathon. Or you may have learned to salsa dance or repaired a fractured friendship. But remember that Misogi is not only a goal — it’s a story. It is a defining moment that shapes who you are forever.So, what will your Misogi be?Take the time to reflect, choose boldly, and commit to your Misogi.[DOWNLOAD THE FREE INFOGRAPHIC <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/p/how-to-set-a-misogi">HERE</a>]

I didn’t win the cheese marathon. I had only three months to train, and the other contenders were more in shape than me. But I gained something far more valuable.Training for that race pushed me to my physical and mental limits. It reshaped how I saw myself and became the defining moment of my year — a story I still use today.That’s the power of Misogi — a Japanese word for a transformative and audacious goal that shapes your grit. Today, I will explore how you can find your Misogi for 2025. And I promise, next December, you’ll look back and say: What an awesome year that was!

The Cheese Marathon

Look at the areas of your life:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">What are my worst flaws?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Where am I most dissatisfied?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Which area, if transformed, would create a ripple effect across my entire life?</li></ul>The cheese marathon idea came from my Physical wheel. I have never had a great relationship with my body. I wanted to get fit. And running a marathon that would reward me with my favorite food seemed like a great idea.Your Misogi might focus on a completely different area. If your relationships feel stagnant, you may want to build a new hobby to get to know more people or organize a group trip to an exotic country, for example.

1 — Start with Your Wheel of Life (2)

Here are examples of Misogi goals inspired by different wheel-of-life categories:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Physical : Complete a marathon or triathlon.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Mental : Learn a new language.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Spiritual : Spend a weekend in silent meditation or create a daily gratitude practice.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Love : Plan and execute a grand romantic gesture.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Family : Record your family’s oral history through interviews.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Friends : Host a reunion for your high school or college crew. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Purpose : Launch a side project or write the first draft of a book. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Finance : Save 20% of your income and use it for a dream vacation. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Growth : Enroll in a public speaking course. </li></ul>

Step 2 — Crafting Your Misogi (2)

Misogi is not just about the goal — it’s about the journey. The path will challenge, stretch, and sometimes even frustrate you. But that’s the point. Growth happens when we are under pressure.Here are some tips for staying on track:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Visual Reminders : Incorporate your Misogi into your vision board. Seeing it every day will keep you motivated.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Journal the Process : Reflect on your progress, challenges, and victories. This helps you stay connected to your purpose.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Celebrate Progress : The goal isn’t to be perfect but to grow. Celebrate every step forward, even if the path isn’t linear.</li></ul>

Step 4 — Let It Shape Your Year

Most people would hear about Misogi and set a random goal that doesn’t represent them or serve them any purpose. So, before you can set a Misogi, you must figure out where it will make the biggest impact. You can use the wheel of life for that (if you’re new to this tool, check out <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/p/build-your-wheel-of-life">the dedicated article </a>for a breakdown).

1 — Start with Your Wheel of Life (1)

A good Misogi meets two criteria:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">It’s Bold Enough to Scare You: If it doesn’t make you nervous, it’s not big enough.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It’s Meaningful: The goal should resonate deeply with your values and what you want for your life.</li></ol>

Step 2 — Crafting Your Misogi (1)

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Spread the word! Share <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/">The Challenge</a> with friends and family.</li><li class="ql-align-justify"><a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/subscribe">Subscribe today</a> to support the ongoing creation of this content.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Want more? Explore my other work at <a href="https://www.cosmopolitanmindset.com/">Cosmopolitan Mindset</a>.</li></ul>

Next Steps

You're reading an excerpt from <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/">The Challenge</a> — a weekly newsletter dedicated to self-improvement, goal-setting, habits, time management, and health tips.Every week, you'll receive:<ul><li>A life-enhancing challenge</li><li>A custom infographic to track your progress</li></ul><a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/subscribe">Subscribe now</a> and start your first challenge.

The Challenge

You have chosen your Misogi. Now, it’s time to solidify it.<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Write It Down : Studies from Dominican University show that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Tell Someone : Accountability is key. Share your Misogi with a trusted friend or even post about it online.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Set Milestones : Break the goal into smaller, actionable steps. For example, if your Misogi is running a marathon, your milestones might include signing up for the race, completing a 5K, and gradually increasing your mileage.</li></ol>

Step 3 — Make It Official

Before that, my life felt neutral: work, chores, social media scrolling, games with friends, and repeat. I wasn’t unhappy, but I wasn’t excited either.I needed something to shake things up — a big goal that scared me, something audacious that could completely redefine my year. That’s what this marathon became for me.

The Clutter of a Neutral Life

New Year’s resolutions are great. In the last issue, we saw how to make them work. And you can use them to track your progress. But Misogi is something else. It’s about choosing one ambitious goal that stretches you how you didn’t think possible. And that’s the beauty of it.Why would you want to do something like that?I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want another year to pass without anything interesting happening. In these past years, I learned you must chase opportunities to make them happen. This could be your deliberate way of finding opportunities.

What Is Misogi and Why Does It Work? (1)

Discover the transformative power of setting a Misogi—a bold, year-defining challenge that pushes your limits. Are you brave enough to take the leap and redefine your potential?

Discover the transformative power of setting a misogi—a bold, year-defining challenge that pushes your limits. Are you brave enough to take the leap and redefine your potential?