Living in a city has its advantages. It is convenient, and many of us do it. In fact, some two hundred years ago, less than 10 percent of people in the Western civilization lived in cities. Today, it is a majority. You have all the advantages of modern life at your fingertips: schools, work, doctors, restaurants, and entertainment. Even a bit of nature in the form of parks.

With the advent of the internet and remote work, you don’t even need to leave your home. You can spend your whole life in your apartment. You can order food online and have it delivered, and you can work remotely. You can have a totally sheltered and convenient life. And it would make you weak and fragile.

Living in rural areas may not be as desirable at first glance, but it brings its advantages. You may have fewer options for work, schooling, or entertainment, but you will most likely have a less stressful life, and you will be happier, more resilient, and closer to nature.

We Are Too Comfortable And Weak

In The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter describes his 33-day hunting trip to the Alaskan backcountry. With two mates and only the stuff they can carry, they walk hundreds of miles across rugged terrain to hunt caribou. As he describes the trip, he ponders human existence and how weaker we have become as people. Cold, hardship, hunger, long trips of walking and carrying a heavy load, the Western civilization knows nothing about it. We got too comfortable, and we break easily.

We keep talking about stepping out of our comfort zones, but often, we mean it at an intellectual level. Learn new ideas we are not sure we should embrace. Try new activities we have never tried before. We are not literally stepping out into the cold to experience whatever mother nature throws at us, to be hungry for days, to work hard without knowing whether the work will be rewarded.

“Experiencing the type of physical discomfort our ancestors experienced may harden us physically and mentally. It makes us stronger and healthier and even gives us a sense of meaning.”

Is it wrong to want to be comfortable? Of course not. That is how nature builds us. By seeking comfort, safety, companionship, food, and shelter, we are increasing our chance of survival. The less we need to move, the less energy we burn, the less food we need, and the higher the chance we survive. This drive to seek comfort helped humans to survive, but it is starting to work against us.

It helped us in times of scarcity. It is killing us in times of abundance. Civilization diseases are the result. We eat whenever we want, not when we really need to. We are warm all the time, so we lose the ability to cope with cold. We sit all day long, so we are losing the ability to move long distances. We have cars to carry our stuff, so we lose the strength to carry things in our own hands.

Some “Real” Adversity Is Needed

Mark D. Seery and the team studied the effects of specific stressors on our lives. They realized that a stress-free life, free of negative events, may not be the optimal option. Some adversity in life may be needed to build resilience and optimal well-being. Too much stress is, of course, bad, but too little is harmful too. Those who experience some adversity report more psychological well-being in the long term than those who have never been exposed to bad things in their life. More importantly, being exposed to one type of adversity builds resilience not only to that particular type but to all sorts of bad things to a lesser extent.

It is the same as exercising. If you go regularly for a run, you will build better fitness. This increased endurance will then apply not only to running but to other types of physical activity.

We tend to complain about slight inconveniences. We are weak. We say ridiculous things like: “I’m cold in my 20 degrees Celsius apartment.” “I got wet in the rain when traversing the 10 meters from my car to my house.” “I’m hungry since I didn’t eat for two hours since lunch, and I need a snack.” Nonsense. The only valid complaints would be along the lines of “I’m cold as there is minus 50 degrees Celsius, and I’ve got frostbite.” “I’m wet since I spent a week traveling in the jungle under constant rain.” “I’m hungry since I didn’t eat for free days since my last meal of some tree bark.”

Practice Voluntary Discomfort

We often take things for granted and then get stressed when we lose them. Even the thought of losing something will evoke dread and cause you to lose your peace. It happens when you are too attached to external things. You are attached to your fancy house and comfortable bed. You just lost your job, and you can’t pay a mortgage. You end up on the street. You will be suicidal. Your whole world just crumbled like a house of cards. It doesn’t need to be that dramatic. Just imagine you travel on vacation, and it is raining the whole week. You are miserable. Sitting in your hotel and complaining about the weather.

As Seneca says in his letters to Lucilius, “appoint certain days on which to give up everything and make yourself at home with next to nothing. Start cultivating a relationship with poverty, for no one is worthy of a god unless he has paid no heed to riches. I am not, mind you, against your possessing them, but I want to ensure that you possess them without tremors, and this you will only achieve in one way, by convincing yourself that you can live a happy life even without them.”

Practice regularly a voluntary discomfort when you deny yourself some of the luxuries you enjoy in your life.

Let’s say you spend a weekend out of your house camping in a simple tent without hot water and a functional toilet. Or don’t cancel your planned trek only because it is raining. You can walk even in the rain. Or do even simpler things. Decide not to have a coffee for a week just to prove to yourself you can do it. Or take cold showers for a couple of days. Or decide not to buy new stuff (except for food) for several months.

The idea is that you will appreciate the things you take for granted more. It also helps you to build resilience and self-confidence so that you can deal with adversity in life. And ultimately, it may lower your consumerist tendencies. You will learn to be more moderate in everything, which is ultimately good for you, those around you, and even the planet Earth.

The practice of voluntary discomfort can also have another positive side effect. It builds up confidence that you can survive anything. By being comfortable with being uncomfortable, you gradually build confidence that you can deal with anything life throws at you, and that leads once again to tranquility. You don’t need to worry. You are ready. Not to mention that your comfort zone gets stretched. You start enjoying a wider array of things and situations, which leads to more happiness in your life. It may sound counterintuitive at first glance, but there is a lot of common sense behind this concept when you think about it.

If that is not enough? Then consider Misogi.

Understanding Misogi

Misogi, a traditional Japanese practice deeply rooted in Shinto beliefs, is more than a mere ritual; it’s a spiritual cleanse designed to purify the body and mind. This ancient practice involves purification rituals that can range from standing under waterfalls to engaging in deep breathing exercises in natural surroundings. In contemporary times, Misogi has transcended its religious boundaries, appealing to a broader audience seeking mental clarity, physical vigor, and spiritual growth.

The foundation of Misogi lies in its aim to reconnect the individual with the natural world, recognizing the purifying power of nature and its elements. It’s believed that through this connection, one can cleanse the spirit of impurity and spiritual pollution, thereby restoring balance and harmony within oneself and with the natural world.

Interestingly enough, human history is filled with these types of challenges. They are often seen as a rite of passage for young men. After reaching a certain age, they would be sent on walkabouts or hunting trips or asked to perform various difficult tasks that would challenge them and force them to use various survival skills. If they accomplished the rite of passage, they came back stronger and more confident. They would get a better understanding of the world they lived in and how they could take care of themselves.

Pros Of Misogi

Physical Health Benefits: Misogi has been linked to various physical health benefits. Cold water immersion, a common Misogi practice, is believed to improve circulation, boost immune response, and increase metabolism. It also stimulates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, releasing endorphins and reducing stress.

Mental and Emotional Well-being: Misogi practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and immersion in nature can significantly impact mental health. These activities help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting a state of mindfulness and present-moment awareness. The practice encourages a mental reset, offering a sense of clarity and peace that can combat the mental fatigue of modern life.

Spiritual Growth: At its core, Misogi is a spiritual practice that aims at purifying the soul and reconnecting with the divine aspects of nature. Participants often report a heightened sense of spiritual awareness and connectedness to something greater than themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of their place in the world and a renewed sense of purpose.

Confidence And Resilience: By taking on tough Misogi challenges, participants build resilience towards adversity and confidence in themselves that they can deal with whatever life and nature throws at them.

Cons Of Misogi

Physical Risks: While the physical benefits of Misogi are notable, there are risks, especially for those unaccustomed to extreme conditions. For example, cold water immersion can be dangerous for individuals with heart conditions or other health issues, potentially leading to hypothermia or shock in extreme cases.

Accessibility: Not everyone has easy access to natural settings ideal for traditional Misogi practices. Urban dwellers, in particular, may find it challenging to find suitable environments for waterfalls or natural bodies of water, limiting the practice’s applicability.

Misunderstanding and Misapplication: Without proper understanding and guidance, the practice of Misogi can be misunderstood or misapplied, potentially leading to physical harm or a lack of the intended spiritual and mental benefits. Practitioners must seek knowledgeable guidance and approach Misogi with respect for its cultural origins and spiritual significance.

4 Rules Of Modern Misogis

Modern misogis would come up with challenges that would test their physical and mental endurance to its limits. As Easter notes, it was Dr. Marcus Elliott who introduced this concept to the modern world. He would invent tough challenges of walking long distances over difficult terrain, climbing cliffs, carrying heavy stuff, and generally doing tons of uncomfortable activities that would challenge you to the core.

Misogi challenges should follow two simple rules and two softer guidelines:

1. Make It Hard: First, there should be a 50% chance of failing, even if everything goes according to the plan. This ensures that the challenge is really hard, and you will be forced to get out of your comfort zone.
2. Don’t Die: Second, it shouldn’t kill you. Challenges are good, but they shouldn’t be dangerous. You are trying to get physically and mentally stronger, not kill yourself.
3. Make It Quirky: It helps the challenge to be something unusual and quirky. It will make it not only challenging but also interesting.
4. Forget Social Media: You should do it for yourself and not to have something to boast about on social media. The challenges should be unique to you. You are trying to understand yourself and what you are capable of. They are inner-facing. They are not about your ego.

What one finds an easy workout can be a challenge for someone else. If you have never ridden a bicycle, then riding twenty miles may seem impossible. If you have never paddled on a kayak, then a ten-mile trip in choppy waters might be your misogi challenge, while someone who paddles for a living wouldn’t even break a sweat.

Or what about picking a heavy rock and carrying it a couple of miles to the top of the nearest hill? Ultimately, any endurance sport is a challenge both physically and mentally. Whether you are cycling, running, or swimming long distances, you will get out of your comfort zone.

Since I’m writing about this, I wanted to test it out myself. I regularly go for runs of four to five miles. My longest run was around 7.5 miles. So I imagined I probably could do 10 miles. It would be hard, but I’m pretty sure I can do it. So more or less 100% guaranteed success. That is not a misogi.

Remember, there should be a more than 50% chance of failure. So, ultimately, I settled on a half-marathon (13 miles or 21 kilometers). It is twice the longest I’ve ever run, and it is well above what I believed I could do. I went for it. I survived. And I run a couple of half-marathons a year since then.

Putting It All Together

The practice of Misogi, with its roots in ancient Japanese tradition, offers a compelling antidote to the comfort and convenience of modern city living. As we’ve navigated through the Stoic concepts of voluntary discomfort, real adversity, and the potential physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of Misogi, it’s clear that stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to profound personal growth and resilience.

The challenges presented by Misogi are not merely physical trials but opportunities for deep spiritual cleansing and reconnection with the natural world.

The practice emphasizes the importance of facing and embracing discomfort, not as a punishment but as a pathway to strength, clarity, and enlightenment. By pushing our boundaries through Misogi, we not only forge a stronger body and mind but also cultivate a spirit that is adaptable, resilient, and deeply connected to the essence of life itself.

In embracing Misogi, we find not only a method for physical and spiritual cleansing but a guiding principle for life: that through adversity, we discover our resilience; in discomfort, we find our strength; and in the embrace of the natural world, we reconnect with the deepest parts of ourselves.

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