The Day After The Mountain From the Moonshots newsletter In a previous edition of Moonshots, I talked about the idea of Misogi. The concept is simple. Once a year, you should attempt something so difficult that there’s a 50% chance you fail. It's not a comfortable goal. It's not something you know you can complete. Something that forces you to confront the edge of who you think you are. Run the ultra. Climb the mountain. Launch the thing you’ve been avoiding. The purpose isn’t achievement. It’s confrontation. You confront your limits. You confront your excuses. You confront the quiet voice that says you can’t. And if you push through it, something strange happens. For a moment… you become someone else. But here’s the part people rarely talk about. The Misogi isn’t the hard part. The day after is. The Post-Challenge Void You imagine the finish line will feel different. Clarity. Confidence. A permanent sense of accomplishment. Instead, life resumes. The emails are still there. Your routine returns. The world moves on. And inside, a strange thought appears: Now what? Most people treat a Misogi like an event They celebrate it. Post about it. Tell the story. Then slowly… They drift back into the same patterns that existed before. This means the challenge becomes nothing more than a good memory. But that was never the point. My Version of a Misogi Recently, mine was HYROX. HYROX is an indoor fitness race where competitors alternate between 1 km runs and functional workout stations like sled pushes, rowing, lunges, and wall balls. I entered the doubles race with a good friend of mine. We had a target time to beat: 1 hour and 15 minutes. For six months, we trained for it. Early mornings. Hard sessions. Days where motivation was nowhere to be found. Race day came. Long story short — we beat our time. I was genuinely happy about it. But not long after finishing, a familiar thought crept in: What’s next? Should we sign up for another race? Train for something harder? But after sitting with it, I realized something important.

When I stand I think that this is my new theme song. Owen James "When I Stand" (Official Music Lyric Video) Lyrics: I don’t talk just to fill the air I don’t move just to prove I care I don’t scare when the sky turns black I don’t leave when it pushes back I’ve seen strong men lose their ground Heard brave words fall apart out loud I don’t shake when the walls give in I get quiet… then I dig in When it gets heavy When it gets loud When everybody’s running out I don’t run I don’t bend When I stand I don’t fall When I hold I hold it all When it’s dark When it breaks You can lean I won’t shake When I stand You’re safe I’ve held hands in the worst of nights Kept my word when it cost my pride I don’t fold when the truth cuts deep I don’t promise what I can’t keep I’ve been low, I’ve been tested hard Lost a few, left a few scars But I don’t drown in what I face I let it hit… then I brace When it gets lonely When it gets thin When the fight’s outside and within I don’t run I don’t bend When I stand I don’t fall When I hold I hold it all When it’s dark When it breaks You can lean I won’t shake When I stand You’re safe You don’t need a louder man You need one who understands The weight don’t scare me It makes me who I am When I stand I don’t fall When I hold I hold it all When it’s dark When it breaks You can lean I won’t shake When I stand You’re safe.

Meditation for the day I do not compete with anybody, and neither should you. Here are the reasons why. You can’t take what was meant for me, and I don't want what was meant for you. You can’t have what's mine, and I don't want what's yours. All I want is to be better today than I was yesterday and to be better tomorrow than I was today. If you continuously compete with others, you're going to get bitter, but if you compete with yourself, you're going to get better.

Powerful Native American Prayer No matter how cheery of a person you may be, it’s not always easy to keep your spirits up 100% of the time... we all have “one of those days.” This is where a mindfulness prayer can really come in handy. This short Native American prayer is a reminder of the beauty and wonders of the world. Its few short lines speak to our most basic, human concerns. It manifests joy, love, and peace. and most importantly, it reminds us to express thanks and gratitude. After all, no matter our circumstances, there is always something to be grateful for. Take a deep breath and let your mind pore over the ancient words below: Dear Great Spirit, You are inside of me, within my very breath, within each bird, each mighty mountain. Your sweet touch reaches everything, and I am well protected. Thank you for this beautiful day before me. May joy, love, peace, and compassion be part of my life and all those around me on this day. I am healing, and I am healed. Sometimes, when the world outside feels heavy, all we need to do is look within ourselves for that soul spark of joy and beauty!

Acts of Random Kindness June 29, 2007 By Bear Warrior Gonzales What if changing the world didn’t require wealth, power, or fame? What if the power to change the world was already in your hands hidden in the simple act of kindness? Tonight, I took my fiancée out on our regular Friday night date. First, we picked up my paycheck and cashed it, and then we went out to dinner. After dinner we went to the movies and watched the film Evan Almighty. In the movie, Evan runs for Congress under the campaign slogan “Change the World.” He wins the election, and suddenly, his whole world begins to change. Then God, played by Morgan Freeman, appears in his life and asks him, “You want to change the world, right?” Evan answers yes. God then tells him the way to change the world is by practicing Acts of Random Kindness, one act at a time. That idea made me stop and think. Changing the world doesn’t begin with massive movements or grand speeches. It begins with something much simpler one act of kindness at a time. And it doesn’t stop after one act. It becomes a way of living. It becomes a part of your daily life. In the movie, Evan’s wife almost leaves him because of the changes happening in his life. That part made me think even deeper. Many people are afraid of change, and sometimes, they walk away when they see it happening. I remember when I began changing in my own life. People were afraid of me because of my reputation. They believed that if they disrespected me or someone I loved, they would pay a heavy price. I was filled with anger, hatred, and violent rage. When I began to change, something interesting happened. Some people started mistaking my kindness for weakness. Others tried to take advantage of it. I had to show them something important: Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is strength under control. When you begin practicing acts of random kindness regularly, some people will misunderstand you. Some will try to take advantage of you. But that’s okay. We live in a world where many people look at life only for what they can get out of it, a world where the “dog-eat-dog” mentality is common. But if you practice acts of random kindness with a pure heart without seeking gain, recognition, or approval, you will be blessed, and you will help change this world.