The One Challenge a Year Rule That Could Change Your Life

What If Midlife Was the Beginning of Your Boldest Chapter?

Midlife doesn't announce itself.

It shows up in small ways, until you realize life has become… predictable.

One day you wake up and the days are full — work, family, responsibilities — yet somewhere in the background there's that question:

Is this it?

You're grateful. You love your family.

But somewhere underneath all of it, there's a voice: there's more.

And then the guilt comes.

Because how dare you want more when you already have so much? (At least that's what my mum guilted me to feel)

But here's the truth:

Wanting more doesn't mean you're ungrateful.

It means you're still alive.

I know that feeling because I've lived it.

And recently, I came across an idea that completely shifted everything.

What Is a Misogi?

It's called a Misogi.

It's a Japanese concept that's been adapted into modern life as a personal challenge philosophy.

Here's how it works:

Once a year, you choose one challenge so big it scares you.

Something with about a 50% chance of failure, because growth only happens when the outcome is uncertain.

A Misogi isn't about ticking a box.

It's about becoming someone new.

Why I Decided to Design My Life Around It

Like many women in their 40s, I've been navigating a lot of change.

Perimenopause.

Motherhood evolving.

Questions about identity and purpose.

Somewhere along the way, I realized something uncomfortable:

If I didn't intentionally design my life, it would simply continue on autopilot.

Safe.

Predictable.

And I kept thinking about my daughters.

What will they remember about me?

That I played it safe?

That I chose comfort?

That I stopped trying new things because I was "too old"?

Or will they remember a mother who showed them what brave looks like?

Not fearless. Just brave.

That question changed everything.

So I decided to adopt the Misogi concept and start designing my life intentionally.

My First Misogi

Here's what I'm doing.

In May 2026, I'm walking 800 kilometres across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.

Alone.

At 44.

While my body does all the perimenopausal things nobody warns you about.

I'm terrified.

I'm excited.

And that's exactly why it's the right challenge.

Because when something scares you, it usually means it matters.

Why Midlife Is the Perfect Time for a Misogi

There's a strange narrative around midlife.

Society tells us it's time to slow down. Settle. Shrink.

But what if that's complete bullshit?

What if midlife is actually when we become most powerful?

By now, we have:

✨ Self-awareness earned through years of trial and error
✨ Life experience that can't be faked
✨ Clarity about what actually matters

And we also know something our younger selves didn't:

Time is precious.

Which makes this the perfect moment to stop drifting and start designing.

How to Design Your Midlife (A Simple Framework)

You don't need to walk across Spain to start.

The real power is in deciding to live more intentionally.

Here's a simple way to begin.

1. Identify What Matters Most

Ask yourself:

What do I want my children to remember about how I lived?

Your answer reveals your core values.

2. Choose One Bold Challenge

Your Misogi should:

• Excite you
• Scare you slightly
• Push you beyond your comfort zone

It could be:

• Climbing a mountain
• Writing a book
• Starting a business
• Travelling solo
• Running a marathon
• Learning a new skill

The point isn't the challenge itself. The point is who you become while pursuing it.

3. Add Mini Adventures

One big challenge a year is powerful.

But life also needs novelty along the way.

You can design your year around:

• Trying new experiences
• Learning new things
• Saying yes to small adventures

These keep life feeling alive.

4. Stop Waiting for the "Perfect Time"

One of the biggest traps in midlife is waiting.

Waiting for the kids to be older.

Waiting until life is less busy.

Waiting until we feel more confident.

But life rarely becomes less complicated.

Sometimes the most powerful decision is simply this:

Start anyway.

What Would Your Misogi Be?

The idea of a Misogi has completely changed how I think about the future.

Instead of drifting through the years, I'm designing them.

One challenge at a time.

This year, it's the Camino.

Next year… I don't know yet.

But I do know one thing.

I want my life to be a story worth telling.

Not for anyone else.

For me.

For my daughters.

For the woman I'll be at 60, 70, 80 — looking back and remembering that I didn't just let life happen to me.

I designed it.

So if you've ever felt that quiet pull toward something bigger…

If you've ever wondered if there's more…

If you've heard that whisper and ignored it because it felt selfish or scary or impossible…

Maybe this is your moment to ask yourself a powerful question:

What would your Misogi be?

And then…

What if you actually did it?

If this resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. 🤍

Follow my Camino journey:
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LizaSchizas
👉 Instagram: @midlifeflow