On Sept. 21, 2025, I paddled Tahoe 25 miles on my SUP from Camp Richardson in South Lake to Waterman’s Landing in North Lake. I was inspired by The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, who writes about the Japanese word misogi—a ritual of purification, washing away what no longer serves you so you can return to your true essence. Easter reframes it as doing something so difficult it shakes you to your core and forces you to meet the deepest parts of yourself.

Before this challenge, I had a different kind of misogi—one that nearly broke me. On June 24, 2024, I planned what I thought would be a casual paddle from Kings Beach to Incline Village and back. It took 45 minutes to go out, so I figured an hour to return. I was wrong. I hadn’t checked the forecast or respected how quickly conditions can change on Tahoe. The wind kicked up, and one-foot chop turned into three-foot swells. My board slammed against the waves until I finally fell in. Climbing back up, I couldn’t stand anymore and had to paddle the rest of the way on my knees.

Those five hours back were some of the longest of my life. Every muscle burned. My legs shook from fatigue, and for the first time I felt real fear on the water. I screamed at the wind, the lake, even God. Somewhere between desperation and determination, I started shouting affirmations just to stay focused. I even yelled, “IPA ALL THE WAY!”—a battle cry for my soon-to-launch coaching company, Infinite Potential Advisors. In that moment, it was a cry for survival. Stroke by stroke, I made it back to Kings Beach and collapsed on the ramp—humbled, shaken, and deeply aware I had disrespected Big Blue. That day I learned: Mother Nature always deserves respect.

That harrowing lesson planted the seed for my full-lake misogi a year later. This time, I trained hard, studied the wind, packed carefully, and set a clear intention. I wasn’t paddling for glory or fitness. I was paddling for transformation.

I launched at sunrise from Camp Rich, the lake calm and silent. It was just me and my wife, Roxanne, who would drive home to Truckee and meet me ten and a half hours later at Waterman’s. The whole time tracking my location by phone.

The first few miles felt like meditation—each stroke in rhythm with my breath. But by late morning, the wind began to rise again, reminding me of that June ordeal. This time, I didn’t fight the water. I adjusted. I flowed. I respected the rhythm of the lake instead of resisting it.

Around mile 20, fatigue hit hard. My shoulders throbbed, my legs cramped, and the finish line seemed endlessly far. That inner voice—the same one that once screamed in panic—whispered again: You can’t do this. But another voice rose louder: Keep going, you’ve got this Bruce.

That was the moment I realized misogi wasn’t about the lake. It was about the space between those two voices—the fearful one and the faithful one. The man who once fought the elements, and the one now moving with them.

When I finally reached Waterman’s Landing, I shouted, “IPA ALL THE WAY! I AM A WATERMAN!” Exhausted and grateful, I dropped to my knees. The feeling wasn’t triumph; it was humility. The lake had tested and transformed me.

Paddling Tahoe wasn’t about distance. It was about coming home to myself. Misogi isn’t punishment—it’s purification. It washes away fear and ego until only truth remains.

Now, whenever I look at the lake, I bow my head in respect. Big Blue isn’t just water—she’s a mirror. She reflects who you truly are and reminds you to stay humble, patient, and grateful.

So if you ever feel called to do something that scares you—something that pushes you beyond comfort—answer that call. Your misogi might not be a 25-mile paddle. It might be a mountain to climb, a conversation, or a bold decision that changes your life. But whatever it is, do it with courage, gratitude, and respect for the forces that shape you.

Because when you surrender to the journey, you can find your true strength and unlock your infinite potential.

Seung “Bruce” Lee is a Truckee-based personal development coach and founder of Infinite Potential Advisors. He helps people build confidence, master their mindset, and unlock their infinite potential so they can achieve their goals and live their dreams!