The Hero's Journey

The great legends, mythology, and scripture are told and retold throughout the ages by storytellers and authors. There is always a consistent theme. The hero finds him or herself in a situation that is unlike any other. Life as it was is no more. Overcoming or succumbing to the problem will result in a change for not only the unsuspecting hero but for the community at large as well. A young hunter finds a mysterious feather and ends up in perilous struggles until he overthrows evil and marries the woman of his dreams. Moses discovers his true identity and leads his people to freedom. Jesus goes into the desert and emerges with the message of salvation. Jason goes on a quest for the Golden Fleece and becomes king. Cinderella finds her fingerprints in the ashes of the hearth and becomes the princess. The tales can be found in practically every novel ever written or film produced. They are what we want to read, see and hear. The stories are told and endure so that we can identify and follow the hero path in our personal lives.

The work of Joseph Campbell has been compelling to me. He made the point that everyone is the hero of their own story. It is being written from the time of our birth until we draw our last breath. The acceptance of this fact, whether we choose to participate and engage life with that knowledge, is relevant only to the extent that we meaningfully play the part. Sitting on the side of the road and waiting for something to happen is as much a tale as crossing the threshold and slaying our personal dragons. Either way, it is the process that underlies any growth, learning, and self discovery.

The idea is to accomplish something that transcends the ordinary. These situations present themselves in every challenge or change that happens in our lives. Every love found or lost, every birth and death presents the prospect of transformation. Every move to a new school, job, or town opens the chance to stop being what we were and to start becoming who we can be. Every situation which confronts us with something new or which forces us to re-evaluate ourselves presents us with possibilities for insight and growth.

We can own the fact that we are the hero and, in so doing, will discover that we have defined ourselves too narrowly. There will be a transformation in our behavior. We find ourselves with a new perspective and skills needed to face challenges that present themselves. We begin to act with honor and gain the wisdom to guide others through their own challenges. There is no time like the present to seize the opportunity. This is the way to a life filled with flavor and adventure.

Possibilities and Action

Path to Mountain Cabin ~ Photo by Steve Magin

We wake up every day to a fresh start with new opportunities. There is always the possibility of growth, development and change. This is the miraculous truth of life. The weight of the burden we carry can be put aside if we really want to do so. We are never really stuck in the rut that we might have imagined. Yesterday’s wounds, troubles and frustrations have faded into the mist of history. The mistakes that we have made do not have a life sentence attached to them. They haunt us only if we continue to repeat them. All that must happen to improve the outcome is simple, thoughtful performance.

There is no limit to the number of possibilities that are before us. We are limited only by our perception of our abilities. Nothing can stand in our way unless we bow to its inevitability. Difficulty does not spell doom. It merely means that we have to expend different energy, be more creative and be persistent. We can choose to celebrate this truth.

We have great cause to celebrate life in the fullness of time today. What kind of difference can we make with an attitude of celebration? We can fulfill our own dreams, create our own reality and inspire others with a sense of optimism. Nothing is as infectious as someone who is overflowing with passion and ignited with purpose. Life itself is the definitive adventure. We can engage it completely with positive action.

Movement and Action

We are usually in a state of perpetual movement. Our many motions of getting up in the morning, showering, having breakfast and going about our business continue on and on throughout the day. This movement does not necessarily constitute action however.

Action is about real accomplishment. It is about doing things with a purpose and with passion. People in action make a difference. Transforming movement into action is not too difficult. It requires that we begin to view each activity as important and sacred. We can give vitality to the most simple and mundane things simply by paying attention as we do them.

The first step before entering into action is to remember who we are. We are the beloved who is created in the palm of God’s hand. We have been treasured from all of eternity and possess special gifts to share. This might be the first, last, or only time that we will be able to contribute to a situation. What can I bring to the table? How can I be more fully present? How can I add joy and compassion? We will be led into a more meaningful life.

These are the elements of action:

A ~ Acceptance. It is critical to accept that each of us is as important and blessed as the next. I am not better than or worse than anyone. The situation that presents itself has been waiting for all of eternity to unfold. Accepting these principles brings sacredness to everything.
C ~ Compassion. Act with enthusiasm but more importantly in solidarity. Understand that many people are suffering in ways that we cannot comprehend. Tread lightly and in communion with those around us.
T ~ Take Time. There is no hurry to complete an activity despite the pressure to do so. Make an extra effort to savor and appreciate the very moment that is being spent. Miracles are happening while we are unaware.
I ~ Involvement. It is important to be fully involved in what we are doing. This means that other stimuli cannot take our attention from the here and now. The things that might happen an hour from now or later in the day can steal our attention and diminish our real involvement. It is about being present.
O ~ Own Your Victories. Awareness of what we are doing allows us to celebrate and own the victories that are happening all of the time in our lives. We develop a gentleness with ourselves and others which diminishes judgment and negative perceptions.
N ~ No Negativity. A positive approach brought to any circumstance brings light and possibility. Negativity stops action and brings oppression. There is no permanent good that can come from the tyranny of negativity. We should avoid it like the plague.

We can become people of action by applying these principles. Our movements and routines will be enhanced. We will contribute beyond our perceived limitations. Our lives will be enriched.

Go For It

There are times in our lives when all the signs seem to be pointing us in a particular direction. Our thoughts and dreams are echoed in the songs and stories we hear and the media we see. The signposts seem to be everywhere. Walt Whitman experienced this in writing his famous Song of Myself when he said, "I know I am solid and sound, To me the converging objects of the universe perpetually flow, All are written to me, and I must get what the writing means." These rare times ask for us to assess our direction, pay attention, take stock and make decisions. Sometimes we just need to go for it!

Following external clues and using them to fulfill our dreams does not necessarily mean that we should throw caution to the wind. It does indicate that we need to focus, take stock and make decisions.  We have the opportunity to clear away the clutter and debris to provide a better look. We are empowered to make a positive shift and move forward. We can clearly see whether our current path is providing us the means for achieving our goals in life. We get to pull ourselves out of the sludge of the ordinary and climb toward the extraordinary. A sense of purpose, peace and happiness will flow in. Our new demeanor and attitude will actually attract like-minded people. Sometimes even the most unlikely angels arrive to help us along our way with the information and support we need.

Now is the time to take charge.  Now is the time to follow our dreams.

Change The World

My best friend and I made the decision to change the world. We were ten years old and thought that adults had no idea how beautiful and interesting it all was. We were concerned about people who were hungry when we had plenty. We thought that war was a fun game but a stupid way to settle arguments. We believed that everyone should have a comfortable home. Fixing those things did not seem unreasonable to us. The reality of mending it all was something different.

The truth is that the world is simply beautiful. The diversity of human beings and the environment is stunning. Each of us has a unique place and purpose. However, there is hunger, thirst, homelessness and war. It is our job to participate in solving those problems. We are called to add our individual voices and effort to bring an end to hopelessness and desperation. There is no excuse for ignoring the plight of the marginalized and oppressed. The most beautiful part of this life is observing and participating in the process of lending a hand to those in need. Our path through the world is a part of it.

Now is the time to change things. This does not happen in grand gestures but in our ongoing daily effort to make a difference. The joy that flows from such action will alter the course of history. We have the power to change the world today.