Living the Hero's Journey

by Will Craig

  Know that your only guarantee is that you will be tested and challenged as every hero is. So, tell the universe to bring it on. That’s better than sitting on the couch waiting for something to happen.

  Evolving Self-Discovery

  The stages of the hero’s inner journey include awareness, change, and renewal. We become aware of a need for change and can consciously accept the call for change, or we can refuse the call. Taking ownership of the need for change plants the seeds for growth and renewal in our subconscious.

  Within the larger Map of Self-Discovery—the circle of life—there are many smaller circles representing shorter treks, hikes, and expeditions. Each follows the same blueprint of personal growth, providing the building blocks of courage and character.

  Resisting change is natural. Just know that if you refuse the call, you are doomed to repeat the lesson. Nature is relentless in its need for change and renewal. Human nature is no different.

  Life is the proving ground of an evolving soul.

  Life is not a competition. You will, however, be tested and challenged. Life is the proving ground of an evolving soul.

  Immerse yourself in the process and embrace the rites of passage. You are the hero of this exciting action-adventure, and the cameras are rolling.

  CHAPTER 5

  Role of a Lifetime

  You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one. ~ Henry David Thoreau

  Y ou are the hero of this action-adventure called life—a role only you can play. Not only are you starring in this mythical motion picture, but you are also the writer, producer, and director. Your creative skills know no boundaries on this set, so create the life you truly want and deserve.

  The three-act structure previously outlined (awareness, change, and renewal) is the format of the story and the map of your journey. How you choose to travel, the paths you take, and the cast of characters you assemble are yet to be determined. In one of William Shakespeare’s most frequently quoted passages, he compares the world to a stage and life to a play:

  “All the world’s a stage,

  And all the men and women merely players;

  They have their exits and their entrances;

  And one man in his time plays many parts . . .”

  Actors in Greek dramas would put on masks. Our persona (the Latin word for mask) is the appearance we present to the world. The character we play in the ordinary world responds to the demands of a situation and the environment. Some of us turn this mask, or false front, into a complete set of protective armor. This facade, however, is not the inner personality of the hero.

  Taking off the armor and dropping our persona leaves us vulnerable and exposed. Our identity protects us from experiencing pain, from possibly reopening a childhood wound to our ego. But there is a downside. Our persona also keeps us from being who we really are, living in our essence, living from the heart.

  The roles we play or masks we wear on the stage of life are partly our own and partly inherited. Roles are a personification of recognizable traits—giving human characteristics to typical patterns of behavior. The roles we see in movies and stories that endure and resonate with audiences are known as character archetypes. We immediately know who the hero is in action- adventure films. He is the one trying to save the world, his family, or a way of life.

  Heroes are easy to spot because they are always trying to do the right thing despite the injustices waged against them: Sigourney Weaver in Alien, Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity, Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games. Familiar characters in myth and fiction are essentially archetypes. They help us quickly understand the players without hampering the action or bogging down the storyline.

  In its simplest definition, an archetype is a pattern from which copies are made. The origins of archetypal theory date back as far as the Greek philosopher Plato, who called them ideal forms. In his hypothesis, Plato saw these mental forms as imprinted in the soul before it was born and embodying common fundamental characteristics.

  The term archetype, as used in psychology, began with Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who suggested that archetypes comprise psychological patterns derived from historical roles in life that predate the individual. This finding was the genesis of the collective unconscious, a term he coined in the early 1900s.

  The award-winning film Avatar artfully explores the collective unconscious. The Na’avi, who are blue indigenous people of the moon Pandora, are all interconnected. The enormous Tree of Souls serves as a living, tangible form of the collective unconscious that provides access to these imprints and memories.

  In Jungian theory, the collective unconscious is the repository of all symbols and experiences of religion, spirituality, and mythology. These are archetypal images ingrained in our understanding before birth, and they become the conceptual patterns behind all our thinking and beliefs. The tricky part is that the shared experiences of our ancestors are not directly knowable and, therefore, require a leap of faith. Don’t be concerned; we’ll learn how to decipher these unknowns once we’re underway. It may be comforting to know that archetypes have been present throughout history and are found all over the world.

  Central Casting

  Much work has been done in the area of casting the action-adventure by Hollywood veteran Christopher Vogler, best known for penning The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. In the book, he details the narrative structures and character archetypes now used extensively in successful films and TV series.

  Universally present in everyone, archetypes are impersonal patterns of influence. They become personalized, explains The Language of Archetypes author Caroline Myss, when they are a part of your individual psyche. Archetypes take active roles as guardians and inner allies, alerting you when you are in danger and guiding you through the unfamiliar or unknown.

  Myss goes on to explain that archetypes are universal patterns of power. You have been using pattern recognition all your life to organize your thoughts and emotions. Archetypal power is also the means by which you assess and characterize every person you meet.

  In our personal exploration of self-discovery—the objective of this adventure—familiarity with archetypes is vital to the process of understanding our purpose and discovering our destiny. It will be interesting, not to mention revealing, to meet the following cast of supporting characters on the journey:

  Hero

  Shadow

  Mentor

  Herald

  Threshold Guardian

  Shapeshifter

  Trickster

  Ally

  The hero has already been cast in this unpredictable story. Kudos to you, by the way. No one else was even considered for the part. Before you begin celebrating, please know, per your contract, that you have the option to choose several of the other characters on your journey. However, the remaining cast is predetermined.

  It’s not that you don’t know these predetermined characters. You know them all too well. Sometimes they argue with you (your conscious mind). Other times they fight with each other. Sometimes you feel guided by an unseen hand. Other times, abandoned and on your own. You never know when they will appear or what they might say or do. So, prepare to encounter monsters and demons, guides and teachers, seducers and betrayers, mates and masters (some playing dual roles).

  It’s understandable if you are having second thoughts right now. The hero is going to be a challenging role, to put it mildly. In fact, it’s going to require you to step out of a dated character you’ve played for years—maybe even decades. There is an undeniable comfort and familiarity to the part. You may be so good in this role that everyone believes this character is really you. You might even buy into it yourself. You’ve outgrown it, though, or you wouldn’t be in the place you are right now, searching for answers.

  It’s time to grow, stretch, and transform. If you maintain the status quo and play it safe, you will be settling for mediocrity gift-wrapped in a dull existence—like
the sitcom actor who has been playing the same part for too many seasons who sabotages his success with excess. You’ve been typecast for too long now, and it’s time to step into a new challenge and accept the starring role of a lifetime:

  The Hero

  Role: to serve and to sacrifice

  The obstacles and roadblocks heroes face in action-adventure movies are what sell tickets and popcorn. These are components of the visible, outer journey. Who doesn’t enjoy the exploits of Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones films, Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games flicks, or Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible films?

  The heart of the story—what the hero learns along the way, the relationships cemented, the new wisdom acquired—is what moviegoers find enduring and remember most. And so it is with the inner journey, which requires the moral courage and quiet heroism of doing the right thing even (or especially) when no one is looking.

  On the surface, the goal of the outward journey is a visible achievement in reaching the destination or winning the battle. The purpose of the inner journey is internal fulfillment and self-actualization—or becoming all that you were born to be. While the “inciting incident” triggers the outward quest, it is an incessant call from within that provokes heroes to achieve their destiny.

  In the classic definition, a hero is someone who gives their life to something bigger than themselves. The journey is one of initiation, of awakening an inner power of spiritual knowing. The mythic hero endures hardships and separation from the clan to enter a strange and unfamiliar world. Facing both external and internal obstacles, the hero confronts fears, as well as external challenges to ensure survival. Conquering the forces rallied against them, heroes emerge as their authentic selves, victorious and empowered. The hero returns to the tribe and shares the rewards of the adventure with all.

  “But wait,” you say. “What if nobody likes me in this new role? What if I don’t like the new part I’m playing?”

  When I first moved to Colorado from Florida, some 20 years ago, it was a new beginning. My seven-year stint with the nonprofit youth program was over; my marriage was over, and I was over being who I was at that time. I became keenly aware it was time for change.

  I wanted to do something totally different. I wanted to be someone I had never been. I wanted to test-drive new personas minus the binds of conformity. Maybe I took it a little too far by moving halfway across the country, but in Denver I could try on a new me without needing to fit into someone else’s expectations. I could reinvent, reinvigorate, and renew my life.

  Are you ready to play a new role? It’s not too late to reconsider. What you learn, what you experience, and what you bring back from your quest will change you in ways you cannot anticipate. The deep inner work you are about to experience isn’t light reading and certainly isn’t easy. If it were, you wouldn’t be the action hero of your life. You’d be Joe or Josephine Six Pack, kicked back on the couch, watching the tube, not even giving a second thought to contemplating a better world.

  If you’re not ready for this part, that’s okay. Sit it out for now and try to be content with the status quo. Good luck with that.

  If you are ready, let’s seize the day.

  Discovering Your Character

  With a greater understanding of the Hero’s Journey and an overview of the Map of Self-Discovery, let’s tweak the questions we asked in Part I and come a little closer to making them workable (and answerable): What is my true purpose in life? What changes must I make? How can I best use my gifts and talents?

  As we progress on our path, the questions become more specific and relevant: Who are my teachers and mentors? What do I need to hear? What can I believe in?

  By the end of this book, our questions may well be more along the lines of: How can I best serve myself, my family, and my world? What constitutes a life of significance and value? What do I want my personal legend to be?

  You may already have answers to some of these questions. This is progress, but notice how these answers mature, unfold, and transform over time. They may already be a little different from when you first formulated them.

  There are those who believe a wise old mentor who already knows the answers lives deep within our souls. But, as we will learn about mentors, they seldom give up their wisdom without making us earn it first.

  The quest for meaning doesn’t culminate at the arrival of a single destination. Nor will it be found in a treasure chest buried on an uncharted island where X marks the spot. The meaning of one’s life is more like a moving target; gaining insights and better understanding results from constant adaptation and incremental adjustments. Meaning evolves and emerges from change.

  “Progress is impossible without change,” said George Bernard Shaw, “and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” From a scientific point of view, it was Charles Darwin who determined, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”

  Congratulations on winning the role of a lifetime. Carpe diem!

  Learn more about your role in the action-adventure of a lifetime at: willcraig.com

  PART III

  Hero’s Inner Journey

  KNOW THYSELF

  O ur journey is about to begin. At this point, we know as much about the path as we can. We have our map and a vague idea of what to expect. We’ve gathered our navigational instruments and been advised of the dangers.

  On this inner journey, it will be easy to get lost and turned around. You’ll recognize signposts along the way, and you will also have personal guides for each leg of the journey. I will stay close by, providing you with ideas, suggestions, and thought-provoking questions to move you forward on your quest.

  The first signpost you’ll spot at the beginning of each chapter is the Destination. This is our intended target. You should know that hitting this target won’t be easy. We might totally end up somewhere else, and that’s okay. Sometimes it’s necessary to get lost to find ourselves. Having a destination, though, gives us a general direction and something to shoot for.

  Characters in your action-adventure story are introduced periodically in Fellow Travelers. Before their arrival, you’ll get a heads-up at each new stage at the beginning of the chapter. These are key players on your inner journey. You’ll recognize some of them and, ultimately, identify with all of them.

  Personal Guides are new members of your entourage: Truth, Wisdom, Courage, Integrity, Character, Accountability, and Generosity. One by one, they will each join the expedition just when you need them most.

  Your guides provide clues along the way emanating from seven basic principles:

  1) Be true to your word.

  2) Learn from experience.

  3) Act in spite of fear.

  4) Walk your talk.

  5) Stand true to yourself.

  6) Take responsibility.

  7) Give more than you take.

  These principles may seem like “standard fare” self-improvement babble, but there is a reason they keep appearing in our lives. While we are responsible for our Map of Self-Discovery, these guides carry our moral compass. Without this primary navigational aid, we have no center and no core strength to withstand the tests of our character.

  Trust in your guides and doors will open for you that you never knew existed. Judith E. Glaser, author of Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results, says, “Trust creates the pathway which activates a chemistry in the brain that enables the mind to see around the bend; beyond its normal limitations, and even into the future.”

  To catch a glimpse of our future, we must first understand the past and where we’ve come from. At the end of each chapter, we’ll Explore Your Role as it relates to that segment of the journey. We’ll review and reinforce the important subtleties and nuances that shape our destiny.

  We’ll also dig deeper in our exploration with revealing questions of S
elf-Discovery. It is here we have the greatest chance at uncovering a life lesson to guide us on our path. From this vantage point, we can reframe our worldview, reassess our recent experiences, and reinvigorate our fortitude for the challenges ahead.

  CHAPTER 6

  Call to Adventure

  It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves—in finding themselves. ~ André Gide

  W e join our hero shortly before his 11th birthday. He is the only child of James and Lily, who lost their lives when the boy was just over a year old. Our orphan hero has since been living in less-than-desirable conditions with an aunt and uncle who neglect and abuse him. They force Harry to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs, which wouldn’t be so bad if their bully of a son would just leave him alone.

  Letters addressed to Harry arrive at the house, but his uncle keeps him from seeing their contents. As the letters begin arriving more swiftly—and in greater abundance—Harry’s uncle fights desperately to keep the young boy from answering his calling. At the stroke of midnight on Harry’s birthday, the Keeper of the Keys, a half-giant named Hagrid, bursts through the door to personally deliver Harry’s call to adventure: a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

  Harry Potter leaves the ordinary world with Hagrid for the magical, special world of Hogwarts. There, he will discover his purpose and passion and, ultimately, his destiny.

  In the world in which you and I live, the call to adventure may not be as momentous or magical as Harry’s, but it can be as meaningful and memorable.