The Hero’s Journey
Or more accurately... the Hero’s Loop
Over the last few years, I’ve traveled the world, gone where I was needed, run towards danger, solved hard problems, and worked with brilliant people who have challenged me and helped me grow.
I’ve seen victory and defeat. I’ve taken some hard knocks, but I kept on going.
By no means do I have it figured out, but I have come to internalize a few truths about this journey we’re all on called life.
One of the most important concepts to recognize, internalize, and iterate on is the Hero’s Journey.
Here’s why...
The aspect of the Hero’s Journey that isn’t explicitly captured in the classic Hero archetype is the fact that it’s not a one and done thing. The Hero’s Journey, or more accurately the Hero’s Loop, is an iterative and widening process, in which the hero leaves the known and ventures into the unknown.
The Hero takes on challenges, suffers defeats, and secures victories. At the end of each journey, the Hero is rewarded with knowledge, skills, and bounty.
Then the hero takes everything earned and learned back home to help edify and grow themselves and their compatriots.
Equipped with the earnings and learnings gained from their previous endeavors, the hero is well positioned to take on more of the unknown the next time they venture out on a new quest.
After a time of recuperation at home, the Hero ventures back out into the unknown to repeat the process.
Once more into the fray!
The Hero’s Journey will take you into uncharted territory, new worlds, and to the depths of your soul. It will be scary, dangerous, tiresome, and flat out unpleasant from time to time.
After all slaying dragons, especially the dragon within, is dangerous business. As Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, once said, “Man conquers the world by conquering himself”.
Ultimately, if you dedicate yourself to the Hero’s life, and follow the Hero’s Loop, then you can be sure of exponential growth, reward, and meaning.
Never give up. Seek adventure. Explore. Learn. Grow. Be the Hero.
Are you up to the challenge?