The Power of The Hero's Journey
Mar 16, 2024
Books Referenced in this article:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell
Riddle me this:
What do Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Rocky Balboa, and Odysseus all have in common?
Yes, they are in epic stories….
But their story arcs all follow a similar formula, and this is what they have in common:
The Hero’s Journey.
Today I want to teach you about the Hero’s Journey and how you can leverage it to live a more meaningful life.
You, in fact, are the hero of your own story.
Understanding the hero’s journey can give perspective and power to move through your life with purpose.
Let’s go.
The Hero’s Journey
We cannot talk about the hero’s journey without talking about Joseph Campbell. He was an American mythologist best known for his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, first published in 1949.
As a mythologist, one of Campbell's most influential contributions to the field was his concept of the monomyth, also known as the hero's journey. He developed this idea through his extensive research into myths and legends from cultures around the world, identifying common patterns and structures that underlie these narratives.
In his book, Campbell outlines the stages of the hero's journey and explores its significance as a universal archetype that reflects the human experience of growth, transformation, and self-discovery.
What are these stages?
I put a full list at the bottom of this article, but the image below shows a great summary:
First, the hero is called to adventure. He (or she) receives supernatural aid and leaves his known world to enter a world of the unknown.
For Harry Potter, it was the world of magic. For Skywalker, it was the Rebel Alliance.
Then, on the journey of self-discovery, the hero meets a mentor, faces challenges, hits rock bottom, and then transforms into the elevated version of themself. They eventually return to the normal world as a new person.
Think of Luke Skywalker hitting rock bottom when he finds out Vader is his father and gets his hand chopped off. But then he develops into a full Jedi in The Return of the Jedi.
Quick pause… George Lucas was a big fan of Joseph Campbell. The Start Wars story of Luke Skywalker is about a perfect representation of the hero’s journey. OK, back to the point…
We find this journey in SO MANY of our modern-day stories.
Once you know the pattern, you will see it everywhere.
But why should we care?
What do we gain by understanding the stages in the journey?
Because, if you want to be the hero of your own story, you can leverage the stages and recognize where you are at and what is next.
If you are starting on your journey, you can seek “The Mentor.”
If you are struggling, you can recognize this as “The Abyss” and seek to transform.
If you look at your life as a journey and assume you can come out the other end as a total badass, then each stage becomes a steppingstone inching you closer to your desired outcome.
Let’s pick a few stages and talk about how to leverage them.
The Call to Adventure
A hero’s story is boring without adventure, and the call to adventure is about finding purpose in an unknown world.
What is your purpose?
What is calling you forth?
What is the unknown world you want to step into but may be hesitant to move toward?
This is where the adventure begins.
This could be something as simple as a new job (or promoted role). It could be attaining a new identity like a parent. Or, it could be a big dream like becoming a musician.
In the stories, Harry Potter learns he is a wizard. Luke Skywalker learns his father was a Jedi knight. They are called to something more.
What path do you wish to walk?
Recognize it. Name it. Own it. Because it is only the beginning.
Once you take the leap, the challenges will come (of course).
The Road of Trials
Many people feel the stress of work and life. They might feel a lack of purpose. Or they might feel overwhelmed.
As the hero, you should expect challenges and tests to arise, illuminating your strengths and weaknesses.
How else are you meant to grow?
Any story where the here goes from zero to awesome without a struggle is super boring and unrealistic. We want to see the hero struggle and overcome hardship. We want to see them rise above.
Leverage this perspective in your own life.
How are your current challenges giving you opportunities to grow?
How will you be a better person after this growth?
The road of trials can be part of your heroic journey, or it can be the excuse why you cannot move forward.
You get to choose.
If you choose to persevere, you may gain the ultimate boon.
The Ultimate Boon
After overcoming the trials, the hero attains the ultimate boon, which may be a treasure, knowledge, or a revelation. This represents the culmination of the hero's quest and the fulfillment of their purpose. They essentially achieve a state of limitless bounty, or an indestructible life.
Harry Potter received the Elder Wand. Luke Skywalker became a full Jedi. They overcame their challenges and learned new things about themselves, their courage, and their capabilities.
What is the boon you are seeking?
This is more than a goal.
This is more in line with your ideal future self (which you can read more about here).
In our lives, the ultimate boon is usually a set of skills (both personal and tactical) than can help us achieve whatever we choose.
Consider your goals.
What is your boon?
Keep this in mind when you feel stuck on the road of trials. It will all be worth it, if you can just keep going.
The Wrap Up
We tend to get sucked into our own lives, not realizing we could be creating an epic story worthy of a memoir (or IMAX movie).
Stories move us and motivate us. By understanding one of the timeless archetypal stories, The Hero’s Journey, we can learn to craft our own story with more energy and intention.
Imagine you are the hero of your own story (which you are):
- What is your calling?
- What trials must you face?
- What boon do you seek?
Get out there and crush it.
I’m rooting for you!
Clark
The Stages of the Hero’s Journey
(Thanks to ChatGPT, so I didn’t have to type all this out myself)
- Departure:
- The Call to Adventure: The hero receives a call to leave their ordinary world and embark on a quest or journey. This call may come from an external source or from within.
- Refusal of the Call: Initially, the hero may resist or hesitate to accept the call due to fear, doubt, or a sense of inadequacy.
- Supernatural Aid: The hero encounters a mentor, guide, or helper who provides assistance, wisdom, or magical tools to aid them on their journey.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero leaves their familiar world and enters the unknown, crossing a threshold into the realm of adventure and transformation.
- Belly of the Whale: Symbolizing rebirth or initiation, the hero undergoes a symbolic death and enters a state of transition or transformation.
- Initiation:
- The Road of Trials: The hero faces a series of tests, challenges, and obstacles that serve to shape their character, reveal their strengths and weaknesses, and facilitate growth.
- Meeting with the Goddess: The hero encounters a figure representing divine feminine energy, nurturing, or wisdom. This encounter may lead to love, spiritual awakening, or a deeper understanding of life.
- Atonement with the Father: The hero confronts a father figure or paternal archetype, representing authority, wisdom, or a higher power. Through this encounter, the hero reconciles with authority and gains self-awareness or enlightenment.
- Apotheosis: The hero experiences a moment of transcendence, enlightenment, or union with the divine. This represents a higher state of consciousness or realization.
- The Ultimate Boon: After overcoming the trials of the journey, the hero attains the ultimate boon, which may be a treasure, knowledge, or a revelation. This represents the culmination of the hero's quest and the fulfillment of their purpose.
- Return:
- Refusal of the Return: Having attained the ultimate boon, the hero may be reluctant to return to their ordinary world or face the challenges of integration.
- The Magic Flight: The hero must flee from a pursuer or danger as they return to their familiar world, often with the ultimate boon in hand.
- Rescue from Without: The hero receives assistance or intervention from an external source, such as a friend, ally, or supernatural force, as they navigate the challenges of the return journey.
- Crossing the Return Threshold: The hero re-enters their ordinary world, bringing with them the wisdom, gifts, or transformation gained from their journey.
- Master of Two Worlds: The hero achieves a balance between the spiritual or supernatural realm and the ordinary world, integrating their newfound knowledge and power into society.
- Freedom to Live: The hero embraces their newfound identity, purpose, or enlightenment, living fully and authentically in harmony with themselves and the world around them.