Joseph Campbell was an American author and teacher best known for his work in the field of “comparative mythology”. He has written several books, including Pathways to Bliss, the Power of Myth, and A Joseph Campbell Companion.
In studying the stories and myths of the ages, he sees a pattern emerge. Myths and stories are meant to inspire and to teach. While they take on various characters and situations, and are told in different languages across different ages, Campbell identified a “monomyth” story arc. Many modern movies we watch, like Star Wars, Braveheart, Dances with Wolves, Harriet, and thousands more follow this same storyline. It goes like this.
“The standard path of the mythological adventure of the hero is a magnificent formula represented in the rites of passage of – separation – initiation- return, which might be named the nuclear unit of the monomyth.”
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder (x), fabulous forces there are encountered and a decisive victory is won (y), the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow blessings on his fellow man (z).”
The Hero’s Journey has inspired countless people to take on their own challenges of all kinds.
Troubling, though, is when a story is told, and the hero has great power, is anointed, or special in some way to begin with, or comes into unbelievable supernatural powers to win in his/her quest. When we hear a story like that, we don’t believe it could be us. We are not the most talented in that area, we can’t don an Ironman flying suit at will, and we can’t walk on water.
But we can still walk our own hero’s journey.
If you have not read or listened to my book “The Highest Calling”, please do. It is a classic hero’s journey format! And the hero is a regular guy like you and me, struggling with his business and life in ways we can all relate to directly. You may think that no “Angel” will be coming to help you, but you will realize he/she is already here in your life. In fact, there are many of them already to help when you read or listen to their words. You just have to open up and tune in.
You are the Hero. And you CAN walk a hero’s journey with the time you have been given.
I really enjoyed The Highest Calling audiobook and highly recommend it to anyone struggling in business or life in general!
Wisdom from the ages that have guided me at each stage of life. Love, love, love JC.
Joseph Campell writes about the “hero’s journey” in his book, A Hero With a Thousand Faces. It’s long and dense, but he lays out a framework that past stories have taken so future ones could easily adopt their structure.
Spot on, Larry. I also encourage clients to think of their experience as owner-operators in terms of the hero’s journey. When obstacles threaten, when the stakes get higher and higher, when you reach that “all is lost” moment and arrive at the end of your ego…transformation. And for their teams, the opportunity for the owner-operator to be their guide. You’re right, it’s so popular because it is universally true. I appreciate you calling it out here. I’m going to order a copy of The Highest Calling now.