The Hero's Journey - Character, Desire, Conflict

A model many people use to describe the way life works is the “Hero's Journey”. Popularized by Joseph Campbell, there are various stages we all go through as part of our personal evolution, that are all meaningful in their own way. 

The Hero's Journey begins when you respond to your ‘Call To Adventure’ where you step up to the challenge in front of you rather than stay back in comfort and complacency. There are guides that help you navigate the path ahead, dragons to slay, a foe to defeat, and a return to normalcy but with a fresh perspective

Without getting into too much detail, the engine behind the Hero's Journey can be simplified into 3 parts: Character, Desire, and Conflict.

In other words, somebody wants something, but then something happens or there’s something getting in the way...

It’s a classic story arc. Little Red Riding Hood wants to get to grandmas house but there’s a wolf in the way. Froto wants to protect the ring but evil is trying to steal it from him. Even Napoleon Dynamite wants to make friends but his quirkiness and social skills make it difficult.

It’s a dynamic that happens in macro and micro ways, and it’s woven into every area of our lives. The only thing keeping us from having what we want is the resistance in between, and in our own ways we’re each on a quest within our own Hero's Journey.

Like wanting to get into better shape but you have bad habits. Wanting to double your business but you don’t know how to market yourself. Wanting to be more focused throughout the day but you get bombarded with distractions...

While it’s great and validating to get what you desire, the Hero's Journey isn't designed for achievement. It's a cycle. There will always be a next step to courageously step forward into. That’s why the real purpose of it all is to support your growth as a person. And that’s why you’re always exactly where you need to be, because whatever lies ahead of you on your Hero's Journey is what you’re meant to experience as part of your personal evolution.

So rather than feeling like you’re falling behind or being disappointed in yourself, trust that there’s something bigger happening for you. The only way you stay stuck is if you choose to stay complacent and refuse to fight the battle in front of you.

And an interesting question I heard Sahil Bloom ask that I want to propose to you, that illuminates your next battle, is: “If you were the main character in a movie, what would the audience watching it be screaming at you to do next?”