The Hero’s Journey - Following and Finding Your Bliss

“I still believe in heroes.” -Nick Furry, The Avengers

Have you ever heard of a Hero’s Journey? You have if you watched “Star Wars”, “The Lord of the Rings” or any of the twenty-seven Marvel movies!

An excellent 2011 documentary, “Finding Joe,” explores the Hero’s Journey via the theory of Joseph Campbell, a comparative mythology and religion literature professor. Campbell described a common pattern that existed in many of the worlds’ great myths and parables, regardless of their origin or time of creation, which he called a “Hero’s Journey.”

During the journey, the hero will be asked to step outside societal demands and their own comfort zone. Along the way, the hero will discover moments of doubt, fear, both internal and external obstacles, a crisis or two. They have to learn to surrender to the journey; and they will experience a death or letting go of their old self (i.e. what no longer serves them, their control, or expectations). While they will receive help from others, the dragon(s) (fears/doubts/challenges) they have to slay (face) will be theirs alone to conquer.

For example, in the Marvel Iron Man movies, during Tony Stark’s journey, he faced the challenges of his own mortality and learned to trust others so he could slay his own dragons (narcissism, ego, a failing artificial heart, and several villains).

In the end, the hero returns home with the treasure (i.e., knowledge, experience, or purpose) and shares the treasure so others may benefit, and/or be called on their own journey. The journey changes the hero, but they’ve learned to trust themselves (and others), feel in alignment with their genuine self, and experience deep joy and a sense of purpose.

The hero’s journey is a metaphor for our own life. The documentary got me thinking about my own Hero’s Journey, from decades of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression to self-acceptance, loving life, and finding my purpose in service of others. How about you? Have you been called on a Hero’s Journey and found your Bliss? Or are you feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your life, or wonder what your purpose is?

The key to finding your own Bliss is to say yes to the Hero’s Journey. Take some time to answer three questions to help you get started:

1. What are you passionate about? (Hint: Do more of it!)

2. What sets you apart (your unique knowledge, skills, abilities, gifts)? (Hint: Share them!)

3. If you had all the money and time in the world; what would you do, and how would it benefit others? (Hint: Now take one tiny action step towards your dream and repeat, daily!)

If you want to feel joy, be in alignment with your soul, and lead a purposeful life…you have to be willing to follow your calling to find your Bliss (heart-centered joy/rapture). If you want to find and follow your Bliss, then you have to be willing to go on your own Hero’s Journey. Ready to slay some dragons and return with the treasure, y’all? I gotta tell you, it is so worth it!

“I shouldn’t be alive unless it was for a reason. I’m not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that it’s right.” -Tony Stark, Iron Man

“When you follow your Bliss, the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” -Joseph Campbell

(Original article: Gig Harbor Living Local Magazine, March/April 2022)