Living the Hero's Journey

by Will Craig

  “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” These words of wisdom date back to 150 BC and were written by the Indian sage Patañjali, compiler of the Yoga Sūtras.

  Work In Progress

  No one leaps into this kind of battle without a plan. There’s too much at stake. We’ve barely started our journey, and there are so many aspects and intricacies to consider. The best place to start is at the center and work our way out.

  There are numerous interconnected components that come together to form a master plan for life: a purpose statement, core values, guiding principle, personal mission, core competencies, career anchors, and a HUB statement. This is your Hottest Undeniable Benefit from which everything else emanates.

  The statement you craft is a concise description of who you want to serve, the compelling challenges they face, and why your unique talents and abilities benefit them. Questions are the spokes that lead to the HUB.

   Who are you at the core?

   What is the center of your being?

   What distinguishes you from your friends

  and colleagues?

   Who are you when things are going well and

  life is good?

   What are you doing when you find yourself

  totally engaged and time flies?

  The answers to these questions help you explore the heart and soul of who you are. The HUB leads directly to the chamber where your purpose is waiting to be discovered.

  As part of my inner work, I developed a “Life Well Lived Master Plan.” It includes all the components mentioned above. I haven’t shared this with too many people, but since I’ve already opened the door, here’s a peek inside my HUB statement. My Hottest Undeniable Benefit is that I think of myself as a triple threat: a Writer-Producer-Photographer. I create dynamic stories for people discovering their purpose and passion, by using engaging content, visual metaphors, and captured moments.

  Keep in mind that you needn’t be humble when you write this for yourself. No one else needs to see it. For me, it feels somewhat awkward to share what comes off as such a boastful statement, but I want you to see how it works.

  All of the components of my master plan move and morph, and have a life all their own. Some pieces stick and have been around for years; others, for decades. Still other parts change as needed. Even though your plan is to “commit” to your purpose, be open to the idea that it may end up being very different from what you first envision.

  Long-term goals, your personal mission, the purpose statement, etc., are anything but static. They are impossibly impermanent. Your aim here is not to land on the one thing you will do for the rest of your life. Your intention is simply to define a jumping-off point from which you can alter, adjust, and transform the hero within. This is your leap of faith.

  I’ve been writing my master plan for decades now. For the first few years, I made small changes, minor adjustments, and various tweaks. Months or years down the road, I’d find myself making further modifications and improvements. It wasn’t until recently that I realized my master plan is under constant revision. I never stopped tweaking it—and rightly so. We are all a work in progress (some more than others), and our ever-changing plan is a reflection of this.

  For example, ten years ago my HUB looked very different from the one you just read. Life happens, circumstances change, and the unexpected fork in the road triggers reassessments. Expect to be surprised (both pleasantly and otherwise) that your life isn’t turning out as you had designed in your master plan.

  Disclaimer: In the long run, the master plan isn’t going to be worth the paper it’s written on. Dreams evolve, plans shift, and pivots are made. So, why sacrifice the brain cells to develop a plan in the first place?

  Planning Is Everything

  On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 troops, 5,000 ships, and 13,000 aircraft descended on the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II. Allied forces consisting of British, American, and Canadian military persevered through bad weather, thousands of casualties, and significant enemy resistance.

  That day on Omaha Beach in German-occupied France, very little went as planned. Rough seas and strong currents swamped many landing crafts, and the ones that did make it were way off course and bunched up in disorganized chaos. Tanks and other heavy equipment sank before making it to the beach. The pre-landing air assault intended to take out enemy artillery and strongholds was delayed by weather. When the bombers finally arrived, Allied forces were nearing the target area. To avoid hitting them, the bombs were dropped late, consequently missing the intended enemy targets. The landing troops that survived long enough to make it to the beach found themselves under heavy fire and suffering massive casualties.

  Commanding General and future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was asked how the plan was working. He replied, “Plans are nothing. Planning is everything.”

  Eisenhower makes an important distinction here—a good one to keep in mind. Regardless of how psychic a character you may be, life is not going to happen the way you plan it.

  The fact that you have a plan, though, gives you a base from which to work. With a plan, you can now augment, modify, and adapt to changing conditions and tactical advantages.

  Some people get discouraged when their plans don’t come together. They use this as an excuse to quit. “Well, at least I gave it my best.”

  Reality check: Plans rarely deliver the desired results. The real work begins when the plan doesn’t come together. That’s where the hero’s persistence and tenacity step up to revise and course-correct.

  Can you imagine not having a plan for the Normandy Invasion on D-Day? Likewise, can you imagine not having a plan for the far-reaching quest upon which you have embarked?

  Exploring Your Role

  This is your leap of faith. An exhilarating jump from the ordinary world to the special world, from the conscious to the unconscious, from merely living on the surface of life to immersing yourself in the depths of a life well lived.

  Your courage is tested. Bravely face the tests and trials that bring new possibilities and positive experiences to yourself and others. This is the hero’s quest.

  You aren’t alone. Allies are awaiting your arrival and are set to tame and temper the gusty winds and raging waters. An ally can be a protector, a confidant, a cheerleader, or a sparring partner.

  The finest allies to have are those who bring out the best in you—or help you get rid of the worst. Allies help activate the unused or unexpressed parts of the hero’s personality. Sometimes, just having someone to talk with forces the hero to verbalize what had only been a thought or idea lying captive in a resolute mind.

  Purpose and passion are yours to define and refine. Change is in the air.

   Act in spite of fear.

   Take responsibility—it’s where your powers live.

   Ask yourself the fundamental question: What are you better at than anyone you know?

  Begin pulling notes and ideas together to start your master plan. It’s a good jumping off-point when supplemented with the understanding that plans change. All the same, writing them down makes them real and helps you arrive at the core of your being.

  Self-Discovery

  What dreams do you have—day or night—that are revealing your purpose?

  What are your hidden gifts and talents? What is your superpower?

  Is there something in which you excel, that you may not recognize because you’re so close to it?

  What’s your plan? If you’re not writing any of this down your ideas could be evaporating.

  “I’d be happy to follow my passion, if I only knew what it was.”


  Discover your purpose at: willcraig.com/gifts

  CHAPTER 9

  Road of Trials

  Before you begin the journey, you own the journey. Once you have begun, the journey owns you. ~ Old Proverb

  N ear the beginning of the 1977 movie Star Wars, our soon-to-be hero, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), meets his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). Along with R2D2 and C3PO, they’re on their way to find the smuggler Han Solo in the city of Mos Eisley. Soon after arriving in the city, they are stopped by a half-dozen Imperial Stormtroopers asking for identification. Luke thinks they’re doomed until his mentor pulls a Jedi mind trick.

  Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.

  Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.

  Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.

  Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.

  Obi-Wan: Move along.

  Stormtrooper: Move along . . . move along.

  Our guys finally locate the small-time smuggler in the cantina. Han Solo finally agrees to take his new passengers to the planet Alderaan and prepares the Millennium Falcon, the fastest ship in the galaxy. A hasty exit is forced by an attacking garrison of stormtroopers looking for a couple of droids (nobody said Jedi mind tricks last forever). After blasting their way out of Mos Eisley, the Falcon and crew run into a couple of Star Destroyers and are nearly captured before pulling out all the stops and making the jump to lightspeed.

  For Luke Skywalker, this is the hero’s leap of faith. He has left the ordinary world of his farm-boy existence and is entering the special world of Jedi warriors and the Force.

  So begins Luke’s road of trials.

  Destination – Fate and Fortune

  It helps to possess an understanding of where our journey might take us. Before we learn our fate, we must earn our fortune. In this case, it’s not so much about possessing the riches of fortune but in the good fortune of knowing thyself

  Fellow Traveler – Threshold Guardian

  The role of the threshold guardian is to test. This gatekeeper challenges our doubts and fears. Our persistence and perseverance are on trial. Are we worthy of the fortune we seek?

  The threshold is a gateway to the special world where the hero seizes the reward of transformation and renewal. As you might imagine, such an important entry point does not go unprotected. The threshold guardian prevents the unworthy from entering this zone of magnified power. The hero must be ready, willing, and able to accept this power and deploy it to its highest and best use. The hero’s resolve is thoroughly tested in the pursuit of destiny. If it is not the hero’s time to make this journey, the guardian compels the hero to turn back until he or she evolves, matures, and musters the courage of their convictions.

  The primary function of the threshold guardian is to prove that the hero is capable. In mythology, this is accomplished through a series of tests and trials. The hero must joust with a villain, clash with a titan, or battle enemy forces with incredible strength and firepower. And this is just the outward journey.

  In defeating those forces and rising victorious in the face of adversity, the hero grows immeasurably. Overcoming the threshold guardian gives the hero greater strength, more confidence, and increased wisdom. The hero is better for the encounter. It becomes easier to see this archetype as an ally than solely as an enemy. The threshold guardian provides the proving grounds for a new and improved hero.

  These guardians take many forms and are easily spotted because they are the person or the thing keeping us from obtaining who or what we want. Indiana Jones experienced a threshold guardian in the form of a gigantic boulder rolling after him in the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Influential business people often have assistants who act as gatekeepers restricting access to these very busy professionals. Make it through the “gauntlet” and you’re one step closer to getting what you want.

  Personal Guide – Integrity

  The guide of integrity is our closest companion and confidant for this segment. Adversity doesn’t build character; it reveals it. The temptation to disregard our moral compass will be strong. It is crucial to walk our talk and live our values, or be compelled to walk this road again.

  The word integrity originates from the Latin integer, meaning “whole” or “complete.” Integrity involves acting consistently within the framework of expectations, actions, and outcomes. Heroes possess integrity when they are congruent with their values, operate within their belief system, and abide by their principles. In so doing, they experience an inner sense of wholeness—and along with it, a contentment with having walked their talk. That comfort is the warmth of the guide of integrity who has shared each step.

  You know when you’re honest and truthful. You also feel the lack of integrity when you’re not sincere or honorable. Two things inhibit the good intention of walking your talk: fear and motivation. No doubt, you sense by now that you will face your fears along the path you have chosen. As with other times in your life, when you face those fears, there may be a tendency to keep talking but stop moving. Look to your guides for motivation. They are your accountability partners. When you hold yourself accountable, you walk hand in hand with your guides and find the journey less burdensome and more enlightening

  “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” ~ C.S. Lewis

  The Road Ahead

  Taking a quick look at the Map of Self-Discovery, awareness was just the beginning of our journey. Thrill though it may have been, the adventure has just begun.

  We have left the awareness stage and are heading directly into the choppy waters of change. For better or worse, the change stage is the most arduous, and at the same time, most beneficial and rewarding.

  What is the most important thing we learn in our state of heightened awareness? Our “why.”

  It was German philosopher and Greek scholar Friedrich Nietzsche who said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Our why is our purpose. The how is uncovered on the road of trials.

  The road of trials is a metaphor for the training and testing of the hero. The only judge at these trials is you. This is where you develop the skills, abilities, and experience necessary to fulfill your destiny. Weaknesses are addressed, performance is improved, and confidence is gained.

  Lessons learned on the road prepare us for the final exam in the next chapter: the ordeal.

  Heroism Expected

  For our friends in the Millennium Falcon, it was a leap to lightspeed that brought them to a special world. In the movies, running off into battle is glamorous and compelling—especially if you’re making the jump to hyperspace. The truth is, when you’re the one with boots on the ground, it’s a whole different story. How you perform, what you learn, and how you conduct yourself will determine your fate and influence your destiny.

  Just because you now have a purpose statement doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing. Doubt, second guessing, and fear of failure will have their day on your road of trials. Having a purpose, however, enables you to focus your future and to choose your battles wisely. There will be many from which to select.

  Yes, life is a struggle. Living the Hero’s Journey is an even bigger challenge. Who said it was going to be easy? The modern media tries to convince us that we should be happy and our lives joyous. We deserve it, after all. Anyone who buys this new car, or shops at this store, or drinks this product will be happy and fulfilled. We’re bombarded daily with these messages. When we first hear them, we know they’re exaggerated and unrealistic claims. After many years of repetition, part of us begins to believe the hype, while the other part already feels entitled to be happy and fulfilled.

  The expectation of living the “good life” replaces the struggle and strife that is part of our daily existence. This notion is one of the downsides of social conditioning and only replicates unhappiness and lack of fulfillment.

  What’s needed is courage and heroism. How much better off would we
be if everyone took themselves on, endured the transformation, and made the world a better place?

  Sitting back waiting for our entitlements is robbing us of a life well lived. “To radically advance our lives, we will no doubt endure real struggle,” writes Brendon Burchard, author of The Motivation Manifesto. “We mustn’t complain about it or fail to anticipate it.”

  The struggle, hardship, and perseverance give us the power to direct our destiny. Why would we give that away in hopes of getting something for nothing, which we know isn’t coming?

  From where do this courage and heroism emanate? Purpose and passion. These two potions mixed in the proper proportions brew a potent blend. Unfortunately, the Hero’s Brew is not available at Starbucks—yet.

  Think about when you go to the movies. Do you want to see a documentary film where the main character is smart, makes all the right moves, and becomes a likable leader in his community? Or do you want to see an action-adventure flick where the down-and-out hero perseveres through countless hardships, beats the odds, and emerges victorious while saving the world?

  If you said yes to the latter, why is it that the struggles we’re ready to take on and the hardships we’re willing to endure involve appearing to be smart, wanting to make all the right moves, and being liked by everyone?

  Rites of Passage

  Rites of passage are important acts, rituals, or ceremonies marking the passage of an individual or community from one stage of life to another. The religious rituals of baptism, confirmation, and ordination are rites of passage. Marriage is another rite of passage. Funerals are a rite of passage, albeit the last rite.