There is a series of five stages a hero goes through in becoming a hero. Each stage has a description and includes questions at the end. The questions at the end are to ponder as you explore the hero’s journey. This model is an adaptation of work that was made popular by Joseph Campbell, who wrote the book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
The Path to Becoming a Hero
1 – Dissatisfaction Occurs: A Dragon Appears
2 – Decision to Go on a Journey to the Unknown: Commitment to Slay the Dragon
3 – The Journey: Twists, Turns, Wizards, Fights, Tools
4 – The Unknown Becomes Known: Slaying the Dragon
5 – Changing, Inspiring and Teaching Others: Keeping the Dragon Out
Step 1 – Dissatisfaction Occurs: A Dragon Appears
The normal person becomes aware of or observes something that causes dissatisfaction. It could be:
External Event: social injustice, evil acts, or bad behavior
Personal Crisis: sickness, accident, death, life changes, rejection
Internal Awareness and Observation: A condition or state of mind are observed that create dissatisfaction or a sense of limitation
Questions to start the journey:
What are you most dissatisfied with – in your life – your work – your family – your community – your country – the world? What issues do you just hate? What are the injustices in the world that speak to your heart?
Step 2: Decision to Go on a Journey to the Unknown: Commitment to Slay the Dragon
The dissatisfaction looms large, and the individual makes a commitment. It is not clear how change will come, but this is a commitment to take action. It is a strong motivation and passion to go into the unknown and try, to take action, to follow the journey until a different understanding unfolds. An individual has begun the journey at this point, and he or she is a potential hero, with a unique story and reason for their commitment to step into the unknown.
Questions to ask about being committed to the journey, regarding the catalyzing dissatisfaction:
What is your duty to it? What responsibilities do you have to it? Where is there no choice? What obligations do you have? What is calling to you?
Step 3: The Journey: Twists, Turns, Fights, Tools, Mentors and Evils
The journey is different for each individual. It can be an internal journey or an external one, or both. The potential hero encounters obstacles and is plunged into full engagement with the unknown. This is the most difficult step of the journey. What they knew and what was ordinary and normal is no longer there for them in quite the same way. It is definitely “not Kansas anymore!” They may face their deepest fears before they can move forward. There may be people along the way who fight to try and stop them from making progress. And they may find people who will help them, too. The wicked witch tried to stop Dorothy in her journey, and so did the wizard of Oz himself. But she persevered and eventually completed her journey – the same person, but wiser and with a wealth of new understanding and experience. Dorothy also met helpful people or situations on her path of commitment. And she was given ruby slippers that helped her to complete her journey. Heroes may discover or be given magic tools of all sorts to help them along the way. A contemporary example could be Obama’s widespread use of text messaging to rally millions of his supporters for change.
Questions to ask while on the hero’s journey:
What actions do you need to take to get clarity? What skills do you have that will help? What skills are you lacking that may stop you? Who should you talk to? What research and reading needs to be done? What tools do you need to learn? Places to visit? What lessons need to be internalized? What beliefs need to shift to make the change viable? What behaviors need to change to slay the dissatisfaction dragon?
Step 4: The Unknown Becomes Known: Slaying the Dragon
The hero has discovered the treasure, the magic, the key, the tools, and a sword that will kill the dragon. There is a special power or skill or talent or knowledge or change that can defeat the dissatisfaction.
Through hard work, perseverance, patience and more, the hero has found a way to unravel the original dissatisfaction. They have learned many lessons, encountered others on the path and found a way to fix, change, or solve a problem. They have come through the darkness and found a light at the end of the tunnel.
Questions for learning the lessons:
What is the specific set of skill, belief, change, or tools that are needed to make the change permanent? What lessons have been learned? What is still to be discovered?
Step 5: Keeping Dragons Out: Inspiring and Teaching Others
The ordinary person has become a hero. Now the focus is to return from the journey and integrate the lessons, both within oneself and out into the world. The hero become
Questions for sharing the lessons with others:
What worked for the hero to overcome the dissatisfaction may not work for everyone. What additional tools or methods may be needed? Who is already aware of the dissatisfaction and can help the hero to make the needed changes? Who will fight out of resistance to the changes? What will be lost and what will be gained when the changes happen?
Next post examples of heros. Your heros?
