The Hero's Journey: 12 Steps That Will Lead You to Life Change

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The adventures of mythological heroes and movie characters like Frodo and Darth Vader are built on a single principle. And this principle applies to our achievements in the real world.

Every person wants to be ready for change. Unfortunately, when they do occur, we often don't know what to expect next. How much more convenient it would be to have on hand the script according to which every significant turn in our life takes place. Then we could prepare ourselves and know in advance what to do.

As it turned out, such a scenario exists. And learning how to use it is quite simple.

What is the hero's path? The author of this theory is Joseph Campbell, an American researcher of mythology. 70 years ago, in his book "The Thousand-Faced Hero", analyzing the famous myths of antiquity, he came to the conclusion that they all have the same structure. Today it is called "the path of the hero."

It consists of 17 steps that the main character of any story goes through: from the moment of calling for adventure to returning home. After the book was published, this theory was simplified to 12 steps and began to be used for writing novels and film scripts. The Hero's Path can be seen in books and films about Harry Potter, the hobbit Frodo, Luke Skywalker and many others.

All stages of this path are related to ordinary life. The midlife crisis, the beginning of a new project, the search for a vocation - all this is the hero's journey, with its call, trials and return.

If you understand how this cycle works, which regularly repeats in our life, you can learn how to quickly overcome crises and bring achievements closer. But first, let's take a closer look at the element steps.

The main stages of the "hero's path"

1. Life in the ordinary world

Any journey has a beginning. The time when we live in the status quo. We have created an unbreakable order for ourselves and act in accordance with it, without thinking about change. All travel begins here.

2. Call

What encourages us to change? Rejection of reality. The moment we receive a sign that the current state of affairs could lead to tragedy.

The person understands that his friends have achieved professional success, but he remained in the same place. The smoker learns that his friend has died of cancer.

At this moment, we think: should we leave everything as it is or should we follow the call?

3. Refusal of the call

You probably expected the next step to be accepting the need for change. Unfortunately, most people, when they hear the call, refuse to answer it. They write off the signs for temporary difficulties or the influence of others. For them, the call is simply a moment that must be overcome in order to return to their old life.

In Campbell's theory, at this stage, the hero meets the gatekeeper, who discourages him from traveling. In life, it can be an inner voice or people who do not support us. Therefore, a person doubts even more whether it is worth following the call, and here comes the fourth stage.

4. Meeting with a mentor

As mentioned above, we often lack our own will to start a journey. According to Campbell, at this moment a mentor should appear in the fate of the hero, who will help him to hit the road. In life, this role can be played by a real person - a friend or relative - or something inanimate, such as an inspiring book or film.

The main thing is that without a catalyst, without support, we will decide to give up the call and return to our usual life.

5. Crossing the threshold

With the help of a mentor, the hero crosses the threshold of the familiar world and meets its other side. He understands that life, which he has seen before from only one angle, has many shades.

In reality, at this stage, we take the first step towards big changes: we leave the unloved job, get to know a new person. Then we understand that the fear of something new is actually not as great as it seemed to us. Especially if our mentors continue to support us.

6. Meeting with "dragons" and allies

When the hero crosses the threshold, he faces the first trials. He lacks previous experience to cope with new tasks, and, naturally, he makes mistakes.

Here "dragons" are waiting for him, who are trying to stop him: doubts, fears, lack of knowledge and so on. For example, if we leave work, then we begin to fear that we will not find another or that we will not get used to a new profession.

At this stage, the hero must look for allies who will help defeat the "dragons". Advice from colleagues, acquaintances, experts - we enlist support in order to adequately pass the first tests.

7. Point of "death"

If the hero manages to overcome all trials, he gains experience and reaches the point of "death": the most difficult trial on his way. It can be a difficult task, a serious conversation, or a life-changing decision. For example, we ask ourselves if this work is really our real calling.

At this stage, it is decided whether the hero can take a valuable lesson out of his path or leave with the same experience that he had.

8. Gift of power

If the hero overcomes the point of "death", then he gains new experience that will help him cope with new challenges.

The gift of strength can be a new strategy, principle, skill, or habit. Something that a person did not have before. Here he makes a major discovery of his path.

9. Test

To make sure that the gift of power works, the hero faces new challenges. But now he's armed. He learns to react differently to previous situations and succeeds in this.

10. The way home

After passing the tests, the hero decides to make the new experience a part of everyday life.

11. Craftsmanship

At the same time, he practices in using the acquired experience to become a master in it and to consolidate it. So the trials that he met on his way become not just events, but lessons that he retains for the rest of his life.

12. History of power

The final step is to convey the story of your journey. To preserve the experience, the hero shares information about him with his tribe, family, friends, people who surrounded and supported him.

In this way, he enables others to use his knowledge and simplify their personal "hero path".

What does the hero's path look like in life?

The Hero's Path can last for weeks, months, or years. It all depends on what area of life it touches. This is how the path associated with the search for a vocation might look like:

1. Ordinary World: Past Job.
2. Call: you understand that this is not what you want to do in life.
3. Refusal from the call: fear of change is holding you back, you weigh the pros and cons of possibly leaving.
4. Mentor: A helpful book, or maybe a friend or partner can help you decide whether to look for a job that you enjoy.
5. Crossing the threshold: you make the decision to quit and seek your calling.
6. Meeting with "dragons" and allies: looking for a new job, first failures, the need to gain new experience or education.
7. The point of "death": you take steps in a new profession, but make serious mistakes and begin to doubt that you can overcome the setbacks.
8. Gift of strength: mentors, advice, support from loved ones help to survive this period. You begin to cope with all the difficulties and enjoy your new job.
9. Challenge: you take on more and more tasks to fully ensure that this is your calling, and discover new facets of the profession.
10. The way home: you understand that this job is what you were looking for.
11. Mastery: Months pass, you gain additional experience in a new field and become a professional.
12. A story of power: Now you can help young professionals understand if this job is right for them as a vocation and share your experience with others.

How to use the hero's path

You have already taken the first step. You learned about it and now you understand that major changes in life are cyclical.

The second step is to prepare for each stage of the cycle. Think about when and where to look for mentors and allies, understand what could be your "death point" and with whom to share your story of power.

The third step is to listen to the call and not be afraid to answer it. The road to change always starts with a call and doubt. You must be prepared for this.

People have been following the hero's path for thousands of years. Campbell only outlined the patterns that underlie this adventure.

When you are faced with changes in life, you walk the path on a par with the heroes of Greek myths. But unlike the ancient tragedy, in real life you have free will and the ability to decide if this is the path you need.

In any case, to understand this, you have to answer the call.