4 Reasons, whatever you are going through, you are STILL the hero of your life.

What constitutes a hero? Talent? Charisma? Abs that can crack walnuts? Legs that look good in a loin cloth? Yes please. But seriously. Sometimes when life is kicking you up the ass and you’re struggling to get up in the morning – it’s very hard to feel like a hero. But as it turns out, THAT’S TOTALLY OKAY FOLKS. As the writer and leading man/lady of your own life, if your life is a sham right now – awesome news: you are still hero material.

If you feel defeated, lost and scraping rock bottom – I promise you YOU ARE STILL HERO MATERIAL. If the movies have taught us anything it’s the fact that heroes are just everyday people like you and I.

Here are 4 reasons why (whatever you are going through) you are still the hero of your life:

The Hero has fear.

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Captain Kirk, Elle Woods, Frodo, Holly Golightly. Each of these characters are not without fear.

It’s not the absence of fear that makes a hero, but courage to face their fears which is the true litmus test for their strength and heroism. This is also true of life.

What are you afraid of? Maybe you are afraid of failure, looking stupid or losing your position. Maybe you are trapped in a job you despise or a relationship that makes you feel miserable but leaving feels like too much of a gamble. It’s so easy to think about the risks of changing the status quo, but do not let fear umpire your decision making because we were not born to be the victim of fear, we were born to be the victor.  

‘God has not given us a spirit of fear: but of power and love and of a sound mind’.
Timothy 1:7

The Hero takes their destiny into their own hands.

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Writers often refer to this as having ‘agency’. Agency is the ability to make decisions that produce results. In storytelling the actions of the hero is often the thing that moves the plot forward. 

Elle Wood’s takes her destiny into her own hands when she decides to smash it at Harvard Law – proving she’s not just a dumb blonde with big tits – in Legally Blonde. Hobbit Frodo takes the bold step to leave the shire in Lord of the Rings. These characters CHOOSE to take their destiny into their own hands and each and every one of us have this same ability. 

‘You decide every moment of everyday who you are and what you believe in. You get a second chance every second.’
Dr Caroline Leaf

How does this relate to you? Because we can often float from relationship to relationship, one job to another, each phase of life being mapped by the people around us. But the people who advise us can only advise as much as they know or have experienced. Ultimately your job, as the writer and hero of your life, is to listen and then develop your own wisdom and discernment to help you make the right decisions for YOUR situation. You choose your path. 

The Hero has a mentor.

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In traditional story narratives the hero has a mentor – usually an old dude with a beard and sandals. Mentor actually originated in Homer’s The Odyssey – you see the goddess Athena is disguised as this old dude – Mentor who serves as a guide to Telemachus on his journey. I digress. The mentor’s role is to impart wisdom that will help the hero on his expedition.

I believe mentors come in all shapes and forms. They may come through reading a book, attending a conference or watching a TED talk. A mentor may come in the form of an older relative, friend or boss. We are not expected to know all the answers but growth is central to the development of the hero and mentors are imperative to the hero’s journey.

The Hero answers the ‘call to adventure’.

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According to writing guru Christopher Vogler, the turning point where the hero is summoned to adventure is called the ‘call to adventure’. Like the hero in the films, we all have a calling. YES – even you, lady/dude!

In homeric times the concept of heroism was often woven with the concept of doing something for the greater good. How is this applicable in life? Because our calling is often attached to our wider sense of purpose.

In our everyday lives this ‘call to adventure’ doesn’t have to be a trumpet sound. It can be a whisper in your heart that tells you to keep getting up and keep persevering. It might be the realization that the life you lead is not in line with your values and beliefs. ‘The call to adventure’ is a summoning to live out your purpose and when you hear the call you must say YES! 

We all have the ability to be the writer and hero of our own lives. You do not need to wear tight under crackers to be hero material, you do not need to be perfect or have your shit together. All you need is an open heart. In the words of Natasha Beddingfield: the rest is still unwritten.

Have a great week peeps!

x

If you enjoyed this post why not check out, ‘The Conundrum of ‘You Complete Me”?

Tags: blog courage fear film hero Joy self development

Categories: Fire me up baby! From the Heart Mirror Mirror: Self Improvement Yazmin Joy