The Hero's Journey: Why Every Person is the Protagonist of Their Own Story

When I was a kid, about 6 years old, I would make up stories about how my father is a stuntman that drives motorcycles up the sides of buildings. In my mind at that age, while I knew it wasn’t true, somehow it felt good to think of him like that, I guess because in my eyes, my father is my superhero. The kids would all listen in awe and tell me how cool my Dad was. Little did I know that this was a trauma related coping mechanism that was developing. But that’s for another article. Instead, I want to focus on the idea of the Hero’s Journey and the Hero inside all of us.

If you have never heard of the Hero’s Journey, let me enlighten you. I first came across the concept in 2017 watching a movie on Youtube called Finding Joe. The hero's journey is a narrative archetype that is found in many myths, legends, and stories. It is a common template used to describe the structure of many hero stories and character arcs.

The hero's journey concept was popularized by American scholar Joseph Campbell, who studied comparative mythology and identified common patterns in the stories of many cultures. Campbell's work influenced many writers and filmmakers, including George Lucas, who used the hero's journey as a blueprint for the story of Star Wars. Other well known movies that followed the hero’s journey framework include, Harry Potter, Iron Man, Spiderman, Lion King and The Wizard of Oz to name a few.

Notice that these movies I mentioned have huge fan bases. I believe there is a subconscious reason for that. Take Aunt May’s quote from Spiderman:

“I believe there's a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.” – Aunt May

I concur with Aunt May. I truly believe there is a hero in ALL of us. I also believe that the reason we are so drawn to these movies and celebrate them, is because we see ourselves in these heroes and identify with their struggles and triumphs. I don’t mean in the literal sense of being able to shoot web out your hands, but in the framework of the hero’s journey.

Take for example the first stage of the Hero’s Journey, The Call to Adventure. Its described as, the hero being called to leave their ordinary life and embark on a journey, often prompted by a crisis or a significant event. Think back to an event or experience that led you to begin your journey, such as a childhood dream, a personal challenge or a life-changing decision.

For me, I use to sit in the gallery (what some know as a patio) of my grandmother’s old wooden house in Manzanilla as a kid and pretend to fly airplanes and travel all over the world. Especially since I knew my hero, my Dad had gone on an airplane to America. To put it in context, this was the early 90s.

Now take the second stage of the Hero’s Journey, Refusal of the Call. The hero initially refuses the call, often due to fear or a sense of inadequacy. Can you think back to the doubts and fears you had about embarking on your journey and how you overcame them?

For me, those doubts and fears came when going to school, and realizing we are poor and this may have all just been wishful thinking. That normal people just get a regular job after they finish school. I could tell you, that even long after as an adult, those subconscious fears lingered. Take for example, when I first thought about pursuing an MBA at a prestigious school. Those fears were right there waiting, telling me who do I think I am trying to pursue a fancy degree with these “big boys”. It was telling me that I’m just a kid from the poor country-side of Manzanilla that don’t belong here, even though I was now an adult, with a decent job and enjoying life and travelling the world.

Some of us who have read The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, will recall Santiago, a shepherd boy in Spain, who has a recurring dream about a treasure hidden in the Egyptian pyramids. He feels compelled to follow this dream and sets out on a journey to find it. (The Call to Adventure)

Santiago initially hesitates to follow his dream because he is afraid to leave his comfortable life as a shepherd behind. (Refusal of the Call) And so it goes on following the framework of the Hero’s Journey. I will do a separate article breaking down the journey Santiago follows in line with the Hero’s Journey.

There is a Hero in all of us, whether we want to admit it or not. Sometimes we just need to be reminded. Life has a way of beating on us, till we forget who we truly are. Remember that scene from Lion King, when Simba’s Dad Mufasa appeared in the clouds to him? What did he say to him?

“You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life…Remember who you are” - Mufasa

This powerful scene is one of my favorites of all time, because it’s a reminder that when life takes us off course, we need to remember who we are. You are the Hero.

--Can you relate to the Hero's Journey? Let me know on my socials--

Peace, Love, Namaste

Nick