We Are Heroes
Joseph Campbell made famous a pattern he called the monomyth, otherwise known as the hero’s journey.
As a professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College in the mid-nineteenth century, Joseph Campbell studied mythology. He found that the mythological heroes, time and again, were confronted with similar challenges. Their circumstances varied—creating wholly different adventures, but the tensions were surprisingly similar and seemed to evolve in a sequence that followed a template.
This template, or monomyth, inspired ancient myths, and it continues to inspire modern story lines in books and cinema. In fact, this pattern rings so true that “the hero’s journey” is a commonly used term in popular culture.
The monomyth describes several stages in the development of a hero. But, in essence, it includes the following: an unexpected journey, danger, endurance, a test of character, and a triumphant return home.
I love this. It shows that anyone can be a hero. You just need to have courage in the face of adversity.
Think about a time when you’ve gone on a “journey.” A time when you had to respond to changing circumstances, muster courage, try something difficult, and then face the person you’ve become as a result.
In a way, my husband and I went on a hero’s journey when he was suddenly diagnosed with a devastating illness and swept out of our lives for the better part of a year. That’s why in my book, The Other Side of Us, I play off the monomyth when I label my last two chapters the ultimate destination and home.
But it wasn’t until I’d finished my book that I realized the journey is not over once the “hero” returns. In fact, the integration back home is as much a journey as the initial challenge.
This is the most meaningful part, though.
Back in September 2020, when I was working to hone my manuscript with my developmental editor (such a fun process!), we explored the idea of adding an Afterword to the book. While considering one of the many ways to approach the effort, I explained my affinity for the “hero’s journey.” Do you think I should use the Afterword to explain the reasons behind my chapter titling?
My developmental editor, in the nicest of ways, said, “Well… you are only about 60 percent through your hero’s journey… ”
Ugg. 60 percent.
He was right. There was more work to do in the integration phase. But it was hard, and I was tired.
Nevertheless, the integration is critical. It’s the part when the hero returns home changed after having learned and grown. How will he or she incorporate these learnings into “real” life?
It is work, yes. But thoughtfully integrating the best of what we’ve learned from our journeys can change the trajectory of the rest of our lives, for the better. Even if we didn’t choose those challenges.
This is the journey.
We are the heroes.