Tag: you are the hero

Why Writing Your Own Hero’s Story Can Change Everything During a Life Reset

There are moments in life when the old story no longer fits. A business collapses. A relationship ends. An identity dissolves. A season closes, sometimes without asking permission. In those moments, people often feel lost, unmotivated, unfocused, or quietly defeated. Not because they are broken, but because the story they’ve been living no longer explains who they are becoming. This is where writing your own Hero’s Story, using Joseph Campbell’s timeless framework, becomes profoundly healing and clarifying.

Every Great Story Ever Told Follows This Pattern — Including Yours

Joseph Campbell discovered something remarkable while studying myths, legends, religions, and epic stories across cultures and centuries:

Every great story follows the same basic pattern.

From The Odyssey to Star Wars. From ancient scriptures to modern cinema. From fairy tales to biographies of great leaders.

He called it The Hero’s Journey.

Why? Because it mirrors the human experience of transformation. Most importantly, this isn’t just a storytelling framework. It’s a map for navigating real-life change.

When your life resets, whether by choice or circumstance, you are already inside this journey. Writing it simply helps you see where you are, understand what you’ve survived, and consciously step into what comes next.

This Is Your Story. You Are the Hero.

You don’t need to be famous, have it all figured out, and you don’t need to impress anyone.

You are the hero because:

    • You are still here.
    • You are still searching.
    • You are still willing to grow.

Writing your Hero’s Story does three powerful things:

    1. It restores meaning to experiences that felt random or cruel
    2. It turns pain into progress by revealing what it shaped in you
    3. It reignites purpose by showing how your journey can now serve others

This is not about ego. It’s about integration. And when you integrate your story, something remarkable happens: You stop surviving… and start advancing.

A Guide Through Your Hero’s Journey

Use these questions as reflection prompts. There are no wrong answers. Let honesty lead.

ACT 1 — DEPARTURE

    1. The Ordinary World

Who you were before the transformation

        • What did your everyday life look like before your life began to change?
        • How did you see yourself during this time, your identity, roles, and sense of purpose?
        • What were you tolerating, suppressing, or accepting as “normal” that no longer feels normal now?
        • What inner longings or quiet dissatisfactions existed beneath the surface?
    1. Call to Adventure

The moment something stirred

        • What event, realization, or crisis disrupted your normal life?
        • When did you first sense that “something has to change”?
        • What was being asked of you; explicitly or subtly?
        • How did your body, heart, or intuition react when this call appeared?
    1. Refusal of the Call

Resistance, fear, hesitation

        • What fears or doubts made you hesitate or resist the call?
        • What did you believe you might lose if you said yes?
        • Who or what encouraged you to stay the same?
        • How did you rationalize not taking action at first?
    1. Meeting the Mentor

Guidance appears

        • Who or what showed up to guide, teach, or awaken you?
          (A person, book, experience, crisis, or inner voice)
        • What wisdom, truth, or perspective did this mentor offer?
        • How did this guidance change how you saw yourself or your situation?
        • In hindsight, why do you think this mentor appeared when they did?
    1. Crossing the Threshold

The point of no return

        • What specific decision or action marked your commitment to change?
        • What did you leave behind, physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
        • How did it feel stepping into the unknown?
        • At that moment, what told you there was no going back?

ACT 2 — INITIATION

    1. Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Learning the rules of the new world

        • What challenges tested your resolve after you committed?
        • Who became unexpected allies or supporters?
        • Who or what internal patterns, worked against you?
        • What strengths did you discover you had to develop quickly?
    1. Approaching the Inner Cave

Facing the deeper truth

        • What was the deepest fear or truth you knew you would eventually have to face?
        • What part of yourself felt most exposed or vulnerable at this stage?
        • How did your inner dialogue change as you approached this moment?
        • What was at stake if you failed, or if you succeeded?
    1. The Ordeal

The crucible moment

        • What was the most intense, painful, or defining moment of your journey?
        • Where did you feel broken, humbled, or stripped of illusion?
        • What old identity, belief, or attachment had to “die” here?
        • How did this moment permanently change you?
    1. Seizing the Reward

Insight, power, or truth gained

        • What did you gain from surviving the ordeal?
          (Wisdom, clarity, compassion, strength, self-trust?)
        • How were you different immediately afterward?
        • What truth about yourself or life became undeniable?
        • What did you finally claim that you once doubted you deserved?

ACT 3 — RETURN

    1. The Road Back Home

Integration begins

        • How did you begin to re-enter everyday life after your transformation?
        • What challenges arose in applying what you learned to the real world?
        • What parts of your old life no longer fit?
        • How did others respond to the “new you”?
    1. Resurrection / Atonement

Final transformation

        • In what way were you tested one last time?
        • How did you embody your growth rather than just understand it?
        • What reconciliation occurred, within yourself or with others?
        • Who did you become that you could not have been before?
    1. Return with the Elixir

The gift you bring back

        • What wisdom, healing, or insight do you now carry for others?
        • How does your story serve, guide, or inspire those who are still struggling?
        • What is the “elixir” you now offer the world through your work, voice, or presence?
        • If someone were walking the path you once walked, what would you tell them?

You don’t write your Hero’s Story to live in the past. You write it to liberate your future. Because when you can see your journey clearly, you stop asking:

“What’s wrong with me?”

And you start asking:

“What is being born through me?”

Write this story for yourself. Write it for those who will one day need your courage. Write it because your breakthrough is not just personal, it’s purposeful.

You are not done. You are being refined.

And the next chapter is waiting.

 

You Are the Reluctant Hero

You have noticed you are not quite like your contemporaries as you’ve moved through life. You have noticed that you have special abilities which have peeked through along your life’s path, you noticed, maybe someone else did, too, but you were quick to sluff it off as coincidence, or some other effort to disregard it, because after all is said and done, you just want to be normal; to fit in with your peers. You have no desire to be different.

Nonetheless, you are different. You do have unique special abilities which most people are never gifted with. Life has even placed you in situations and circumstances that would kill any normal person, yet your death-defying special abilities brought you through your challenge.

How much more powerful would your special abilities be if you would embrace them, practice them and let them evolve into their full potential instead of hiding and disregarding them?

How difficult is it for you to watch the news, seeing people in pain, suffering, or an impending crisis, knowing that you could help, if you weren’t trying to hide your true potential(s)?

You know you could make a difference, possibly even set the world on a new and better course, yet you shy away thinking, “I’m not worthy,” not good enough, not educated enough, not enough of whatever it is… Guess what?

There is no training for you or your special abilities, you and yours are so individually unique that only you can step into them, fully experience, and learn to wield your special powers.

God hasn’t brought you this far to leave you stranded or to squelch the super power(s) that He gave to you in the first place.

People have encouraged you, but you’ve shied away, rejecting the idea of attracting any unwanted attention, or to separate you from the comfort of your peers. You’ve found a comfortable place in life, surrounding yourself with what you need to get by in such a way that there is safety and security there.

Outside this bubble of complacent safety, is uncertain risks that bring flood of fear-based thoughts just to think about it is too much to imagine.

Turn off the TV, isolate yourself, shore up the walls you’ve built around yourself. Close your eyes, plug your ears, bury your head in the sand… Still you feel that beckoning tug… the Spirit of God calling you forth into the life that beckons you.

Most people will not embrace their special (hidden or long forgotten) special abilities, and it will never be more apparent to you than in your final moments when you evaluate the missed opportunities of your life and the endless list of regrets.

The greatest super heroes of all time are filling graveyards all over the world, and no one even knows. If that doesn’t make you weep when you walk through a graveyard, I don’t know what would.

Don’t let your light be squelched out, like that.

It’s never too late. If there is still breath in you, life pumping through your veins, there is still time.

Is it frightening? Does it feel like it’s just not possible? Are you afraid that you might fall on your face while your friends look on to laugh at your ridiculousness?

Your hero’s journey starts when you start overcoming your fears and start stepping into your destiny. Let that day be today.

It’s time to stoke the fire, let your light shine, and make the world a better place.

Everything Has Led to This Moment

What if everything… Everything that has happened in your life, every moment, every accident, and every misstep, wrong turn or mistake… Was precisely and perfectly coordinated and executed in your life at just the time… to bring you to this time and place, right now?

The you that you are, everything. Every lesson you’ve learned, every heartache you’ve felt, every injustice you’ve suffered, every time you felt you were unworthy, self-conscious or doubted you were the person you were called to be, even when you felt like everything was going wrong. All of it, each and every minutest detail orchestrated to create in you all the skill, excellence, sensitive heart filled with compassion, courage, and strength… All alive, fully activated and ready to empower you to emerge triumphant.

This Is You Right Now

There is no doubt about it.

You have lived the most amazing life, have faced and battled your own inner demons, successfully traversed your personal obstacle course, you have looked adversity straight in the eye and not only survived but are so much better for having experienced the process.

You are discovering and exercising your unique skills and abilities, your otherwise hidden superpowers and are perfectly positioned to extract the sweet juices in every moment of this life as you help to make the world a better place.

Although you are recognizable on the outside and people think you’re the same person they have always known, you know you have been completely transformed and are barely resemble the you of yesterday (and this metamorphosis may have occurred to you more than once to get you to where you are today).

You may look like the same person but you are not… awakening, you realize your transformation now and are understanding how everything is connected and perfect.

You are ready to embark on the most important part of your life’s journey to date.

Fear

Of course, fear and doubt will begin to overtake you. As those old thought patterns start to emerge, you must push them away, brush them aside as you thank them for trying to protect you but you must remain true to your cause.

Thoughts of inadequacy; yes, you acknowledge your strengths and abilities but feel as though you may not be skilled enough yet… “Maybe I should wait and study or practice more before I engage.”

Really?

Do you think you have come all this way not to take action?
Stop second-guessing yourself.

the-whole-universe-concurs-your-time-is-now-you-are-the-hero

One look over your life, the life you have lived up to this moment in time, and the whole universe concurs,

Your Time is Now

This is the time, this is the place

It all comes to this

You Are the Hero

There are people who are waiting for that heroic part of you to emerge. They are not in need of saving, but they do need to hear your perspective and your story. They are feeling all alone and as if no one could understand what they are going through, and you know better than anyone because you’ve been there. You know there is life on the other side, they need to hear your song in your voice to give them the hope they need to make it one more day.

You are the hero of your story

The world needs you now more than ever

Do something – anything – to move you closer
to engaging full-on.
Take action today.

Free Full Length YouTube Video 2 Hours

Let’s take a look at your life. Let’s see what it looks like if you reduce it to a 2 hour video on YouTube…

Free full length youtube video 2 hours you are the star best movie ever

I find it so interesting in hearing clients’ responses to:

If you could live this life anyway that you want
And could reduce it to a 2 hour YouTube Video
What would your life’s movie look like?

Granted, I don’t propose this idea to everyone that I meet. I am inspired to suggest this process when someone has mentioned dissatisfaction with this life, or has intimated that this life is just too hard.

One of the YouTube Videos that comes to mind:

I win $150 Million in the lottery. Buy a large house on 40 acres with my own private lake, surrounded by great walls with a huge garage filled with all my favorite automobiles, a plush indoor theater, where I can watch TV – all the channels throughout the whole world 24/7 if I want – or films on demand all on the biggest screen ever. All my meals – anything I want, anytime I want – delivered any time. All my bills are automatically paid, and I don’t have to deal with people. I can enjoy my life and do whatever I want whenever I want. And if there are people outside the walls clamoring for my money; too bad, they have to win their own lottery.

I asked, “What about your family?”
Response: “What about them?”
“Okay,” I queried, “What about love?”
Response: “No such thing. You can’t trust anyone, and I don’t need anyone.”

Well, there you have it.

And you might find it as surprising that I do, when I discover that most of the YouTube Videos that someone would reduce their perfect life to, would undoubtedly be

The Worst
Most Boring
Movie Ever

Who would even want to watch such a film?

Two hours of watching a film, like that, would not be far from brutal torture, and I’m pretty sure, that even though people might click on the YouTube Video to voyeuristically tune-in to see what someone’s life looks like, I doubt anyone would want to watch such a film for the whole two hours.

I’d click it off, and look for something a little more entertaining.

The greatest stories – the best movies – are ones full of excitement, ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, a good soundtrack, special effects and good editing.

When you’ve watched a film that takes you on a journey through all your emotions – where you identify with the hero or heroine, having tearful empathy in the hard times and cheering joyously in the good times – after two hours, you’re fulfilled, your soft drink and popcorn tub are empty, and you’re satiated, a clear indication of the best stories.

Maybe, you want to see what happens next, asking:

Is there going to be a sequel?

My life has been the most amazing journey and I wouldn’t change one scene.

My wish for you, is that you can enjoy your life’s film as much (or more, if that’s possible) as I do mine.

The good news:
When something happens unexpectedly
I look off-screen and ask,
Who writes this stuff?

As I continue to ad-lib and play-out the scene to see what the director has in mind.

I didn’t have the chance to read ahead in the script, but who knows? Maybe this scene will be one of the best performances in the final cut.

Or it could end up on the cutting room floor, or at viewable in the DVD extras as outtakes. Who knows?

All I know, is that I am having so much fun and feel so blessed to be in the cast of – what I believe is – the best film ever.

What’s Right with Me?

Oftentimes, as we traverse our life’s journey, we find ourselves reflecting over our past. The contrast between where we want to be and where we are is clearly apparent and we ask, “How did I get here?”

While this reflection can be good, it likely will include a variety of problems, dissatisfaction, discouragements and ill feelings in review; and it might cause one to question, “What’s wrong with me?” Launching another search through our mind’s hall of records, reviewing even more painful shortcomings, mishaps and victimization… the process can be daunting and lead to depression.

This work is difficult and unglamorous

In the past, I would work with clients, assisting them in uncovering the deeply buried and often painful experiences to uproot them, deal with their implications and help them to move on. This grueling process was painful and an emotional drain; more so for the client, but also for me, being somewhat empathetic.

Digging through the past, dredging up tragic moments, causing people to relive each horrific moment of their past that had been concealed from their conscious awareness, so they could just get through their day to day business of moving through life, with some sense of normalcy.

This is ugly work

Though the process is not enjoyable, life on the other side of the process is cleansing. Once dealt with the deep emotional suppression is released and the subject feels a distinct release of a heavy burden and emerges with a new sense of vitality, liberty and joy.

In this respect, the work was worthy work and satisfying in the long run.

Thanks to my thirst for Constant and Never Ending Improvement (thanks, Tony) I am ever on the search for new emerging technologies and techniques for integration into my practice. This quest for new knowledge led me to uncover therapeutic concepts that were nowhere to be seen on the radar of my awareness.

One such technique eliminated the ugliness from having to deal with one’s past. This was a completely new approach, unlike I had ever seen before; painless, highly effective, non invasive and instantaneous, a complete

Paradigm Shift

Now, my work is far less about uncovering the details about the past and drudging up horrific memories (because the same results – or better results – come from new techniques, instantly eliminating the shackles of the past). There is no focus on, “What’s wrong with me?” Now, it’s all about

What’s right with me?

whats right with me are my strengths special abilities super powers

Asking “What’s right” with us helps uncover our talents, strengths and special abilities. Embracing our superpowers while wielding those skills and abilities responsibly make us uniquely equipped to have whatever we want in a way that cannot be duplicated by anyone else.

If you look at the personal histories of all the most successful people throughout all recorded time, you will find that their individual successes are not duplicatable. As many have tried to follow in the steps of a heroic overcomer or high performance superstar, embracing their unique individuality is often a key component; and since no two people are the same, it is also true that given all the same circumstances and techniques, actual results will vary.

That’s why there’s no perfect cookbook for success.

It’s an individual journey, no one has experienced before you. Your story is the best story, yet.

Certainly, we can learn from the experiences of others, but we each must find our own way as we

Seize the day

Seize it with the intention of extracting all the best moments of all the moments that lie ahead and

Love every minute of it.

~ Carpe DM

 

Acts of Kindness Super Heroes

You are my favorite super heroes

I am so blessed and grateful to work with and know some of the greatest superheroes of all time. I’m not talking about cartoon representations of fanciful imaginings of nerds-hit-by-gamma-rays who turn into muscle-laden, secret crime-fighting men and women in tights. No, I’m talking about real people, like you and me, with extraordinary skills and abilities who make the world a better place as a part of their life’s work every day.

We all have special skills and abilities that if we honor and embrace them we can share these abilities with the community and/or the world. This is the givingness that we are endowed with at birth; it is where my work centers as I assist others along their journey.

But of even greater impact are those who make a point to do good n the behalf of unsuspecting others who touch my heart. They are the compassionate foot soldiers who express love in the simplest of ways.

I’m as guilty as anyone – in my high-paced, always on-the-go life – of feeling like I don’t have the time or space available to reach out and offer a simple act of kindness. Yet, while running-from-here-to-there, I often witness someone else – tending and equally frantic pace – take a moment to show someone else kindness.

In that moment I question myself, my priorities, the kind of person I’ve become. I mean, I’m polite, courteous, gentlemanly, supportive, and smile a lot, so in that respect at least I am not swinging the pendulum of kindness in the wrong direction, but the ones who take that little extra effort to reach out to another; those are my heroes.

And I see these super heroes every day; doing that little extra somethin-somethin’ that can turnaround someone’s day.

You are my favorite super heroes

Just in the last week, I witnessed superheroes egage in unsolicited acts of kindness, like buying a lottery ticket for a stranger, putting change in someone else’s parking meter, buying a coffee for the man behind him in line, pulling over to help a man replace a flat tire, tip someone else’s waitress (who was waiting on someone else that left disgruntled and refused to leave a tip due to poor service), just to name a few that come to mind.

And these acts are carried out by the unsung super heroes who go about their lives, never expecting anything in return.

While I spend my days hanging out with high-profile superheroes, I’m beginning to notice that I could do better.

That’s why my favorite super heroes are the ones who sacrifice, in some small way to make someone else’s day a little bit better.

I would be honored and blessed to join their ranks and I am committing to count myself amongst those superhuman lovers who bestow kindness when least expected.

If you are one of my favorite super heroes, or if you have been the recipient of a simple act of kindness, please leave a comment for inspiration for others who desire to help make the world a better place one act of kindness at a time.

You are the super heroes making the world a better place.

May you be blessed as you bless others.