“No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity, for he is not permitted to prove himself.” – Seneca
Think of the best stories, whether in fiction, in history, or in sports. They all follow a similar story arc, which has affectionately been coined “The Hero’s Journey.”
In the hero’s journey, the hero has a calling that takes him/her on an adventure (whether it is willingly chosen by them or reluctantly accepted). On their journey, they meet friends and make allies to join them on their quest. At some point on their quest, they experience hardships and doubt. But, when the situation looks like it can’t get any worse, the hero keeps moving and is able to overcome their adversity. They return stronger than ever and triumph over their enemies.
This is the basic premise for all great action/adventure stories (starting with Jesus/The Bible and continuing on through The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Harry Potter), but if you look carefully, you’ll see this throughout history and sports as well (the making of the United States as we know it, the 2004 Boston Red Sox overcoming a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the New York Yankees, etc.).
We love The Hero’s Journey whether we know it or not. But guess what? You’re living The Hero’s Journey! And you’re the protagonist – you’re the hero! Life is an adventure. You pick up friends along the way and have many ups and downs. You have to find ways to keep going when you feel that you can’t take another step or that the weight of the world is on your shoulders.
Overcome adversity and be the hero of your own story.