The hero's adventure
“It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world."
Joseph Campbell «The Hero With a Thousand Faces»
"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" is a book by American scholar Joseph Campbell, published in 1949. Exploring myths from cultures around the world, Campbell concluded that most myths share a common narrative structure: the journey of the archetypal hero, or monomyth.
The hero's journey in psychology is a concept that describes a universal template for personal growth and self-discovery. The hero embarks on a journey through several stages, which every individual goes through in their own life journey, regardless of culture, religion, or era. But this is not only the story of the mythological hero in the book. Looking on the transformational change in our life, these are exactly the steps we should pass to arrive to this change.
Let's see what are they and what do they mean - for hero and for our real life as well:
Joseph Campbell «The Hero With a Thousand Faces»
"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" is a book by American scholar Joseph Campbell, published in 1949. Exploring myths from cultures around the world, Campbell concluded that most myths share a common narrative structure: the journey of the archetypal hero, or monomyth.
The hero's journey in psychology is a concept that describes a universal template for personal growth and self-discovery. The hero embarks on a journey through several stages, which every individual goes through in their own life journey, regardless of culture, religion, or era. But this is not only the story of the mythological hero in the book. Looking on the transformational change in our life, these are exactly the steps we should pass to arrive to this change.
Let's see what are they and what do they mean - for hero and for our real life as well:
1. Ordinary World
The beginning of the adventure, where the hero leads an ordinary life but feels that something is wrong or missing.
2. Call to Adventure
The hero receives a call to adventure, initiating their journey.
In the context of real life, this might look like:
This call often brings mixed emotions — both excitement and fear. It marks the awakening, the moment a person begins to sense that there is something more beyond their current reality.
In the context of real life, this might look like:
- A sudden realization that your current life no longer feels fulfilling
- An unexpected opportunity or invitation
- An inner voice urging change
- A crisis that demands new decisions
This call often brings mixed emotions — both excitement and fear. It marks the awakening, the moment a person begins to sense that there is something more beyond their current reality.
3. Refusal of the Call
Initially, the hero refuses the call and resists change: “No, thank you, but I'd rather pass it on to someone else. This task is too challenging for me. I don't have time for it right now. I'm not ready.”
In real life, this shows up as:
Refusal is a natural protective response to significant change.
But this phase matters — it forces us to reflect more deeply on the true value of a new path.
In real life, this shows up as:
- Fear of the unknown
- Doubts about your own abilities
- A sense of comfort in the current situation, even if it's not ideal
- External pressure to stay on the familiar path
- Rationalizing: “Now’s not the time,” “It’s too risky”
Refusal is a natural protective response to significant change.
But this phase matters — it forces us to reflect more deeply on the true value of a new path.
🔍Reflection Questions: Turning Points and Meaning
Imagine a time line in from our you from the birth to the present moment. Mark on this line 3-4 important moments which change your life. Now, try to recall there moments it in your head and your body as much as possible and answer the questions:
These are your personal “decision markers.” When you notice them showing up — pay close attention.
- What was a positive turning point in your life — and how did it change things?
- What made those moments special?
- How did you realize they were important?
- How did you make decisions at that time?
- What came before that turning point?
- What invisible factors were present in that moment of decision?
These are your personal “decision markers.” When you notice them showing up — pay close attention.
✉️“Letter from Fear” Exercise
- Name your fear, the one that stops you most often. For example, your fear that you don't deserve success, or that you will fail or anything what is about you.
- Start your writing with "Dear, <your name>, I am your fear <name>"
- You write all what's important for your fear to tell you
- You finish the letter "With love. Your fear".
- Look at your letter and underline right under the words what is repeated.
When we what stops us, we see and we know these demons that we meet during our journey and that stops us. And only when we see it, we can get out.
The purpose of this exercise not only to see what this fear means for you, but also to see what words this fear speaks to you with.
4. Meeting the Mentor
The hero meets someone who offers guidance, wisdom, protection, and support. A mentor doesn’t just give advice — they help the hero see their own potential and move beyond fear.
In real life, this could be:
The crucial point is that without a catalyst, without support, we may reject the call and revert to our regular lives.
In real life, this could be:
- A real-life mentor or teacher
- A book or piece of art that sparks insight
- A friend who believes in you more than you believe in yourself
- A therapist or coach
- Inner wisdom accessed through intuition or meditation
The crucial point is that without a catalyst, without support, we may reject the call and revert to our regular lives.
5. Crossing the Threshold
This is the moment when the hero fully leaves the known world and steps into the unknown. He takes the first steps toward significant changes, but also realizes that it's not as terrifying as he thought, especially with mentors providing continuous support.
In real life, it could be:
Crossing the threshold often comes with a deep sense of no turning back — and resistance from “threshold guardians” — people or circumstances that test your resolve.
In real life, it could be:
- Quitting a familiar job
- Starting to learn a new skill
- Moving to a new place
- Publicly stating your intentions
- Taking the first steps in a new direction
Crossing the threshold often comes with a deep sense of no turning back — and resistance from “threshold guardians” — people or circumstances that test your resolve.
6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Entering a new world, the hero confronts a range of trials, faces tests, finds support in allies, and meets obstacle. These are his initial "dragons": doubts, fears, lack of knowledge, and so forth.
Tests — challenges that require new skills
Allies — people who share your values and support your path
Enemies — external obstacles or inner doubts
This stage helps form a new system of support and reveals what the real challenges are.
It’s where we begin to adapt to a new reality and shape a new sense of self.
Tests — challenges that require new skills
Allies — people who share your values and support your path
Enemies — external obstacles or inner doubts
This stage helps form a new system of support and reveals what the real challenges are.
It’s where we begin to adapt to a new reality and shape a new sense of self.
7. Approaching the Inner Cave
The hero nears the central place of their journey — the area of greatest fear or deepest longing:
This is often a moment of reevaluation — of the goal, the journey, and the true motivation behind it.
- A moment of truth before a big decision
- Preparation for the main challenge
- A deep dive into the core issue or desire
- Facing inner demons
- Realizing the full scale of the task ahead
This is often a moment of reevaluation — of the goal, the journey, and the true motivation behind it.
8. The Ordeal
The hero gains experience and reaches the "death point": the most challenging trial on their journey.
At this stage, it's decided whether the hero an learn a valuable lesson from their journey or remain unchanged.
It’s a turning point, often experienced as a symbolic “death” of the old self — and the birth of something new.
The ordeal can be so intense that some people stay in this cycle for years. Because often, the biggest challenge isn’t change — it’s the fear of leaving what’s familiar.
- A decisive moment
- A direct confrontation with fear
- Letting go of an old identity
- Overcoming the hardest challenge
- A moment that demands full surrender
At this stage, it's decided whether the hero an learn a valuable lesson from their journey or remain unchanged.
It’s a turning point, often experienced as a symbolic “death” of the old self — and the birth of something new.
The ordeal can be so intense that some people stay in this cycle for years. Because often, the biggest challenge isn’t change — it’s the fear of leaving what’s familiar.
9. The Reward
After the great ordeal, the hero receives what he came for:
The reward might be external — but often it’s internal: a shift in identity, a new strength, or understanding that transforms the hero.
One of the most powerful rewards is a sense of freedom — the freedom to shape your life on your terms and live your ideal day, every day.
- A new insight or deeper clarity
- A concrete skill or powerful tool
- Recognition or new status
- Inner freedom or confidence
- Resolution of inner conflict
The reward might be external — but often it’s internal: a shift in identity, a new strength, or understanding that transforms the hero.
One of the most powerful rewards is a sense of freedom — the freedom to shape your life on your terms and live your ideal day, every day.
10. The Road Back
The hero begins the journey back to the ordinary world with newfound knowledge, wisdom, and power, which he can use for his own benefit and that of others:
This stage is about taking responsibility — using the wisdom or reward gained for real life.
True completion of the journey happens when personal transformation becomes a gift to others — opening the door for them to begin their own path.
- Integrating new experiences into daily life
- Resistance from their old environment
- Being challenged by the forces of the “old world”
- The need to protect what’s been gained
- Applying new knowledge in a familiar context
- Using new skills to help others
- Sharing the wisdom gained
- Changing their community
- Starting something new based on lived experience
- Living in alignment with new values and understanding
This stage is about taking responsibility — using the wisdom or reward gained for real life.
True completion of the journey happens when personal transformation becomes a gift to others — opening the door for them to begin their own path.
11. Rebirth
The final challenge proves that the hero has truly changed. It may involve:
This is the moment of full rebirth — when change becomes irreversible and deeply integrated.
- A clear demonstration of transformation
- Integrating shadow aspects of the self
- Applying lessons from the ordeal
- Fully embracing a new identity
- Overcoming the last internal resistance to change
This is the moment of full rebirth — when change becomes irreversible and deeply integrated.
And we jump into the fire....
Some people go through multiple journeys per life. Others spend years trying to get through just one. And within each of those, there’s also the internal path — just to make things a bit more complicated and interesting. :)
When we hit a difficult moment, it often feels like we’re being asked to jump into fire — a fire that will burn us up completely. It feels like we won’t come out of it intact, maybe not even alive in the emotional sense. And the moment we feel something really matters, we’re often tempted to back away. Because it seems too much.
But if we jump, in 95% of cases, we land… and there was nothing there, no fire, it was a hologram. And in those 5% when the fire is "real" — it doesn’t destroy us. It only burns away what we no longer need. The layers we’ve outgrown. The believes that were never truly ours. What’s left after that is something much more true. Not someone new — but someone we’ve always been, just finally without this "extra weight".
When we hit a difficult moment, it often feels like we’re being asked to jump into fire — a fire that will burn us up completely. It feels like we won’t come out of it intact, maybe not even alive in the emotional sense. And the moment we feel something really matters, we’re often tempted to back away. Because it seems too much.
But if we jump, in 95% of cases, we land… and there was nothing there, no fire, it was a hologram. And in those 5% when the fire is "real" — it doesn’t destroy us. It only burns away what we no longer need. The layers we’ve outgrown. The believes that were never truly ours. What’s left after that is something much more true. Not someone new — but someone we’ve always been, just finally without this "extra weight".
If you find yourself at the beginning of this journey — whether you’ve accepted the call, are thinking of refusing it, or already passing the “tests” along the way — you can always find help here.
Transformational coaching is designed exactly for such trips.
Maybe for your trip as well.
Transformational coaching is designed exactly for such trips.
Maybe for your trip as well.
