Heroes, Ripple Effects and Community
A few words on community from The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By:
Heroes – in myth, literature, and real life – take journeys, confront dragons (ie problems) and discover the treasure of their true selves. Although they may feel very alone during the quest, at its end their reward is a sense of community; with themselves, with other people, and with the earth
Heeding the call, the author writes, has a ripple effect.
Every time you take the risk to be true to your own soul – whether or not you name your action as heroic – your example helps others to do likewise. When you notice this pattern, it becomes easier to have absolute fidelity to your own path without fear that doing so is selfish. We can do nothing better for others than model the authentic life.
Now I can’t decide if I want to apply these lessons most to writing, or to life.
Have a good week!
~~~
The two quotes are from The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By (Carol Pearson) – well worth a read.
Joanna,
Great lessons, and an example of why I gave you an award, which you can pick up on my blog.
Lillie Ammanns last blog post..Lemonade Award
Joanna, Thank you for giving us this immense, uplifting idea to start the week.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..If You Have Lots to Say, Say It on a Business Blog
I’ve never felt that heroic, but then reading the quote above suddenly made me feel very heroic.
…sitting up with confidence, Alex heads off to tackle two dragons: Marketing and Novel First Draft…
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndromes last blog post..Fear of an office job: Allison Day interview
These are great thoughts to start the week, Joanna – thanks a herd!
It’s interesting, don’t you think, how heroes never really think of themselves that way. They just go out and do what comes naturally for them. I’ve always liked that about my own heroes. No false pride – but no false modesty either. They just, y’know, DO.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Facing Adversity
Hmmm… My thought is from your actions and your writing, Joanna, that you act confidently in both areas. You don’t need to make a differentiation, but just move to the next adventure in each!
Did I ever tell you that you are in my heroes wall of fame?
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Brain’s Left Side – Tames and Organizes
Joanna, what a great choice for a Monday post. I was struck by the notion that a hero is heroic to self first and that decision to commit to your own soul, vision, purpose then ripples outward. These are brave thoughts that inspire me today and such a perfect mantra as I look ahead to the start of a new month and a new quarter. Thank you! xo
Karen Swims last blog post..The Wonder of Life
Very thought-provoking. Makes me want to go out and do something heroic every day.
Trina L. Grants last blog post..How to Gain Exposure as a Freelance Writer
Lillie thanks for that – what a lovely start to thte week
Brad I’m glad you liked the quotes – they knocked my socks off
Alex Perfect. Your words mean that this has been a job well done
Robert yes, I agree – no false pride, no false modesty. My kind of heroes too. (Would that also be the cowboy kind?)
Robyn you’re right, for me it’s both, and the two go hand in hand. The more I write about and with confidence, the braver I feel in life. Thank you so much for your words, they mean such a lot to me.
Karen they are brave thoughts aren’t they, and contradict some of our conventional teachings… but the words rang very true to me. I’m glad to help you off to a wonderful new week, new month and new quarter… not to mention a special day for you, celebrating the wonder of life
Trina thank you. What a like about this quote is that it shows us the way to do just that… nothing stopping us.
Hi Joanna,
I recall your tweets saying that this book was having a profound effect on you and now I can see why!
It’s definitely on my reading list now
Best Regards
Paul
Pauls last blog post..Where the research leads…
Hi Joanna,
Thank for such such rejuvenating quotes
I’m getting the book!
Conor
Joanna, Thank you for your post. It prompted me to share two of my favorite authors and their books. Joseph Campbell wrote the Heroe’s Journey and The Power of Myth, and Christopher Vogler, who wrote the Writer’s Journey.
Enjoy,
Sheila
Sheila Glazovs last blog post..Memorial for My Father
“Now I can’t decide if I want to apply these lessons most to writing, or to life.”
Knowing you, you will do both Joanna! The quotes you have shared alone can help us follow your example too, however I’m thinking this book will be a must-read for me as well.
Rosa Says last blog post..Writing is for Thinking
Paul I think you’d find the book really interesting, esp in relation to your work on the career journey. Let me know how you get on with it.
Conor I’m glad you like the quotes – they really fired up my brain too. I hope you enjoy the book
Sheila thank you for those recommendations – I think I have at least one of them (unread) on my shelves… will dig them out again now I’ve got archetypes on the brain
Rosa you are right, of course… if for no other reason that the two are so intimately inter-twined. I hope you enjoy the book… as you can see, I’ve got a lot out of it
I love how certain phrases ring so true …
“We can do nothing better for others than model the authentic life.”
This looks like another book I need to add to my shelf. I’ve been collecting various lenses for self-awareness and there’s no shortage of models, but the key is to find the insightful ones.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Finding Your Values
Joanna, your post reminds me of the NBC’s Sci-fic drama series, “Heroes”. It isn’t an easy task to become the hero, and I prefer to become the ordinary man with a normal life!
wilsons last blog post..You Should Stop to Breastfeed Your Baby On the Right Time!
[...] is the perfect day to join the ranks of fools, to heroically follow your own internal compass and believe in what seems impossible. As others laugh at foolish pranks, [...]
Hi Joanna,
they are brilliant quotes. I especially like the second : ) I’m going to borrow that theme from you….
all the best,
Hilda.
Hildas last blog post..Beautiful free e-book of Personal Creeds
Truly good. Step first into your own true path…oh yes.. we will have to share that margarita…George Lucas is huge on this concept. I will dig for the article on his view and how he makes his movies.
Thank you for these quotes. I had forgotten them.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Mark Twain’s Guide To Life
Janice, glad you liked the quotes. I was thinking Star Wars all the way through reading the book (it’s my all time favourite film as well as being totally brilliant)
Hilda, borrow away… the ideas are all free
Wilson, I might come back at you and say… making that choice can also demand courage, to say ‘this is how I want my life to be’ despite the expectations and demands of others. I don’t think we do enough to celebrate ordinary acts of courage, and following our own path. It is always inspiring to others when you do just that.
JD, I think you’d enjoy the book. It provides a really powerful framework for thinking about things, and acting upon them too. It’s helped me to make sense of a whole lot of previously muddled up thoughts and emotions.
Well, I’ve always believed in cases like this, it is possible to do both. You don’t have to make the either/or choice. Taking the 3rd path, as it were….
Matches Malones last blog post..Tangents
Matches, I’m not entirely sure what your comment refers to I’m afraid. Do you mean being both ordinary and heroic?
[...] Heroes, Ripple Effects and Community Heroes – in myth, literature, and real life – take journeys, confront dragons (ie problems) and discover the treasure of their true selves. Although they may feel very alone during the quest, at its end their reward is a sense of community; with themselves, with other people, and with the earth ~ The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By [...]
[...] Every time you take the risk to be true to your own soul – whether or not you name your action as … [...]
[...] H is for heart and the hero’s journey [...]