Heroic Journey Series, Introduction – The Map of the Terrain
“The basic story of the hero journey involves giving up where you are, going into the realm of adventure, coming to some kind of symbolically rendered realization, and then returning to the field of normal life.”
- Joseph Campbell
Understand the map of the terrain
As a good soldier, sailor, airmen or marine you know you don’t begin any mission without understanding the terrain. A reconnaissance is a crucial first step before you begin any operation. The same applies to your business career search – let’s call it Operation Next Career. This journey you are embarking on is more then a career change; it’s a journey of personal transformation.
Whether you realize it or not you’re beginning a metamorphosis – a change of your being, not just a change in your circumstance. This is an internal journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The best metaphor to describe this process is a Hero’s Journey. Understanding this idea has been the single most important factor in my transition. Where did I discover this wisdom? Not in a military transition book or career change manual. I found this out in a 60 year old mythology book.
Learning the secrets of military transition from a 60 year old mythology book
One of my passions growing up was reading about myths. With a name like Pappas it won’t surprise you that I enjoyed the myths of Ancient Greece. I was nurtured on these stories as a kid from my grandfather growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey (I heard that, no Jersey jokes).
As I was struggling with my job search and discovering my own path I pulled off my shelf a book called The Hero With a Thousand Faces. Written by the famous mythologist Joseph Campbell in 1949, it describes the standard or common path all heroes takes in the stories of mythology. Frankly, the book had been collecting dust on my shelf. I thought it was too academic and dry when I first read it. Out of desperation, or pure luck, I picked it up to kill some time and avoid the difficult work ahead of me.
As I re-read the book I was amazed at what I discovered. Written in what I thought was an obscure book was the map of my future path; the map of the terrain.
Hero’s Journey
What I read in this old book was the explanation of not just ancient myths, but the common story of all heroic journeys of transformation.
“The Hero’s Journey duplicates the stages of the Rite of Passage. First the initiate faces separation from his own, familiar world. Once separated, he undergoes initiation and transformation, where the old ways of thinking and acting are altered or destroyed, opening the way to a new level of awareness, skill and freedom. After successfully meeting the challenges of the initiation, the initiate takes the journey’s final step, the return to the world. When he does, he will find that he is more confident, perceptive, and capable. He will bring back gifts for his people, such as insight, leadership, understanding and expertise.”
- Reg Harris
What’s this got to do with my military transition?
I know what you are thinking. Thanks for the history lesson Tom, but what’s this got to do with my military transition? I need to get my act together, you may be thinking, and not worrying about killing Medusa or slaying the Minotaur. Stick with me.
All great storytelling – whether a myth, a classic book or epic movie – has a hero. That person always goes through a change; a transformation. And as I re-read this book I found the message spoke to me on a deep level. It explained the lay of the land for my journey and made me realize that my unique path and struggle was quite common. All heroes face the same transformative crisis – the hero’s journey. More importantly, I started to see how the common ingredients could be used on my journey. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let me end this post by explaining to you the basic formula. Then on the following posts in this series I’ll help you bring it together for your journey.
The hero’s journey has three main parts – Departure, Initiation and Return.
1. Departure
The hero hears a call, often refuses it at first, and then crosses the threshold into a new world. This part is about leaving the past behind. It’s a descent into mystery, a whole new unfamiliar world. Here the hero leaves behind many of the things that served him well in the past. He/She encounters the help of mentors who provide the hero magical aid. This is in many ways an internal part of the journey into understanding and opening up limitless possibilities and opportunities.
2. Initiation
In the second part of the journey the hero faces stiff challenges and a transformative crisis. As the hero progresses deeper on this quest he/she stares into the abyss. Here a transformation occurs and a revelation – a new way to view life. Our hero takes this discovered treasure and returns with it.
3. Return
Finally, during the last part of the journey the hero returns with his discovered gift. As Joseph Campbell wrote, “the whole idea is that you you’ve got to bring out again that which you went to recover, the unrealized, unutilized potential in yourself.” This is the most difficult part of the journey; more difficult then going down to the depths in the first place. The hero uses the knowledge he gained during his initiation to improve his world and himself.
This structure underlies all great epic tales of history: Homer’s Odyssey, most of the Greek myths I grew up with, the legend of King Arthur, the story of Buddha, the stories of the Old Testament and the Koran. Even many cinematic stories follow the same basic ingredients – Star Wars (where George Lucas claimed Joseph Campbell as a prime influence), Braveheart, The Matrix and every other epic story.
Will your story be next?
Read on for the next article in the Heroic Journey Series, Part 1 – Departure.
Related Posts:
- Heroic Journey Series, Conclusion – Relax, You’ve Done This Before
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 1 – Departure: Master the Mindset of the Inner Work of Success
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 3 – Return: Land Your First Business Job By Marketing Brand You
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 2 – Initiation: Discover the World of Business and Align to Your Skills, Strengths and Passions