The Hero’s Journey: Transformative Questions for Success?

Embark on a transformative inner journey with ‘The Hero’s Journey’—an all-encompassing metaphor guiding heroes through profound transformation. Discover transformative questions that resonate across time and space, inviting you to reflect on your own heroic journey of self-discovery and growth.

Think about the main character of some of your favorite movies. Most likely, they have to overcome obstacles in order to get what they want. Clark Griswold’s plans for a perfect family Christmas are derailed by cousin Eddie and a wild squirrel. Elle Woods, a stylish sorority girl, ostracized by Ivy League lawyers in order to win back her boyfriend. Moana sails across forbidden waters to save her people.

The formula to their adventures is no accident—it’s called the Hero’s Journey. And its power is personal.

The Hero’s Journey satisfies our natural desire to overcome—to reap reward from struggle. We become invested in the breakthrough of these characters because, quietly, we believe their transformation—their win—is hope for ours.

But unlike those iconic characters, you’re not living a story. You’re living a real life.

And life is a lot less linear. It’s a complex game of connect-the-why-dots with infinite moving points marked by memorable and miscellaneous moments. We prefer to attribute our struggles to bad luck, bad timing, and bad choices.

Our struggles become more manageable if we can imagine it all culminating in some grand turning point where victory awaits—singing Christmas carols with cousin Eddie, being crowned valedictorian of Harvard Law, restoring the heart of Te Fiti.

But the Hero’s Journey doesn’t necessarily mean everything works out perfectly—-that’s what sequels are for. It means that the character grows or changes—they overcome.

Questions to ask yourself in pursuit of your own hero’s journey:

1. What internal/external conflict are you facing?

Our ordinary world is constantly under construction—our daily lives disrupted on a manic timer, making it convenient to distract ourselves from the problems we need to face. Take the time to reflect. You will always have problems in life, hopefully you graduate to better ones along the way.

Related: How to make peace with your inner voice

2. How are you pushing yourself outside your comfort zone?

Unfamiliar activities force you to step out and up. You don’t have to be an extreme adventure seeker to push yourself. But exciting stories aren’t typically made watching T.V. in your favorite stretchy pants.

For every yes, there is a no on the other side. A yes to a night-in, might mean no to dancing and drinks. Don’t get me wrong—a quiet evening spooning ice cream from the tub beats blaring techno. I’m just asking you to consider the possibilities you might be passing on because it doesn’t feel as cozy as your couch.

3. What factors are interrupting your plans and goals?

There are a million things preventing you from attacking what you want. Particularly, time. Or perhaps it’s even certain people that hinder you. Whether it’s a who or a what, it’s important to recognize and eliminate what might be testing your strength and energy to press on in your quest.

4. What do you need to accomplish to feel victorious?

You will never get what you want if you don’t know what you want. Victory only awaits if you can define it. Determine what a win looks like to you. There will always be surprises that derail, delay, and disrupt your plans. Share your desires with someone who can offer some guidance and instill courage along the way.

5. Who or what do you need to confront?

Sometimes we need to let things go from bad to worse. The biggest challenges result in the biggest transformations. Feeling uncomfortable is better than feeling resentful.

6. What aha moment or realization have you had recently?

Take the time to reflect. Dig deeper. If you keep coming back to the same problems, it’s likely you haven’t learned the lesson yet.

7. How are you changing as a result of your journey?

At the end of the day, the movie character emerges changed with something they have learned. They have experienced some sort of growth that will prepare them for the sequel—Clark Griswold goes broke in Vegas, Elle navigates the Capitol in red, white, and blue, and one can only hope for Moana’s next great pursuit.

The word question itself is derived from the root quest. Transformation requires perpetual awareness and willingness to answer difficult questions. Win or lose, the goal of the hero’s journey is to receive the lessons because “there is just no telling how far you’ll go.”