Welcome to Day 33 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Over the past couple of days, we have looked at Your Journey and how the Hero’s Journey structure can help you on your quest towards transformed health and wellbeing. In today’s blog, I am going to share a Hero’s Journey I have been on for more than five years now – my journey to becoming a gameshow legend.
Becoming a Game Show Legend
To help you understand the Hero’s Journey structure, I am going to tell this story using the structure Pyramid 9 and Unreal Ideal have developed based on the ideas of Joseph Campbell.
Act I – Preparing for Adventure
Normal Life – As the son of gameshow legend myself, I grew up with an interest in gameshows and a desire to one day follow in my father’s footsteps.
Receiving the Call – After applying to appear on BBC1’s Pointless, I successfully auditioned for the show and went on to claim a coveted Pointless trophy and a share of the jackpot with my heterosexual life partner, Jonny.
Accepting the Call – Having won Pointless, I began to look at other shows that I might appear on, and I was fortunate enough to be chosen to appear on Countdown. I then had the idea to appear on the four primary UK channels while wearing the same green shirt, and the mission began.
Act II – Transforming
Facing Trials – I appeared on Channel 4’s Countdown, losing to an 18-year-old wunderkind and missing out on a Countdown teapot. I also set my sights on appearing on the other channels, applying to appear on BBC2’s Mastermind and ITV’s The Chase.
Transforming – After successfully auditioning for The Chase, I succumbed to another defeat, one I still haven’t recovered from mentally. The one saving grace is that I wore my green gameshow shirt, keeping my dream of wearing it on all four channels alive. During this period, I unsuccessfully auditioned for Mastermind four times, and began to wonder if my mission was doomed to fail.
*As this is where I currently am on my Hero’s Journey, I will set my intentions from here on out.
Claiming the Reward – I persist in my desire to appear on Mastermind, and finally do enough to convince the producers that I am worthy of a place on the show. I appear on the show while wearing my green shirt and complete my mission of appearing on all four channels, whilst wearing my shirt. Two missions completed in the one bigger quest.
Act III – Returning with the Reward
Returning with the Reward – I return home with my mission complete, and I reflect on a job well done. A few months later, I watch the episode with my loved ones and officially become a self-proclaimed gameshow legend.
Re-Integrating – Though my mission is accomplished, I still have some unfinished business to tend to. I apply to appear on Countdown again, go on another Hero’s Journey with it, and finally get my hands on a Countdown teapot.
Re-Framing – My journey to becoming a gameshow legend is complete and I can hang up my green shirt for good. Like a retired gunslinger, I ride off into obscurity, drinking from my Countdown teapot while gazing at my Pointless trophy.
Call to Action!
Think about a change you would like to make in your life. It may be learning a new skill, getting a new job, buying a house, or anything else. Now think about it in relation to the Hero’s Journey structure and where you currently are in that quest. Whether you are at the start or near the end, understanding where you currently are can help you understand where you need to go and what decisions you need to make.
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
Comments