Welcome to Day 73 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Yesterday, we considered the second stage of the Hero’s Journey, Receiving the Call, where the Hero receives a call to adventure that they cannot ignore. In today’s blog, I move onto the third stage of the Hero’s Journey, Accepting the Call.
Accepting the Call
Accepting the Call is the last action within the Ordinary World. One of the best examples in film is shown in The Matrix.
“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” – Morpheus to Thomas Anderson
By Accepting the Call (i.e., taking the red pill), the Hero crosses the threshold into the Special World and their life will never be the same again.
In a Bond movie, this is where 007 leaves M’s office with a new task and visits Q and gets the gadgets he will need for his mission.
In Beauty and the Beast, Belle accepts the call when she agrees to take her papa’s place in the Beast’s castle, thus freeing him.
When learning a new skill in life, Accepting the Call is when you commit to start learning, such as signing up for lessons or buying the necessary equipment.
Everything that has happened up until this point has been preparation for what comes next, though the Hero can never be fully ready to face the dangers and overcome the obstacles within the Special World.
Crossing the Threshold
Accepting the Call and crossing the threshold takes courage. You must face your fears and the unknown dangers of the Special World.
Despite the obstacles, you will recognise the growing feeling that this is something you must do to fulfil your purpose in life.
By Accepting the Call, you pass the point of no return. This is where you confront a boundary or threshold in your existing abilities or way of looking at the world.
You must confront the guardians of the threshold, knowing that a realm of power lies beyond that point that you have never experienced.
The guardians are powerful deterrents, and they will not be overcome by your current behaviour. They represent a different energy or power that you must accept if you are to proceed, and these can come in the growth of skills, knowledge and more.
In myth, these are represented by demons and monsters, symbolising your own fear of the unknown.
You must confront these fears if you are to move out of your comfort zone and into quests that force you to grow.
Although the Hero’s Journey is an individual transformation, you are never alone.
Just as the Hero’s in myth must often find a mentor, so too must you find support and guidance if you are to move towards your new self.
You won’t know what type of mentor you need before you cross the threshold – you must simply be open and curious.
Call to Action!
Reflect on times when you have accepted calls to adventure in the past. Whether learning a skill, starting a new job, or beginning a relationship, you have had the courage to cross the threshold and step into the unknown many times. For good or ill, it is only by accepting the call that you move from preparing for an adventure to being transformed by one.
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.
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