Welcome to Day 75 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Yesterday, we considered the fourth stage of the Hero’s Journey, Facing Trials, where the Hero is confronted by a series of obstacles as they come to terms with the Special World. In today’s blog, I move onto the fifth stage of the Hero’s Journey, The Ordeal.
Transforming
If the Hero’s Journey is a story of transformation, The Ordeal is the point where the Hero tips over from what they were… to what they will become.
When the Hero has gone beyond the last of their fears, their knowledge transforms them into a new state of being.
In your Hero’s Journey, you may transform your inner demon into your future mentor and guide.
Perhaps you will develop the new skills that seemed beyond you before, discover your resilience, or learn to love that which before seemed hateful. This might offer you a transformed view of your world.
If you fail in your external fight, get involved in the wrong battle, or face the fight with the wrong tools, you end up in the belly of the whale or the abyss.
The Ordeal
The night is darkest before the dawn, and so it may be with you on your Hero’s Journey. The Ordeal may be your darkest point, but it is also needed for transformation.
Where external skills or abilities are not enough, you must turn within to be reborn. When you feel most alone and unable to see the way forward, this may be the start of the transformation.
Only by going beyond the last of their fears can the Hero transform into a new state of being.
In a Bond movie, this is where 007 infiltrates the villain’s lair but is caught – “Do you expect me to talk?” “No, Mr Bond! I expect you to die!”
In Beauty and the Beast, Belle flees into the woods after being found by the Beast in the west wing. She is surrounded by wolves, ready to eat her, but the Beast arrives to fight them off, revealing his true character.
When learning a new skill in life, The Ordeal is when you think you will not be able to do it, when the difficulties seem too much, and you wonder if you will ever reach your goal.
When you feel most alone and unable to see the way forward, you may be on the verge of transforming into a new and better state of being.
Only by persisting through adversity and being resilient when confronted by obstacles can you hope to transform into what you are meant to be and claim the reward.
Call to Action!
Reflect on Hero’s Journeys from your past. Think back to the moments where you thought you could not go on. By looking back at your ordeals from the past, you are better able to pass through the ordeals of your future Hero’s Journey. Though The Ordeal is a period of darkness and hardship, it is necessary if you are to make it to the light on the other side.
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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