The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. The Hero’s Journey Reexamined Sixteen years ago, I hit a crisis in my life. I experienced a loss that sent me into a deep depression. Never before in my entire life had I felt so bad. In many ways it was a good thing because I realized it was not something exterior to my life which had merely happened to me; it was something I did to cause it. The problem: I didn’t know what. I knew there was something wrong with me psychologically. The only thing I knew for sure was I had a pattern in my life - that I was the common denominator - where I was attracting the problem to me. And, I was determined to find out what it was because I never wanted to feel that bad again. With that in mind, I started doing inner work (which is a process of self-inquiry to uncover limiting beliefs and fears). I recognized that I needed to learn more about myself, so I set out on an intentional journey of self-discovery. I believe a journey of self-discovery is a type of Hero’s Journey. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the concept of the Hero's Journey, which is a frequently used plot device in novels and movies (think of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars movie). In brief, an individual (the hero) reluctantly goes on an unexpected journey that promises adventure and peril. He is faced with many trials which test his skills, strength, and most of all his character. The story climaxes with him struggling to overcome a crisis, and when he prevails, he discovers his authentic self and true purpose in life. He then returns home changed for the better. I believe all of us are called to go on a Hero's Journey of self-discovery to identify our authentic self and true purpose in life, but we hesitate to do so until the pressure becomes so great we can no longer refuse or delay. It’s like the old saying that a person has to hit bottom before he or she can rise up. Hitting a crisis - typically some sort of loss - is what propels us (like the hero has to on his or her journey) to do the inner work of self-discovery. This means peeling away our personas and limiting beliefs to reveal our authentic selves. Living authentically - being true to yourself - means all your actions are guided by truth. It means exposing and overcoming your limiting beliefs such as: “I’m not good enough;” “I’ll fail if it’s not perfect;” “I’m not smart enough;” or “I don’t deserve wealth, love, etc.” It means shedding personas you’ve created to protect yourself from fears such as rejection, abandonment, or criticism. You no longer have to pretend to be something other than yourself to blend in with a particular group or clique. Best of all, being true to yourself empowers you to find your purpose in life. Having a purpose in life means you are pursuing a long-term goal you're passionate about, which requires you to use your natural talents, brings you great joy, and maybe even leaves a positive mark on the world. Having a purpose is important because research has shown people with a purpose are healthier, wealthier, and live longer. One of the most important aspects about a hero’s journey is the acquisition of courage. Hitting bottom means you have to muster the courage to face your fears and do something about them. Finding courage is extraordinarily liberating. Moving forward with courage is the breakthrough moment when we stop fearing change and embrace it. Psychiatrist David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., who created an index of emotions on a rising scale of states of consciousness (in his book Power vs. Force), stated that courage is the midpoint between the negative and positive emotions. Achieving courage in any part of your life (job, relationships, hobbies, etc.) empowers you to find it in other areas as well. My journey entailed reading many books and articles, journaling, meditating, reciting affirmations, and even some therapy. Once I uncovered my problem, I was able to work on it, but it wasn’t the end of my journey. Having opened the door to self-discovery, I couldn’t help but continue down the path of seeking more answers because I had only just scratched the surface. I had abandonment fears which didn’t make any sense to me. Then I discovered I wasn’t re-lated to my father (as I described in my article “My Parents Were Married, but I was a Bastard by Law I was conceived by donor insemination when it was illegal”), which introduced a new crisis to overcome, but ended up explaining a lot about my abandonment fears. As we go through life, we can embark on many different hero’s journeys - such as finding a life partner; establishing a career; or becoming an entrepreneur with a creative new idea. How can you find your hero’s journey? Where do you begin? Start with what scares you the most, then meditate on it and journal about it. Robert Contact him via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com j Sand j Manholes j Bentonite j Filter Sock j Sampling Bailers j Clear PVC Pipe j Locking Caps Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe Ranging from 1/2” to 24” in Diameter 302-684-3197 FAX 302-684-0643 142 Broadkill Rd j Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com e-mail:atlantic@ce.net 30 APRIL 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=