Journey

 It starts in the ordinary world. Here, everything is "normal". Or at least, normal to you. You might feel that something is off, or as if you were meant for more, but you don't really know what. You might even brush this hunch aside, believing that life is "good enough".

You continue to plug away in the ordinary world, resigned to your life as you know it. But then there is a calling - something that jolts you out of your sleepwalk-like trance. This is your call to adventure.

Once you heed the call to adventure, that's when life starts to get interesting. There will be multiple tests to determine the strength of your resolve. You'll meet allies and mentors that will help you on your journey. But there will also be enemies who want to prevent you from moving forward. Sometimes these enemies are internal. They're the small voices inside you telling you to "go back" or "you're not ready yet." Other times, they're eternal, and these people will do anything to prevent change or disruption. Often they're not enemies in the traditional sense - they just want to see you safe. But safety isn't the goal.

Sometimes there is an ordeal or an epic fight with the dragon on this hero's journey. But more often, there is a series of ordeals and battles that you'll need to overcome with tools that only you possess, like wisdom, courage, strength, and discernment.

You might have been brought up to believe that your hard work results in treasures like a beautiful house, perfect partner, or the top position at a prestigious firm. It might, but those treasures are transient. The real treasure on this journey is your self-confidence and self-actualization.

You make your way back from your journey resurrected. You are more confident, more at ease with yourself, and you have a new understanding of how the world works and how you can contribute to it. You are closer to self-actualization. It is not the end of the journey, and there will be more, but it is the beginning of seeing the world from a new height.

Now, this is the part that many of us forget - you're supposed to return with a boon. The journey doesn't end with a pot of gold that you keep to yourself. You are supposed to come back to the ordinary world with wisdom to share that helps to make the lives of those around you better. Let's not forget the most important step!