“The problem in middle life, when the body has reached its climax of power and begins to decline, is to identify yourself, not with the body, which is falling away, but with the consciousness of which it is a vehicle. This is something I learned from myths. What am I? Am I the bulb that carries the light? Or am I the light of which the bulb is a vehicle? One of the psychological problems in growing old is the fear of death. People resist the door of death. But this body is a vehicle of consciousness, and if you can identify with the consciousness, you can watch this body go like an old car. There goes the fender, there goes the tire, one thing after another— but it’s predictable. And then, gradually, the whole thing drops off, and consciousness rejoins consciousness.”
– Joseph Campbell, “The Power of Myth”
At MEA, we talk a lot about the power of knowing your story.
Both in terms of the stories you’re ready to release, the new chapter you’re ready to step into, and the overarching narrative you’ve been living since before you drew your first breath.
But looking at the vast complexity of your life and identifying the moments and patterns that comprise the theme of your existence can be challenging.
That’s why it’s so helpful to consider your life through the lens of a timeless narrative pattern like Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.
For thousands of years, this framework has helped humans make sense of change and transformation. It shows us that every great story – and every great life – moves through a cycle: leaving the familiar, navigating the unknown, and returning transformed.
When you apply this to your own life, the seemingly random twists and turns begin to reveal a deeper logic.
You can see where you are on the path. You can recognize the allies and lessons you’ve gathered along the way. And you can glimpse the new chapter that’s waiting to emerge.
Here’s a simple way to start exploring your own life from the perspective of the Hero’s Journey:
1. Remember a Pivotal Time in Your Life that Fits the 3-Part Structure
A time when you experienced:
- A departure from your normal life
- An initiation into an unknown world full of adventure and challenge
- A return to the familiar, where you discover that your “normal life” has changed because you have changed.
It could be when you left home and went to college, or traveled overseas, or got married, for example.
2. Recognize the ordeals, allies, and gifts
Think about the challenges you faced on your quest and the lessons you learned.
Think about the shadow parts of yourself that arose when you were outside your comfort zone – and the allies and gifts that helped you vanquish the obstacles in your path, defeat the “villain”, and gaining the treasure you sought.
3. Look for the patterns
What strengths helped you move forward? Who were the allies you could count on? What wisdom did you bring back with you?
Even in this brief exercise, you may start to see your life less as a string of unrelated events, and more as a coherent, evolving story. And once you see your story this way, it becomes easier to understand where you are now – and what your next chapter is calling you toward.
Midlife is often when we finally have the perspective to see our lives as a whole – not just as a series of moments, but as a narrative arc that is still unfolding.
It’s the point in the story where the hero has been tested, changed, and is now being called to live with greater wisdom and purpose.
The beauty of working with the Hero’s Journey is that it reminds us: every challenge has meaning, every ally has a purpose, and every ending is also a beginning. Once you start seeing your life through this lens, the path forward becomes less about guessing and more about listening to the story your life is already telling.
If you’d like to join me for a five-day deep dive into your own life’s unfolding story, I’m leading a workshop called Discovering The Hero’s Journey in Midlife September 1–6 in Santa Fe. Together, we’ll explore your path with fresh eyes – clarifying where you’ve been, the wisdom you’ve gathered, and where you feel called to go next.
This is a last-minute addition to our calendar and a rare chance to be part of a small, in-person workshop with me.