Welcome to day one of this ninety-one-day Growth & Grace journey. Each week we will focus on a specific topic, and each day we’ll take a look at a particular aspect of that topic.
So let's get started, shall we, and enter A Season of Exploration—or in our case, self-exploration.
During this first week, we'll be concentrating on the Call to Adventure that kicks off the proverbial Hero’s Journey. This is the disruption to the status quo that often sets us on the path to fulfill our "calling". Throughout the week we'll be looking at issues that would keep us from answering this call. For today, we’re going to take our time and walk around it to really get a good view of what it looks like.
Our Call to Adventure rarely arrives with a booming voice and a scroll (though wouldn't that be dramatic?). More often, it beckons, nudges, or even shoves us in surprisingly varied ways.
Let’s sink our teeth into some types of calls we might experience on our personal hero's journeys:
The Inner Urge or Longing — This is a subtle yet persistent pull from within. It might manifest as a feeling of dissatisfaction with our current state of affairs, a yearning for something more meaningful, a burgeoning curiosity about a particular subject, or a persistent "what if?" that keeps nagging. It's the quiet whisper of your soul urging you toward growth. Think of the artist who suddenly experiences an intense need to create, or the person who feels an unease in their comfortable but unfulfilling job.
The Unexpected Event or Catalyst — Sometimes, life throws us a curveball that disrupts our routine and forces us to consider a new path or approach. This could be a job loss that leads to pursuit of a lifelong passion, a chance encounter with someone inspiring, a significant book or piece of art that changes our perspective, a health scare, or even a seemingly random opportunity that sparks a flicker of interest.
The Overt Invitation or Opportunity — This is a more direct call, often presented by an external source. It could be a job offer in a new field, an invitation to join a challenging project, a friend suggesting a life-changing trip, or acceptance into a program or community that aligns with a latent desire.
The Dissatisfaction or Pain Point — Sometimes, the call isn't a gentle nudge, but a forceful push away from something that is no longer serving us. This could be the pain of a stagnant relationship, the frustration of unfulfilled potential, the discomfort of living out of alignment with our values, or a growing sense that "there has to be more than this."
The Intuitive Hit — This type of call is less logical and more visceral. It's a strong feeling, a gut instinct, or a sudden clarity that a particular path is the right one, even if it doesn't make immediate sense. It's a deep inner knowing that guides us towards an uncertain future.
The Call Through Others — Sometimes, the call comes by way of encouragement, suggestion, or even challenge from people around us. A mentor might see potential we don't, a loved one might urge us to pursue a dream, or a so-called "enemy" might inadvertently push us to prove them wrong.
The Call of Curiosity or Wonder — This is driven by a deep-seated desire to explore, learn, and experience new things. It's the allure of the unknown itself, the fascination with possibilities, and the inherent human yearning to discover.
Do any of these types of calls strike a cord? Ultimately, the Call to Adventure can be subtle or dramatic, internal or external. Recognizing these different forms can help us become more attuned to the whispers and nudges in our own lives, and make us more willing to answer.
Here’s how Joseph Campbell (who coined the phrase "call to adventure”) explains this experience:
“The hero’s journey always begins with the call. One way or another, a guide must come to say, 'Look, you’re in Sleepy Land. Wake. Come on a trip. There is a whole aspect of your consciousness, your being, that’s not been touched. So you’re at home here? Well, there’s not enough of you there.' And so it starts.”
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Today's quick action prompt:
and identify why you refused the call.
Do you still feel you made the right decision?