The Reluctant Hero
Are You a Reluctant Hero?
Not everyone welcomes a new challenge. You may recognize something that needs to be done and immediately think of all the reasons you would rather not be the person to do it. You may feel unprepared, too old, too tired, or simply too comfortable with the life you already have. Reluctance does not necessarily mean that the path is wrong. Sometimes it means that you understand quite clearly what accepting it might require of you.
A reluctant hero does not begin with certainty or fearlessness. The important moment comes when something matters enough to act despite the reluctance. You may never feel completely ready. You may question yourself repeatedly along the way. Courage is not demonstrated by wanting the challenge; sometimes it is demonstrated by looking at something difficult, wishing someone else would handle it—and finally deciding, “All right. I’ll do it.”
Want to explore this idea further? Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces examines the recurring pattern of the reluctant hero, the call to adventure, and the journey that follows.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is available on Amazon and through many booksellers and libraries.
