Lost and Finding Joy

Do you sometimes feel lost with no ambition? Some days we look at the condition of the world, or challenging circumstances surrounding us, and we feel small and defeated. In the book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell explains that our lives are similar to many popular old stories. In order to become a hero, there is a departure; an initiation; and a return.

• The departure is leaving some sort of life that we’ve known. Sometimes we go willingly. Sometimes we are pushed or forced into this new beginning.
• The initiation is when we go through trials, finding ourselves in difficult situations. In Campbell’s book, it’s compared to forging the river, or slaying the dragon. Sometimes the trial (or the initiation) seems bigger than us. During this phase, a part of us can be revealed that we didn’t know existed. We can discover we are stronger than we thought, by connecting with the spiritual side of ourselves and with God.
• The return is getting to the other side of the difficult situation as a new, better, stronger, wiser person — or a “hero”.

If you can think back on a challenging time you’ve conquered previously; there is an opportunity to take another look at it to discover what gifts came from that experience. You may find that you’ve become better, stronger, and wiser by navigating through those more difficult days. You probably wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy, but might not trade it for anything because of who you became in the process.

On the more difficult days, gently remind yourself that you are so much more than your circumstances. Know that there is nothing outside of you that is bigger than you. You are not alone. With God you can do hard things — because with Him “all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

Many blessings to you and yours.