We Can be Heroes

Heroes are front and center for me these days. I’m reading The Three Musketeers and Homer’s Odyssey as part of my Hardcore Literature Bookclub. The characters in these books epitomize heroism and got me thinking about what it means to be a hero.

Like many, I’ve looked up to heroes throughout my life. Starting in childhood, I lionized Robin Hood and King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. During my college years, Jack Kerouac and other literary greats assumed the role. In my early and middle professional career, the great trial lawyers were my heroes. Now it's the giants of history who I admire. They all share what is common to all heroes: confronting and overcoming challenges, both man-made and ones blown at them (like Odysseus) by the gods or fate.

It's fascinating to see how all these heroes, from different times of my life, converged to forge my identity and personality. As my heroes have evolved, so have my priorities and worldview. But the fingerprints of my earlier heroes remain tattooed on my psyche.

The hero’s journey in literature and film resonates because it’s at the core of being human. Sometimes that journey takes the form of a literal adventure, such as the Hobbits from the Shire traveling through Middle Earth. Just as often, the journey is internal, like the Buddha’s search for Nirvana. But mostly it's both—like Luke Skywalker's adventures in his quest for an identity. Story consultant Christopher Vogler beautifully explicates the allure of the hero:

The Hero archetype represents the ego’s search for identity and wholeness. In the process of becoming complete, integrated human beings, we’re all Heroes facing internal guardians, monsters and helpers. In the quest to explore our own minds we find teachers, guides, demons, god, mates, servants, scapegoats, masters, seducers, betrayers and allies as aspects of our personalities and characters in our dreams. All the villains, tricksters, lovers, friends and foes of the Hero can be found inside ourselves. The psychological task we all face is to integrate these separate parts into one complete, balanced entity. The ego, the Hero thinking she is separate from all these parts of herself, must incorporate them to become the self.

This thought roughly aligns with Abraham Lincoln integrating his black dogs of depression and melancholy to save both himself and our republic as it was breaking apart.

We’re all on our own hero’s journey, whether we realize it or not.

The Traits of a Hero

So what constitutes a hero? Vogler identifies several traits:

First, heroes grow. They don’t just overcome obstacles; they evolve along the way. Real heroes acquire wisdom and insight as part of their journey. They learn as they go. Luke Skywalker embracing the Force is an example of this.

Next, heroes are people of action; they are doers rather than navel-gazers or whiners. Heroes are decisive and move rather than being passive and sedentary, even when action assumes some level of risk. D'Artagnan and his Musketeer companions embody these qualities.

Finally, heroes are identified by their willingness to sacrifice on behalf of a principle, person, or belief. In the most extreme cases, that sacrifice includes giving their life. Think Joan of Arc or Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities.

So what's the point?

As David Bowie observed in his song "Heroes," we can all be the heroes of our lives. Heroism doesn't need to be something grand and glorious; rather, it's about overcoming the daily challenges that life throws at us and exhibiting grace in doing so.

Our world appears to be on the brink of disintegration. The media is filled with reports about AI, environmental issues, and economic decline. But it's not hopeless. History teaches that we’ve been here before, and that’s when the hero shows up. While Batman will not come to save Gotham, we can all be the heroes of our lives and times.

Getting up and going to work every day can be an act of heroism. So is keeping your composure in the face of a challenging profession (and world). Like other heroes, learn from your mistakes and grow a little bit every day. Fight injustice where you can. Speak out on behalf of the powerless. Be courageous and optimistic and take action to make the legal system and your life better. Control what you can and serve your profession, your clients, and those you love to the best of your ability.

You may not save the world, but you can be a hero, if just for one day.