Every Hero Must Choose

Every hero must make a choice. This one choice changes everything. All future choices flow out of this singular event. Whenever you and I find ourselves at an important crossroads in life, we too must make this choice. It is simply this:

Do I move forward into the unknown, or retreat back into the (perceived) safety of what I know?

Luke Skywalker, the hero from Star Wars, faced this dilemma. Go with Ben Kenobi on a dangerous mission to save the rebel alliance from the Galactic Empire, or remain on Tatooine and live out his days in relative obscurity, eking out a living as a moisture farmer. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

The reluctant adventurer Bilbo Baggins had to choose between the indulgent comforts of his hobbit-hole, or leaving behind his routine life in the Shire to join Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield, and the other dwarves on their perilous quest to reclaim their homeland.

Katniss Everdeen had to choose between saving Prim from almost certain death, or taking her chances—and her sister’s place—fighting in the Hunger Games.

Llewleyn Moss, the taciturn protagonist in the movie, No Country for Old Men, decides, against his better judgement, to keep the briefcase full of money that he finds in the grisly aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. His decision sets in motion a stream of events that results in death and destruction. Caution: Not all decisions have fairytale endings.

Maybe you’re stuck in a less-than-ideal job that pays the bills, but drains your soul. Do you remain and collect your bi-weekly paycheck, or do you roll the dice and take a leap of faith into the uncertainty of entrepreneurship or self-employment? Can you find a way to juggle both, at least temporarily?

Perhaps you’re trying to decide between staying in the predictable, familiar confines of your hometown while your heart yearns to travel and explore new horizons.

Or it could be you are hesitant to begin that creative project, or you fear sharing your artwork or writing in public (like this here) for fear of ridicule or rejection.

Whatever the question, you must make a choice and go. Standing still only leads to stagnation. Personally, I recommend choosing the option that grows or expands you. The call to adventure is rarely easy, but if you are brave enough to move towards the unknown, life will reward you in unexpected ways.

If you could use some help navigating life’s important crossroads, visit my About page to learn how to work with me 1:1 as your guide and life coach.