Your Heroic Journey: Your Next Act. Become Your Own Hero

To act as your own hero is to be intentional; to create the life that is the most accurate expression of who, what, and where you want to be. While this might sound like a tall order, your next act is just one small step away. What is that very next step for you?

As I wrote in my previous post, writing your life story allows you to reflect, envision, plan, and take that next step in your heroic journey. When you take an accurate and honest assessment of yourself, and connect to what and where you want to go, you act like a hero—for yourself, and others. This allows you to:  

1. Envision who you want to be; your best self.
2. Reflect on your strengths, and how you perceive yourself: intellectually, cognitively, emotionally, physically, socially, sexually, and spiritually.
3. Transform your life.

Working with a trusted mentor or coach is very helpful, if not critical, in this process. In addition, The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights (Wiley, 2020), by co-authors Doug Conant and Amy Federman, is a great tool to capture your thoughts, help you develop a plan, and take action. I wrote about the first three steps in my previous post. When you’ve completed these, move on to the next three steps:

4. Plan. Design a life: a career, a way of being, that aligns with your true self. Identify the resources and goals you need to move forward.
5. Practise. This is where you can develop new habits. Keep them simple. Recognize each time you use your strengths and express your values. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, James Clear 
6. Progress. Remember that heroes are not perfect. However, they do the work to improve and reinforce positive habits. Your heroic journey is a process that takes perseverance.

When this topic comes up in workshops and coaching sessions as part of my THRIVE programs, we talk about the importance of:

• Paying attention to who you are right now and recognizing when you are your truest, best self.
• Taking action. If needed, change your mindset, beliefs, behaviour, and habits that require undoing and redoing.
• Sharing your story. Your heroic journey is meant to be shared, with authenticity, gratitude, and humility.

“You can either walk inside your story and own it, or you can stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” - Brene Brown.  Author of Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

What do you think? What is your next act as a hero. I’d love to hear from you.

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