Post by Steven Barnes on Mar 8, 2006 12:16:33 GMT -5
The Hero’s Journey #3: Acceptance of the challenge
The point at which a child becomes an adult is referred to as the point of conation—the acceptance of responsibility.
We all want freedom without responsibility. We want the goodies without the price. We turn away from the ugly reality that when it comes right down to it, we are the bottom line at creating the lives we covet.
So our heroine must step up and decide that yes, she will risk love. Yes, she will do her duty. Yes, she will accept responsibility. There is a cost—there is always a cost. But without taking this critical step, nothing happens.
You can write a story that concerns itself with nothing but these first steps: the realization of a problem, dealing with fear, coming to a decision. That seems to be a frequent choice in more quiet, literary work. Our internal demons are just as exciting to battle—and often far more resistant—than our external ones.
But whether you are talking about your character, or yourself, look into the three major arenas: body, career, relationship—and see where you lack engagement, where you have complaints but no determination to heal the wounds. Fear and lack of clarity will stop you. Guilt and fatigue will stop you. But it is necessary to take the challenge to become a whole human being, content with your existance, or you will miss an entire critical chunk of your life.
Acceptance of the challenge is the point where the story really begins. Where your life really begins.
##
The Path to lifelong balance is now open.
This powerful workshop, which includes both unique
Goal-setting and a method to achieve all basic fitness
Needs in only one hour a week, will be held in Los Angeles
On June 25th, 2006. Learn more at www.Rmax.tv
The point at which a child becomes an adult is referred to as the point of conation—the acceptance of responsibility.
We all want freedom without responsibility. We want the goodies without the price. We turn away from the ugly reality that when it comes right down to it, we are the bottom line at creating the lives we covet.
So our heroine must step up and decide that yes, she will risk love. Yes, she will do her duty. Yes, she will accept responsibility. There is a cost—there is always a cost. But without taking this critical step, nothing happens.
You can write a story that concerns itself with nothing but these first steps: the realization of a problem, dealing with fear, coming to a decision. That seems to be a frequent choice in more quiet, literary work. Our internal demons are just as exciting to battle—and often far more resistant—than our external ones.
But whether you are talking about your character, or yourself, look into the three major arenas: body, career, relationship—and see where you lack engagement, where you have complaints but no determination to heal the wounds. Fear and lack of clarity will stop you. Guilt and fatigue will stop you. But it is necessary to take the challenge to become a whole human being, content with your existance, or you will miss an entire critical chunk of your life.
Acceptance of the challenge is the point where the story really begins. Where your life really begins.
##
The Path to lifelong balance is now open.
This powerful workshop, which includes both unique
Goal-setting and a method to achieve all basic fitness
Needs in only one hour a week, will be held in Los Angeles
On June 25th, 2006. Learn more at www.Rmax.tv