I am posting this to accompany the already rather lengthly “Finding Grace in Change” post of 9/29/20. I only include it by way of illustrating that the personal Hero’s Journey for each of us will be very different, and yet in many ways, very much the same.
My personal experience with the hero’s journey occurred in 2005 when my husband, Charles, and I received news that doctors would have to amputate his right leg due to an infection his body had not been able to overcome. This man who had been active all of his life as a family physician, husband, father and an ardent golfer was relegated to a wheelchair, unable to walk. A previously active person in my own work as a psychologist and life coach, I suddenly found myself immersed in the world of a full-time caregiver.
As in the hero’s journey, when our lives changed so dramatically, our entire initial focus was on the negativity of life in these new circumstances. The sympathies of well-intentioned friends quickly turned into self-pity. With negativity as the focus, helplessness, hopelessness and depression were never far behind. We had no vision of a life to come.
After many months of surgeries and intensive antibiotic therapy to eradicate the bacteria, we came to a horrifying realization. We were not going to be able to kill the bug that was causing the infection. In other words, we couldn’t change our circumstances. If we were going to have any joy in the time we had left together, it was going to be up to us. We began to think about what is really important in life. Breakthroughs of understanding and acceptance began to happen, and a new approach to life was born. It was something as simple as, “We will make each day we have the best day we can possibly make it” while treasuring friends, family and life itself.
I lost my husband to sepsis (infection spread throughout his body,) in 2009. But the most amazing part of these four years is the transition we both experienced. The lessons learned allowed us to experience peace, happiness and yes, even fun times during the most difficult of times.
Why Is Our Story Important Now?
Just as Charles and I found our lives forever altered by major life changes, almost all of us have found our happiness greatly in jeopardy in these times of adversity. Whether you get stuck in fear, anxiety, depression and/or dissatisfaction with your life, or emerge with serenity, peacefulness and even happiness will depend on what you tell yourself about your situation and what you do next. (Click here to read Finding Grace In Change: 8 Strategies for Navigating Your Personal Hero’s Journey in Today’s World.)
May you be safe, healthy and happy.
Donna