The Mythos of The Hero
How you can save the world:
How you can save the world:
The world around us is devolving.
We're seeing the fundamentals of society laid across thousands of years being torn up by a technological zeitgeist.
What we need more than ever are heroes.
But where did this absence of heroism emerge?
We're seeing the fundamentals of society laid across thousands of years being torn up by a technological zeitgeist.
What we need more than ever are heroes.
But where did this absence of heroism emerge?
Fame used to be reserved for heroes.
Those who would undertake the weight of the world on their shoulders to fight for a value system they hold.
Nowadays, however, we gift fame to those who entertain.
Those who would undertake the weight of the world on their shoulders to fight for a value system they hold.
Nowadays, however, we gift fame to those who entertain.
When a true hero does emerge, the flame burning bright is extinguished by a focus shift to their flaws.
Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette write:
"Ours is not an age that wants heroes. Ours is an age of envy, in which laziness and self-involvement are the rule."
Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette write:
"Ours is not an age that wants heroes. Ours is an age of envy, in which laziness and self-involvement are the rule."
So, what does it truly mean to be a hero?
"Can I become one?", I hear you ask.
Let's look at how we can fight back and save the world:
"Can I become one?", I hear you ask.
Let's look at how we can fight back and save the world:
First of all, to be a hero is to be in service.
A thought is that man must serve someone.
However, to be a hero, you must instead choose to serve something; something greater than yourself.
This requires a value system.
A thought is that man must serve someone.
However, to be a hero, you must instead choose to serve something; something greater than yourself.
This requires a value system.
Common values that different civilisations have agreed upon are:
- Love
- Beauty
- Loyalty
- Creativity
- Education
- Authenticity
- Temperance
- Love
- Beauty
- Loyalty
- Creativity
- Education
- Authenticity
- Temperance
A hero serves the manifestation of these values.
They place them above all else and live in servitude to the upholding of them.
Many people associate this to self-sacrifice - this couldn't be further from the truth.
They place them above all else and live in servitude to the upholding of them.
Many people associate this to self-sacrifice - this couldn't be further from the truth.
Rather, it is a call of self-fulfilment.
The hero recognises that them upholding what they believe to be true relies on them becoming the best version of themself.
It is self-fulfilment that advances us forward - not sacrifice.
The hero recognises that them upholding what they believe to be true relies on them becoming the best version of themself.
It is self-fulfilment that advances us forward - not sacrifice.
In today's world, an unheroic mentality is promoted.
One where you're expected to dissociate yourself from what is meaningful to what is expedient.
Porn. Drugs. Alcohol. Petty argument. Cancel culture.
These are all symptoms of the antihero.
One where you're expected to dissociate yourself from what is meaningful to what is expedient.
Porn. Drugs. Alcohol. Petty argument. Cancel culture.
These are all symptoms of the antihero.
They are thrust upon this generation as it is easier to accept their call.
To ignore the call of duty and to flagrantly wash yourself in cheap pleasure.
It's easy to accept the Devil's hand as it is not easy to be a hero.
But this is where a major misconception comes in...
To ignore the call of duty and to flagrantly wash yourself in cheap pleasure.
It's easy to accept the Devil's hand as it is not easy to be a hero.
But this is where a major misconception comes in...
Many people believe they can't be heroes.
How could you stand in the shoes of a Martin Luther King or a Mahatma Gandhi?
The weight seems too heavy.
But, to be a hero, you don't need to do this.
How could you stand in the shoes of a Martin Luther King or a Mahatma Gandhi?
The weight seems too heavy.
But, to be a hero, you don't need to do this.
Some take the call of duty to the extreme, but this does not mean it is a binary equation.
Rather, there is a third option, which we must all consider:
That which is the demi-hero.
Rather, there is a third option, which we must all consider:
That which is the demi-hero.
Andrew Bernstein puts forward this idea of a demi-hero.
In the same way there are demigods (half-mortal, half-god) among the gods, there can be demi-heroes among heroes.
So, what does this mean?
In the same way there are demigods (half-mortal, half-god) among the gods, there can be demi-heroes among heroes.
So, what does this mean?
You may not have the ability to change the course of human history,
but you possess the ability to change the world around you.
So, how can you go about being a demi-hero?
There are two components:
but you possess the ability to change the world around you.
So, how can you go about being a demi-hero?
There are two components:
1. Values
Much like the greatest heroes, we must all place importance in something greater than ourselves.
A value system is a must.
You can achieve this simply by writing on the question:
"What would an ideal world in my immediate vision look like?"
Much like the greatest heroes, we must all place importance in something greater than ourselves.
A value system is a must.
You can achieve this simply by writing on the question:
"What would an ideal world in my immediate vision look like?"
When you write on this topic, you might find you describe a world in which your kids are well-educated and friendly.
You might describe yourself pursuing what's best for your family.
You might describe going the extra mile at work or starting a side hustle to save.
You might describe yourself pursuing what's best for your family.
You might describe going the extra mile at work or starting a side hustle to save.
Whatever it is, we can extract values from these.
Once you know these values, you can begin to make daily decisions based on these.
However, it's sometimes hard to know how a chivalrous or loyal person may act in a situation.
Which is where our second point comes in...
Once you know these values, you can begin to make daily decisions based on these.
However, it's sometimes hard to know how a chivalrous or loyal person may act in a situation.
Which is where our second point comes in...
2) Hero Worship
We manifest our question by placing ourselves in someone else's shoes.
Think about it:
There are people in your life who you look up to.
Your heroes.
The ones who you see making a visible imprint on the world around them.
We manifest our question by placing ourselves in someone else's shoes.
Think about it:
There are people in your life who you look up to.
Your heroes.
The ones who you see making a visible imprint on the world around them.
When you're confused about a situation and the course of action required, ask yourself:
What would X do?
Through hero worship, we accept we don't hold all the answers.
However, we can attempt our best to discover an answer based on a real manifestation of a hero we know.
What would X do?
Through hero worship, we accept we don't hold all the answers.
However, we can attempt our best to discover an answer based on a real manifestation of a hero we know.
The world needs you.
It needs your creativity and your bravery and your courage and your wisdom.
You cannot be a hero by giving into the call of today.
There has to be something greater.
It needs your creativity and your bravery and your courage and your wisdom.
You cannot be a hero by giving into the call of today.
There has to be something greater.
I fully believe all of us has the capability to be a demi-hero.
Some of us may go beyond and achieve a true hero status, but that can't be the goal.
We start by serving what we consider morally above all else.
Some of us may go beyond and achieve a true hero status, but that can't be the goal.
We start by serving what we consider morally above all else.
The fruits of your labour will be a beautiful world manifested through your action.
One where those in your immediate circle are thankful for your existance as you shine like a lighthouse through the inevitable perils of the modern world.
One where those in your immediate circle are thankful for your existance as you shine like a lighthouse through the inevitable perils of the modern world.
Write what is most important to you, then live in servitude to it.
I leave you with this from CS Lewis:
"When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind."
I leave you with this from CS Lewis:
"When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind."
Thanks for reading.
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Have a wonderful day, writers.
If you enjoyed this one, follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to help spread the word, follow the link to the first tweet and RT
Have a wonderful day, writers.
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