HERO RETURNS HOME

And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. - HARUKI MURAKAMI

It has been a brave journey and you have claimed your reward. All that is left at this point is to return to your ordinary world.

On return to your ordinary world, it is evident that you are not the person you were when you left. You’ve been strengthened, shaped, and moulded by your journey. The New World is now a terrain you know well and have positive experiences with. You are now a dual citizen, able to live in the old world and live within the new.

When I was looking at going overseas for the first time, I certainly felt like the ‘new world’ was unknown. I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect. But the more we ventured, the more comfortable I became and that form of traveling is now something that I have done again and feel very comfortable with.

Using Your Reward

After all of the self-reflection and self-growth, we realise there has to be something more. The journey home is when we start to think about how to pass on what we have learnt; how can we contribute beyond ourselves? We are returning with our treasure. What if we can share it so that it benefits more than just us? How can we use it to help improve the people living around us in the Ordinary World?

In the same way that we didn’t know what lay beyond our world until we went on our journey, many others have no idea what lies outside of it either and what can be possible for them if they just step outside of their comfort zones and cross the threshold into the new world.

From your journey, you have returned with tales of your experiences. This may be the call of adventure for others. Some may be scared if they know the sacrifices and challenges you faced and that may be enough to put them off. What if you can share with them, that those sacrifices and challenges were the making of you and could be the making of them. Let them know you didn’t have all the answers in the beginning, but the trick was starting the journey and then working out how to succeed at it and gain your reward.

This may be your opportunity to see someone else start their own hero’s journey. You may, in fact, change roles and become the Wise Mentor, as someone was to you before.

The truth that you can be certain of is that the treasures you’ve accumulated in your life, whether intangible like knowledge or tangible like money, will (if we allow it to) benefit someone else out there who needs it. This then begs the question, what circumstances or to what people can you offer the benefits of your rewards? What can you contribute, How can you contribute, and to whom?