Be heroic, never let negativity or fear own you

 

I remember being part of a study group a long time ago and the subject of heroes came up. We were asked if we had heroes that we had looked up to in our lives. People gave what I thought at the time were stereotypical answers of well known historical figures that stood up for human rights, or other great causes in the face of possible persecution or even death.

 

I wondered what was wrong with me as I had no connection to any of these historical figures, even though I was well aware of them and their background. I was more moved by the fictional heroes in books and movies that were based on the archetype of the hero’s journey.

 

This theme is expressed in many areas of pop culture and is what classic movies like the original Star Wars movie of 1977 (Episode IV – A New Hope) and Lord of the Rings is based on. Joseph Campbell, an American writer who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion talks at length about archetypes and myths and is well worth looking into. Looking up internet dictionary definitions revealed the following meanings for the word ‘heroic’:

 

• Very brave, relating to courageous people or the mythological or legendary figures of antiquity. 
• Exhibiting or marked by courage and daring.
• Supremely noble or self-sacrificing.
• Showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort.

• Behaviour that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope.

• Very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary.
• Having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures.

 

Yeah, tall order! When I came up with this practice point, like others revolving around working with our ego driven negativity and fearfulness, it struck me how hard it is to resist these emotions. They tell us a convincing story that we’re so immersed in, it can impel us to act in quite ordinary ways, sometimes terribly.

 

In that moment, the huge challenge and profundity of self discipline and control really struck me, and that to eschew our lower self for a greater cause is truly heroic, and a characteristic of all heroes that come into their own. This quality, the power of self-mastery is hard won, a journey every hero must traverse to be able to serve others effectively as part of the hero’s journey is to return from the adventure to ‘bestow boons on his/her fellow man’.

 

This is one of the most defining characteristics of the hero, they serve the greater good in all its aspects, even at the risk of their own lives. Everything they do adds to the goodness of life instead of taking away from it, which is unfortunately how many people can live their lives, even if relatively harmlessly.

 

The mindset of taking more than giving is simply a lesser way to exist, living without an awareness of the bigger dimension to life and existence. The hero's expression of care and kindness, the embodiment of someone’s inner goodness is a powerful one, and in that, they also resist their own egoic demands, their own selfish agenda.

 

A hero acts, does what is necessary. They don’t get weighed down by doubts or indecision, blaming others when things don’t go right, complaining that things aren’t working out. They also don’t let fear stop them from following through. This is not to say the hero doesn’t feel fear, but they are compelled by their integrity to act, no matter what.

 

This means they aren’t swayed by all those fearful, negative and doubting voices that want them to stay small. Nor are they influenced by the comments of other people that want to undermine or take advantage of them. They are certain in their self awareness, grounded confidence and unflappable fortitude.

 

Along with the reflections about the heroic nature of resisting habitual negativity and fear, was this sense of how we lose awareness and perspective of them and are lost to the reality that they present to us. We get owned by them! It’s a rather unpleasant way to see it and therefore a very motivating one. And it’s true, once we are in the embrace of our fear, it has us! We are bidden to listen to its completely convincing narrative.

 

The same goes for negativity, we perceive the situation through the filter of its story. I’ve had the experience many times of coming out of a particularly difficult mental state and being shocked at what I was feeling and thinking while in that state.

 

And really, this idea of being owned can be applied to many things. Our beliefs, our feelings, ideas, biases and so on. They all control us in some way, have their way with us. The awareness focus element is about coming into relation with the truth, trying to be as aware as possible of everything we do, think, feel, emote, what makes us up. It’s about clarity, knowing, seeing and ultimately wisdom.

 

With this constant observation and deepening self understanding, we act from a fully conscious and wiser mind, and less from being owned by factors that are rooted in delusion and misdirection.

 

Being heroic or warrior-like means we heed the call of our greater self interest, we eschew the more superficial and selfish demands of our ego that are always looking for short term solutions or relief that don’t serve our future self. We root out even the slightest smallness of mind and faint-hearted thinking, we become attuned to our heroic self and choose the higher path.