Mythologist Joseph Campbell coined the phrase "follow your bliss", which signified putting oneself on a path that has been there all along, wherein “wherever you are—if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time”.

Later in life, Campbell professed that “I should have said follow your blisters”. Lately, I’ve been contemplating this idea by looking at how this has played out in my own life as well as in modern-day stories. If we look at contemporary mythical figures such as Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) or Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings), both lose a part of their body before defeating evil for good. For that matter Darth Vader could symbolize one big blister, and he too eventually finds his own blissful salvation.

In my own life, growing up with dyslexia, I thought of myself as not being very smart, especially in comparison to my younger, very precocious little brother. It took me well into my adulthood, with the support of family, therapy and some great friends that this limiting belief slowly began to transform. Today, though I still struggle with spelling (thank goodness for spellcheck), my personal hardships are such a vital part of who I am today.

If you look back at your own life and think of what stories speak to this notion of overcoming some kind of hardship?

Perhaps you’re struggling right now, and it’s definitely worth considering how you see yourself getting through this difficult time, and the way you could possibly transform from this experience.

Feel free to share your stories and ideas to my Facebook page