12 steps: hero journey

Joseph Campbell analyzed myths throughout a multitude of cultures in human history. He found striking similarities among them. He pointed out that the "hero journey" of myth is symbolic of the process of personal growth.

The Twelve Steps provide a path for such a journey.

The original Twelve Steps were written by the people who started Alcoholics Anonymous. Only the first Step of A.A. says something about the struggle with alcohol. The other Steps provide a framework to, essentially, "get a life".

There's a logic to this: A.A.'s focus is on dealing with powerlessness and empowerment. One of their key insights is that the best way to abandon destructive habits is to have something better to look forward to. This is why they thought of their task as creating a path toward personal and spiritual growth.

This is why the Twelve Steps can be a useful tool for your own "hero journey", the process of becoming who you really are.

Serenity

Higher Power

Journey

Codependency

See 12 steps workbook: online from list of steps OR downloadable e-book

See also: other self-help resources.

The Proactive Twelve Steps describe a mindful path of personal growth that will speak to you whether you are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist... a secular humanist... or an atheist... See steps: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12