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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.
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