As you might have noticed, we talk a lot about tapping into the heroic best within ourselves. 🤓
That kinda begs the question: Is all this Optimizing good for us?
Which leads to some important distinctions and to some Joseph Campbell wisdom I’ve been meaning to share for awhile.
First, a couple of distinctions.
Now… If our “Optimizing” is all about obsessing about how to design our lives perfectly so we can snap an endless stream of six-pack selfies for Instagram, we’re kinda missing the point. (Hah.) (We’re missing the ultimate target. Our aim “Needs work!”)
The Optimized Modern Hērō has strength for two. We do this work so we can give ourselves most fully to the world. (And, good news: As we eliminate the kryptonites that are getting in the way of our best shining through (including any unhealthy levels of perfectionism/self-criticism), we tend to feel really good.)
Which brings us to Joseph Campbell.
In Pathways to Bliss, he tells us: “What is it we are questing for? It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us. Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your gift to the world, which is yourself. There’s nothing you can do that’s more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way, you will find, live, and become a realization of your own personal myth.”
That’s worth a reread:
“What is it we are questing for? It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us. Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your gift to the world, which is yourself. There’s nothing you can do that’s more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way, you will find, live, and become a realization of your own personal myth.”
In the same book, Campbell also tells us: “This gets back to Krishna’s dictum: The best way to help mankind is through the perfection of yourself.”
That’s Today’s +1.
Let’s become transparent to the transcendent.
Let’s perfect ourselves.
Let’s Optimize.
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