Adapted from a blog post by Laura Sandefer.
Nemo. Luke Skywalker. Mulan. Odysseus. Dorothy. The Little Engine that Could.
These stories strike a chord of yearning we share – adventure, identity and meaning in our lives. They also have a structured rhythm that’s been repeated in stories for thousands of years. Joseph Campbell’s work revealed this fundamental structure and called it the “monomyth” or the Hero’s Journey.
Because of its timeless power that crosses cultural barriers, we chose to build the Hero’s Journey into the design of the Acton Academy model.
In fact, second only to our underlying belief that each child has unique genius within, the Hero’s Journey is the #1 element that defines an Acton learner driven community.
This narrative equips our young heroes with the tools and skills they need to learn how to learn, learn how to do and learn how to be. And now research shows it:
This article from the John Templeton Foundation summarizes research by behavioral economists about how using the Hero’s Journey as a framework for life enhances that one’s sense of meaning and increases resilience.
How to use this at home? Tell lots of hero stories! Stories beat lectures every time. Also, use the identity of a hero as a reflection tool when things get hard. Remember a hero is someone who doesn’t quit or blame. “I love you. I know this is hard. I know you can do it. Now, get back in the game, my dear and beloved hero.”
