The Anatomy of a Calling

1. Embrace Your Inherent Hero's Journey

We are all, every single one of us, on what mythologist Joseph Campbell calls “a hero’s journey,” carrying within us a Nelson Mandela or Joan of Arc or Luke Skywalker or Mother Teresa or Helen Keller.

Universal calling. Every individual is a hero on a unique journey, destined to fulfill a divine assignment chosen by their soul. This journey begins in an "Ordinary World" where one is unaware of their inner hero, until a "call to adventure" emerges, often initially refused due to fear. This refusal is a natural part of the process, but the call persists, leading to reluctant acceptance and the appearance of magical mentors.

Campbell's framework. Joseph Campbell's hero's journey outlines a universal arc:

• Call to Adventure: An invitation to step into purpose.
• Refusal of the Call: Initial resistance due to fear or comfort.
• Meeting the Mentor: Guidance and wisdom from a supportive figure.
• Crossing the Threshold: Leaving the known for the unknown, initiating metamorphosis.
  This framework helps individuals map their own life's narrative, understanding that challenges are integral to growth and purpose.

Beyond the ordinary. The hero's journey is not just for mythical figures; it's for everyone who feels a pressing sense of purpose and a desire for a more meaningful life. It's about stepping into one's true nature and fulfilling a unique mission, even if it feels frightening or impossible at first. The journey promises a richer, more authentic existence beyond the "ordinary, dysfunctional world."

2. Vulnerability Unlocks True Connection

Your vulnerability is your greatest strength.

Embrace emotions. Society often teaches us to "buck up" and suppress emotions, especially in demanding professions like medicine. However, true strength lies in allowing oneself to feel joy, sorrow, anger, and all other emotions that arise. This openness fosters empathy, compassion, and tenderness, which are essential for genuine healing and connection.

Empathy as medicine. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, empathy naturally emerges, enabling us to connect deeply with others. This connection is vital for navigating life's challenges and for any mission that involves healing. Suppressing emotions, as Lissa experienced in her medical training, leads to burnout and a loss of the ability to truly heal.

Kindness is crucial. Everyone is fighting a hard battle, and extending kindness and understanding is paramount. Vulnerability allows us to see beyond superficial interactions and recognize the shared humanity and struggles of others. This practice strengthens our collective courage and prepares us to step into our heroic roles.

3. Trust Your Inner Pilot Light's Wisdom

Let Your Inner Pilot Light Guide Your Decisions.

Inner guidance. The "Inner Pilot Light" is the authentic, radiant, and unwavering spark at your core—your essential self, soul, or intuition. It whispers truths that the fearful ego often tries to drown out. This inner voice is a source of unconditional love and wisdom, always guiding you towards your highest good, even if its messages seem "crazy" to the rational mind.

Ego vs. soul. Your mind hosts many voices: the loud, fearful "Small Self" (ego) and the gentle, wise "Inner Pilot Light." The Small Self, driven by past traumas and limiting beliefs, seeks comfort and control, often leading to anxiety and self-sabotage. The Inner Pilot Light, however, is expansive, fearless, and aligned with divine love, offering guidance that feels inherently right, even when it challenges your perceived security.

Cultivating trust. Developing a relationship with your Inner Pilot Light involves witnessing the ego's chatter without judgment and allowing the inner wisdom to take the lead. This process requires courage, as it often means making choices that disrupt the status quo or challenge deeply ingrained beliefs. Trusting this inner compass is the ultimate path to safety and fulfillment.

4. Navigate the Disorienting Space Between Stories

Allow Yourself to Rest in the Space between Stories.

Catalyst for change. A "Perfect Storm"—a significant life disruption like loss, illness, or career change—often thrusts individuals into a "space between stories." This liminal state is characterized by disorientation, fear, and confusion, as old certainties dissolve and new paths have yet to emerge. It's a necessary phase of disintegration, akin to a caterpillar becoming "bug soup" before transforming into a butterfly.

Embrace uncertainty. In this space, the temptation is to cling to old patterns or rush into new, ill-fitting certainties. However, the most crucial task is to allow oneself to grieve, receive support, and simply "be" in the uncertainty. This period is not empty; it's ripe with possibility and protected by a "grace that protects us," offering small miracles as reassurance.

Radical self-care. During this transformative phase, prioritizing radical acts of self-care is essential. Activities that calm the nervous system and comfort the soul—meditation, nature walks, creative expression, intimate connections—become vital medicine. This intentional pause allows the soul to prepare for the emergence of the next story, fostering trust in the unfolding process.

5. Leap When the Pain of Staying Exceeds Fear

When the Pain of Staying Put Exceeds the Fear of the Unknown, Leap.

Inevitable choice. Many heroes spend years at the edge of a cliff, debating whether to take a leap of faith. The decision to answer the call to adventure becomes inevitable when the discomfort and pain of remaining in the current situation outweigh the fear of the unknown. This threshold marks a point of no return, where staying put becomes more agonizing than venturing forward.

Divine timing. The Universe often provides a "grace period" where the consequences of refusing the call are minimal. However, once this period ends, signs become more urgent, and life circumstances may "reorganize" to push the hero forward. This isn't a loss of free will, but the soul orchestrating events to facilitate the journey, making surrender the only viable option.

Beyond comfort. Taking the leap means stepping into uncertainty without guarantees. It requires blind faith that you will be guided, even when evidence is scarce. This phase tests commitment and challenges the ego's addiction to comfort and security. Trusting the inner voice, even when it sounds "crazy," is paramount for moving forward.

6. Discern and Trust Divine Guidance

Stay Open to Mystery.

Interpreting signs. Once the leap is taken, the hero enters the "Road of Trials," where guidance appears in various forms:

• Subtle whispers: Thoughts, ideas, or feelings that resonate as truth.
• Synchronicity: Meaningful coincidences that reinforce direction.
• Cosmic "No": Obstacles, setbacks, or closed doors that redirect the path.
  These signs, whether painful or magical, are wake-up calls intended to keep the hero aligned with their purpose.

Beyond rationalism. The journey often involves encountering phenomena that defy scientific explanation, challenging a purely rational worldview. Being open to mystery, rather than dismissing it as "woo-woo," expands one's perception of what's possible. This humility allows for a deeper connection to a conscious, intelligent Universe, where miracles can become the "new normal."

Cultivating awareness. To interpret guidance effectively, one must cultivate stillness and inner quiet through practices like meditation. This helps discern the subtle whispers of the Inner Pilot Light from the ego's chatter. Trusting this guidance, even when it seems illogical, is crucial for navigating the trials and avoiding self-sabotage.

7. Release Your Victim Story for Growth

Release Your Victim Story When You’re Ready.

Beyond blame. While it's natural to feel like a victim when facing trauma or injustice, clinging to this narrative impedes spiritual growth and the ability to fulfill one's mission. The "Rescuer/Victim/Persecutor" triad highlights how playing the victim can lead to cycles of resentment and disempowerment. True healing involves accepting responsibility for one's reality, even if the initial trauma was not self-inflicted.

Suffering is optional. Pain is an inevitable part of life, but suffering is a choice. By moving beyond the victim story, heroes can transmute their pain into fuel for soul growth. This doesn't mean denying the trauma, but rather extracting lessons that foster radical love and strip away egoic attachments.

Forgiveness and compassion. Releasing the victim story involves forgiving those who caused harm, understanding that they too may be products of their own unhealed traumas. It also requires self-compassion for one's own past unconscious actions. This shift in perspective opens the heart, accelerates the hero's journey, and prepares one for greater service.

8. Serve from a Place of Overflowing Abundance

Heal the World from a Place of Overflowing Abundance.

Pure vs. ego-driven service. Service driven by the ego (e.g., seeking approval, avoiding disappointment, feeling unworthy) leads to depletion and resentment, often creating a "Cosmic Tit" dynamic. Pure service, however, stems from genuine love and gratitude, leaving one energized and fulfilled, even amidst challenges. It's about giving from an overflowing cup, not an empty one.

Setting boundaries. To practice pure service, establishing healthy boundaries is crucial. This means saying "no" to opportunities that would deplete you, even if it risks disappointing others. Boundaries are not selfish; they protect one's life force, allowing for sustainable and impactful contributions. This requires discerning motives:

• Small Self service: Motivated by fear, pity, or a need to impress.
• Pure service: Motivated by love, joy, and gratitude.

Leading by example. Filling oneself first empowers others to do the same. By prioritizing self-care and operating from a place of abundance, heroes model a healthier way of being and serving. This approach ensures that generosity is genuine and contributes to collective well-being without fostering codependency or resentment.

9. Surrender to the Ordeal in the Innermost Cave

Say Yes to the Ordeal in the Innermost Cave.

Climax of the journey. The "Innermost Cave" represents the most dangerous and transformative phase of the hero's journey, where one confronts the deepest fears and battles the forces of darkness alone. It's a "narrow place," a point of intense pressure and discomfort, where retreat to the Ordinary World is tempting but ultimately leads to a "slow soul death."

The only way out is through. In this critical moment, surrender is the only path forward. The ego will thrash, but the soul, now in charge, bravely steps into the unknown. This "Ordeal" is an initiation, a test of faith and humility, designed to strip away all that is not one's true essence. It's where the "baby in the bathwater" is found—the core truth of who you are and what truly matters.

Rebirth and reward. Surviving the Ordeal leads to a profound rebirth, a new life on the other side. The rewards are immense:

• A deeper understanding of self and purpose.
• Unshakable faith and inner peace.
• The "holy grail"—a transformative insight or tool to bring back to the world.
  This is the hero's graduation, inspiring all who witness their courageous transformation.

10. Be Open to Everyday Magic and Synchronicity

The miracle is always a coincidence in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

Beyond coincidence. While skeptics may dismiss inexplicable events as mere coincidence, heroes learn to recognize them as "synchronicities"—meaningful occurrences that serve as divine guidance. These "miracles" are not random; they are evidence of a conscious, intelligent, and interconnected Universe actively participating in one's journey.

Siddhis and spiritual powers. Spiritual traditions describe "siddhis" or spiritual superpowers that can emerge as side effects of the spiritual path, such as psychic abilities, healing capacities, or influencing outcomes. While caution is advised against ego-driven manipulation, when practiced with integrity, these abilities can be used for pure service and to heal the world.

Becoming synchronicity. Instead of passively waiting for miracles, one can actively "become synchronicity" by setting the intention to be a vessel for divine guidance for others. This involves cultivating awareness and trusting that the Universe can use you to deliver much-needed messages or support, often without conscious effort. This practice deepens one's connection to the interconnectedness of all things.

11. Cultivate Relationships That Foster Growth

Say Yes to Relationships That Grow You, But Be Sure to Nurture Yourself.

Relationships as accelerators. Relationships can be powerful catalysts for accelerating one's hero's journey, especially those willing to illuminate one's "shadow" and challenge growth edges. These "friends of your Inner Pilot Light" value truth over comfort, pushing you to evolve even when it's uncomfortable.

Love's new definition. True love, in this context, is redefined as "being brave enough to push the leading edge of soul growth—in oneself and another—while being kind enough to compassionately comfort the lagging edge of the ego." This means both challenging and nurturing, avoiding spiritual bullying while also not coddling the Small Self.

Discernment, not judgment. It's crucial to discern which relationships genuinely support your soul's growth versus those that feed the ego or keep you stuck in old patterns. This doesn't mean abandoning old friends, but prioritizing time with those who uplift and expand your consciousness. The "empty elevator syndrome" suggests that as you raise your vibration, you'll attract a new tribe that resonates with your evolved self.

12. Commit to Illuminating Truth and Healing Systems

You can’t make something wrong and make a difference at the same time.

Beyond blame. To heal broken systems—whether medicine, politics, or education—one must move beyond judgment, blame, and the "us vs. them" mentality. Righteous indignation, while understandable, reinforces the very patterns it seeks to change. True transformation requires compassion for all participants, recognizing that many are traumatized and doing the best they can.

The bridge builder. The hero's role often involves being a "bridge"—a translator between conflicting camps (e.g., conventional vs. alternative medicine, science vs. spirituality). This position requires staying neutral, free from agenda, and committed to an open, humble search for truth. This approach makes one "bulletproof" against criticism and effective in mediating healing.

Being and Doing. Systemic change requires a combination of "Being" (inner spiritual work, radiating love, ending inner wars) and "Doing" (inspired action stemming from love, not moral outrage). Being without Doing risks theoretical love, while Doing without Being risks repeating ineffective, ego-driven actions. The hero's ultimate mission is to unite these, becoming an instrument of change that inspires a "revolution of love" to uplift the world.

Last updated: January 8, 2026