12 Best Lessons Of The Wellness Warrior's Journey

Are you ready to embark on a healthier, more fulfilling life? Just like the hero of a grand adventure, you too can undergo a transformative experience guided by the 12 steps of the Hero's Journey. In this blog post, we'll explore how to apply these steps to what we'll call the "Wellness Warrior's Journey," offering you a robust framework for personal growth and well-being.

1 Ordinary World

Your journey begins in the Ordinary World—the state of health and life balance you currently inhabit. Here, amidst the routines and habits of everyday life, you may feel a sense of stagnation or unfulfillment. This is your starting point, where you will launch into your quest for wellness.

Practical Tip: Start by journaling your daily habits and routines. Identifying areas where you feel unfulfilled or out of balance can provide valuable insights into where to focus your efforts for improvement.

Suggested Reading:

• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
• Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food by Catherine Shanahan

"Good habits are not made on birthdays, nor Christian crosses, nor on the New Year's day. They are begun on moments when we have to choose between harmful and harmless actions."
— Catherine Shanahan, Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food

2 Call to Adventure

The Call to Adventure comes when you recognize the need for a healthier lifestyle. It might be a personal realization—a whisper in your soul urging you to strive for more—or advice from a healthcare professional to change your habits for your well-being. Whatever form it takes, this call beckons you to embark on self-discovery and transformation.

Practical Tip: Set specific, achievable goals for yourself. Whether committing to drinking more water daily or incorporating a 20-minute walk into your routine, clear goals will help guide your actions and measure your progress.

Suggested Reading:

• Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
• Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To by David A. Sinclair

"The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep." - Matthew Walker

3 Refusal of the Call

Initially, you may resist change, feeling hesitant or doubtful of your ability to transform. This is the Refusal of the Call, a natural response to the unknown ahead. Doubts may cloud your mind, fear may grip your heart, and inertia may anchor you in place. Yet, within this resistance lies the seed of your most significant potential—the courage to confront your fears and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Practical Tip: Practice self-compassion and patience with yourself. Change takes time, and setbacks are a natural part of the process. Treat yourself with kindness as you navigate the challenges of transformation.

Suggested Reading:

• Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

"To overcome fear is the quickest way to gain your self-confidence."
— Susan Jeffers, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

4 Meeting with the Mentor

To overcome your doubts, seek guidance from mentors who inspire you or resources that provide valuable knowledge about health and wellness. This could be a fitness coach, a nutritionist, or a supportive friend. In their wisdom and guidance, you will find the strength and courage to take the first steps on your journey.

Practical Tip: Find a mentor or accountability partner who can support you on your journey. Having someone to share your struggles and successes with can make the path to wellness feel less daunting and more achievable.

Suggested Reading:

• How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
• Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett

"You can't change what you don't measure."
— Michael Greger, How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

5 Crossing the Threshold

With newfound determination, you commit to making changes—joining a gym, adopting a new diet, or practicing mindfulness daily. This marks the beginning of your active pursuit of health. As you step across the threshold, you leave behind the familiar comforts of your old life and venture into the unknown, ready to embrace the challenges and rewards.

Practical Tip: Start small and build momentum over time. Instead of overhauling your entire lifestyle overnight, focus on making one small change at a time. As each new habit becomes ingrained, you'll gain confidence to tackle more significant challenges.

Suggested Reading:

• The Vitamin Solution by Romy Block and Arielle Levitan
• The First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
— Romy Block and Arielle Levitan, The Vitamin Solution

6 Tests, Allies, and Enemies

As you progress, you encounter challenges and find allies in supportive friends, workout partners, and online communities. Together, you navigate the complexities of your wellness journey.

Practical Tip: Surround yourself with positive influences and limit exposure to negative ones. Whether unfollowing social media accounts that promote unhealthy habits or seeking out communities of like-minded individuals, cultivating a supportive environment can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Suggested Reading:

• The Supplement Handbook by Mark Moyad
• Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman

"Our bodies are our gardens—our wills are our gardeners."
— William Shakespeare (referenced in Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman)

7 Approach to the Inmost Cave

Prepare yourself for significant challenges requiring more courage, such as committing to long-term goals or confronting entrenched habits.

Practical Tip: Break big goals into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of focusing on the daunting prospect of running a marathon, start by setting a goal to jog for 10 minutes without stopping. Celebrate each small victory to keep yourself motivated and moving forward.

Suggested Reading:

• Nutrient Power by William J. Walsh
• The Sleep Solution by W. Chris Winter

"Sleep is the best meditation." - Dalai Lama

8 The Ordeal

You face a significant challenge or setback at the midpoint, testing your resolve and resilience. This is a pivotal moment on your journey.

Practical Tip: Practice resilience-building techniques such as mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises. Cultivating a mindset of resilience can help you navigate setbacks with grace and come out stronger on the other side.

Suggested Reading:

• Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."
— Henry Ford (referenced in Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl)

9 Reward

After overcoming the ordeal, you achieve significant milestones, whether reaching a fitness goal or experiencing increased vitality. Take pride in your accomplishments—they testify to your strength and perseverance.

Practical Tip: Reward yourself for reaching milestones along the way. Whether treating yourself to a massage or indulging in a favorite hobby, celebrating your achievements can help reinforce positive behaviors and motivate you to keep pushing forward.

Suggested Reading:

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

10 The Road Back

As you integrate new habits into your daily life, you may face challenges in maintaining them. Stay resilient and remember the lessons you've learned along the way.

Practical Tip: Create a support network to help you stay on track. Whether joining a group fitness class or scheduling regular check-ins with a friend, accountability can be a powerful motivator to stick to your wellness goals.

Suggested Reading:

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
• The Second Mountain by David Brooks

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."
— Oprah Winfrey (referenced in The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown)

11 Resurrection

In the final test, apply everything you've learned to overcome a final challenge, proving your transformation. This is where you emerge more robust than ever before.

Practical Tip: Reflect on how far you've come and celebrate your growth. Recognize the obstacles you've overcome and the skills you've developed. Trust in your ability to overcome future challenges with the same resilience and determination.

Suggested Reading:

• Rising Strong by Brené Brown
• The Resilience Factor by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain."
— Vivian Greene (referenced in Rising Strong by Brené Brown)

12 Return with the Elixir

Finally, return to your ordinary world, transformed and armed with new knowledge, behaviors, and a renewed zest for life. Your journey doesn't end here—it's a continuous cycle of growth and self-discovery.

Practical Tip: Pay it forward by sharing your journey with others. Whether it's offering support to someone else embarking on their wellness journey or volunteering in your community, spreading positivity and encouragement can amplify the impact of your transformation.

Suggested Reading:

• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
• The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama

"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions."
— Dalai Lama (referenced in The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama)

Embrace your inner Wellness Warrior and embark on this transformative journey towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. With each step, you'll move closer to realizing your full potential and living your best life. So, are you ready to answer the call?

Disclaimer: Consult healthcare professionals before significantly changing your lifestyle or habits.

12 Wellness Warrior Reflection Questions

These questions cover vital concepts and stages of the Wellness Warrior's Journey, testing understanding and recall of the material presented in the framework.

1. Ordinary World: Can you describe what the Ordinary World represents in the context of the Wellness Warrior's Journey?
2. Call to Adventure: What typically triggers the Call to Adventure in the context of pursuing a healthier lifestyle?
3. Refusal of the Call: Why might someone initially resist the call to embark on a journey towards wellness?
4. Meeting with the Mentor: Who or what can serve as a mentor in pursuing a healthier lifestyle, and why is their guidance valuable?
5. Crossing the Threshold: What actions symbolize crossing the threshold from an inactive to an active pursuit of health?
6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies: How can supportive allies and communities help overcome challenges during the journey to wellness?
7. Approach to the Inmost Cave: What significant challenges might one face when committing to long-term health goals?
8. Ordeal: Describe a scenario that could be considered an ordeal on the path to wellness and explain how one might overcome it.
9. Reward: What are some examples of rewards or milestones that individuals might achieve as they progress on their wellness journey?
10. The Road Back: Why is maintaining newfound habits and routines essential even after reaching milestones or overcoming challenges?
11. Resurrection: How does one demonstrate resilience and growth during the final test on their journey to wellness?
12. Return with the Elixir: What does it mean to return to the Ordinary World transformed, and how might someone continue their journey towards wellness beyond this point?