The Hero's Journey: Navigating Life's Transitions (Lech Lecha)

In storytelling, the Hero's Journey is a timeless and inspiring theme that presents the hero as a symbol of human strength, resilience, and growth. Often, the hero is depicted as an everyday person —someone relatable and approachable—reminding us that greatness, courage, and heroism can be found in anyone, regardless of background or situation.

For example, the classic film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" features an honest, idealistic man who, after losing his innocence and being betrayed by the politicians he once admired, continues to fight for justice and integrity, embodying what makes a hero relatable. This pattern appears in many epic stories from different cultures, where the hero's journey reveals universal themes of being thrust into difficulty, facing overwhelming odds in a battle between good and evil, and ultimately discovering new sources of strength and growth that can inspire others to change.

The arc of the Hero's Journey follows a clear pattern: departure, struggle, and return to a deeper understanding of oneself. It starts with leaving the familiar—experiencing the loss of something essential or the end of a way of life—which pushes the hero into the unknown.

Every beginning starts with an ending—closing a familiar chapter in life, which we all go through multiple times, in different ways, throughout our lives.

Leaving the Familiar

And it is a tale as old as time. The story of Abraham begins with a call to leave his homeland and start a new adventure guided by a divine promise. Like most journeys, change is more than just geographical—when God tells Abraham, "Lech Lecha," God is asking Abraham to leave not just a place but also the mental boundaries of his past—a past defined by comfort, familiarity, and expectations. The move from Haran to Canaan represents not only a geographical shift but an internal transition—the shedding of old skins and breaking free from inherited narratives and circumstances that no longer served him.

New beginnings involve not only ending a life we once knew and the identities or roles we previously held, but also facing the end of a future we once envisioned. By all accounts, Abraham was successful and thriving in Haran and likely believed he would spend the rest of his days there. While Abraham may have been guided by the certainty of being assigned a new spiritual mission, he still needed to be willing to venture into an unknown future—and to do so at age 75.

When he and Sarah finally reached Eretz Canaan, it was not a land of milk and honey; quite the opposite, there was neither milk nor honey, but a famine so severe that the land became unlivable, forcing them to go down into Egypt to survive. It’s important to recognize that they never questioned God’s command to them, never longed for what they left behind, and didn’t turn back; instead, they kept moving forward, teaching us that the key question for anyone in transition – especially when facing an unmet expectation - is this:

“Who am I now? And how can I find meaning in this new situation?” 

Entering the Neutral Zone of Transition

This is the transition stage known as the neutral zone—an in-between phase where what was once accurate or familiar no longer applies, but a new understanding has not yet fully emerged. This stage isn't yet a solid new structure, process, or identity. This “in-between place” can feel uncomfortable. When we are in it, we often feel stuck, wishing we could be elsewhere. The neutral zone might seem lengthy because we are craving clarity, confidence, and a clearer sense of who we are and what we’re supposed to be doing, and it can be disorienting to be untethered from a time when we felt in control or competent. But this is a necessary part of the journey. 

Revisiting the Familiar

And it doesn’t always mean being in new or unfamiliar surroundings. While Abraham is depicted entering the Promised Land anew, it’s important to note that he had traveled there five years earlier with his father, Terach. Sometimes, the Hero’s Journey returns to familiar territory, or, as in “The Wizard of Oz” or “It's a Wonderful Life,” we wake up to a life that, on the surface, looks the same, but we have changed, and with our new perspective, everything seems completely different. What was once dreary and tedious is now fresh and wondrous.

The literal translation of “Lech Lecha” is “Go – to yourself.” This phrase, by its very nature, encourages introspection and a personal journey. However, not everyone who begins a journey necessarily becomes a hero. Some people get stuck along the way. For example, a persistent longing for past experiences or relationships, a reluctance to pursue new opportunities, engaging in repetitive negative self-talk, blaming external circumstances for a situation without taking personal responsibility, or having difficulty making decisions due to fear of change or attachment to familiar routines are all signs of someone unwilling to move forward.

Embracing Change

And that’s where a little faith proves valuable. Every step taken in faith toward the unknown shows our willingness to grow. Sometimes, the journey starts with horror and reluctance. For example, consider stories of returned hostages, who turned their trauma into powerful tales of personal strength and resilience they didn't realize they had, which now awaken and inspire the entire nation. Sometimes the journey is gentle and joyful, such as realigning with deep longings and having a chance to realize dreams we were afraid to voice.

Often, our journeys are the natural progression through the expected stages of life, or the willingness to embrace a greater destiny and step into the new identity our potential seeks.

But with a little faith and open-hearted curiosity, the times when we “go - to ourselves” can reveal our inner hero and open the door to creating our best life yet.