Then, autopilot is triggered. The wonder and curiosity of the Child within gets imprisoned deep in the psyche, sometimes never to be heard from again.

The drive to learn and discover, however, is a prerequisite to the creative process. When the Child’s innate curiosity—an aspect of any well-integrated adult—and his attraction to learning is re-activated, life’s adventure takes on new meaning. What was once dry and pre-set becomes fun and spontaneous. Our habitual old patterns give way to a renewed sense of inner joy as the discovery process takes hold.

If you’re afraid to break free from social programming and cultural norms—if you resist the creative soul within you—keep in mind what you’re sacrificing. It’s a rare soul who defies convention to truly embrace his or her bliss (in Joseph Campbell’s use of the term).

Your adventure awaits. It begins once you re-ignite the joy of discovery innate to all of us. If you’re already on this path, then perhaps this message is simply a reminder to keep the flame blazing and to reaffirm your quest for higher understanding.

Related posts:

1. Stay Devoted to the Discovery Process
2. Relinquishing Control of the Creative Process
3. Incremental Innovation

Planet Earth

This 11-part BBC series narrated by Sir David Attenborough is perhaps the most visually stunning and entertaining nature series ever produced. An unprecedented $25 million production budget helped the creators shoot footage of never-before seen animal habits and natural terrain. Blue Planet: Seas of Life, the BBC’s precursor to Blue Planet is also highly recommended.

The Human Face

This 5-part BBC series hosted by John Cleese explores a range of topics about the human face, exploring the psychology of facial expressions, the power of images, definitions of beauty, the nature of celebrity and more.

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How Art Made the World

This 5-part BBC series hosted Dr. Nigel Spivey, a Classical Archaeology professor from Cambridge, traces history to explore how art was first created and illustrates the profound impact images have had in the rising of civilization.

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The Power of Myth

In this historic 6-part interview with mythology expert Joseph Campbell by journalist Bill Moyers, listen to a masterful storyteller explain how myths are humanity’s way of searching for the ultimate answers.

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Mythos

While other comparative mythologists focused on the differences between various mythologies, Joseph Campbell focused on the similarities. In these ten erudite lectures, Campbell explores the universal truths taught by all the great traditions and the myths that followed. While this is the most challenging of the abovementioned series, it can also be the most rewarding.
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Note: Although I’ve linked these series to Amazon, they are all available to rent if you have an account with Netflix.

Related posts:

1. Carve Out Your Sacred Space
2. Try Mind Mapping
3. Ecological Awareness

The Greek poet Homer tells us how Odysseus left his son Telemachus in the care of his old friend Mentor. Mentor guides Telemachus in the search for his lost father and his true heritage in The Odyssey.

From this Greek mythology we get the word mentor that’s now come to be defined as “an experienced and trusted advisor.”

The importance of the mentor role is further illuminated in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell points out that the hero, reluctant to engage in the adventure, meets a protective figure with supernatural aid. This mentor archetype provides a magical amulet or sage-like advice the hero will need along the journey.

Contemporary story telling drives home Campbell’s observation:

• Luke Skywalker is guided by Obi-Wan Kenobi to learn the ways of the Force in the original Star Wars.
• Frodo encounters a powerful mentor in the form of Gandalf the Wizard in Lord of the Rings.
• Morpheus instructs Neo how to operate within the Matrix.
• And Harry Potter can always count on guiding wisdom from Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Of course, you don’t need to be a Jedi Master or a powerful wizard to be a mentor in the business world. In fact, we are all mentors to different people at different times. Every one of us helps, advises and guides others.

Who do you help guide along their adventure? Who do you look to for guidance along your journey?

The Mentor is a vital role in business and in life. Honor your mentors. Be grateful for their presence in your life.

Simultaneously, strive to be the best mentor you can be to those you have the privilege to serve.

Related posts:

1. Are you an Effective Mentor?
2. The Hero’s Quest
3. Your Call to Adventure

The hero is reluctant to enter the special world. But the adventure can’t begin until the hero makes the decision to engage this new realm.

Joseph Campbell explains in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, “The adventure is always and everywhere a passage beyond the veil of the known into the unknown; the powers that watch at the boundary are dangerous; to deal with them is risky; yet for anyone with competence and courage the danger fades.”

Luke Skywalker isn’t ready to leave his aunt and uncle’s farm and travel with Obi Wan to save the princess. Staring at Morpheus, Neo contemplates taking the blue pill instead of seeing the Matrix.

Your call to adventure may not be so dramatic, but it happens frequently. Your Call is a daily meeting with the unknown—a decision to continually learn and grow.

In Cult Branding Workbook, BJ Bueno asks, “What is your call to adventure?”

Bueno writes, “The adventure is that ‘inner itch’ about your business that has been floating around in your head for the last couple of days, months, or even years. Your ‘call to adventure’ could be an opportunity to transform how products are sold in your industry or perhaps a new wireless delivery channel that’s yet to be invented.”

Business leaders who heed and answer the call are the ones who change their industries.

Are you ready to embrace your call to adventure?

Related posts:

1. Your True Adventure
2. The Last Hero’s Journey
3. Deconstructing the Hero’s Journey

A sacred place might be a special room or a scheduled hour during the day. The idea is to set up the conditions to simply be with yourself, void of outside distraction, daily news and chatter. “A place where you can experience and bring forth what you are—or what you might be. This is a place of creative incubation. First, you may find that nothing is happening there [but if you use your sacred place] something will happen.”

Modern life doesn’t support creativity. The more technology we have, the more distracted we become. The human mind favors a quiet space to create. Set up the conditions necessary for a creative, inspiring environment.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Block off sacred “creative time” on your calendar, and honor that time like you would a doctor’s appointment or an important meeting.
• If you’re “creating” at your desk, close your email program and shut off your cell phone – and the ringer on your landline, too.
• If possible, shut your office door to mute the distractions of people passing by or talking in the hallway.
• Plan escapes from your usual work environment. Corporate culture assumes that if you’re not in the office, you’re not working. But how many creative ideas come to you while staring at your computer in a cubicle or office? Perhaps there’s good reason why great ideas are sketched on paper napkins in coffee shops.

Your Sacred Place exists within your mind. With some conscious training, you can learn to access it at will and explore an endless world of questions, answers, and new ideas.

Related posts:

1. Five Ways to Become More Creative at Work
2. Sacred Mornings Sans Technology
3. Exposing Sacred Cows