This post is based on the following chapter in the Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies:

• Allison, S. T. (2023). Follow Your Bliss and Heroism. In S. T. Allison, J. K. Beggan, and G. R. Goethals (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. New York: Springer.

By Scott T. Allison

Joseph Campbell’s phrase ‘Follow your bliss’ offers a path to discovering joy, meaning, and a sense of being fully alive. Campbell introduced the term in the 1970s, and since his passing in 1987, it has deeply influenced popular culture, positive psychology, and the self-help movement.

Let’s explore Campbell’s concept of bliss, his guidance on how to pursue it, how the phrase has been misunderstood over time, and how heroism researchers have incorporated the pursuit of bliss into their studies on living a heroic life.

Definitions of Bliss

Dictionary definitions of bliss refer to a person’s sense of complete joy, happiness, and deep satisfaction with their life’s purpose and vocation (e.g., Merriam-Webster 2023). In positive psychology, many concepts are similar to the experience of bliss. Abraham Maslow (1943) introduced the idea of self-actualization, which represents the highest level of human development, where an individual realizes their full potential. By emphasizing people’s innate drive to become their best selves, Maslow and other person-centered therapists laid the foundation for a humanistic approach in psychology, which eventually influenced the development of modern positive psychology.

Of all the concepts in positive psychology, the state of flourishing may be the closest to Campbell’s idea of bliss. Martin Seligman’s (2012) comprehensive study of flourishing found that it involves a sense of fulfillment, the completion of meaningful tasks, and the formation of deep emotional connections with others. According to Seligman, flourishing is achieved by aligning with the PERMA model, which highlights five core components of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments. Rather than being a fixed trait, flourishing comes from pursuing tasks that one is passionate about. To flourish is to live an authentic, fulfilling life that brings joy and happiness.

Campbell’s concept of bliss shares similarities with Seligman’s idea of flourishing. In his 1985 interview with Bill Moyers, Campbell (1988, 120) explained that If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.” Essentially, Campbell saw bliss as the ability to pursue life goals that align with one’s personal strengths and sources of joy. He also highlighted the social aspect of the hero’s journey, noting that, “You begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you…. [and] doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be” (p. 120).

Campbell (1991, 148) described bliss as the state where a person’s life is in harmony with their environment. He wrote, “The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.” Similarly, Richard Rohr (2009) proposed that joy and happiness come from achieving what he calls resonance, which means being in tune with the universe. This resonance is cultivated through meditation that focuses on aligning one’s inner calling with external cues. Rohr likens this process to using a tuning fork to create perfect harmony with one’s surroundings. Campbell also believed that bliss arises from achieving this kind of physical and spiritual resonance with one’s deepest self.

Pathways to Bliss

Campbell (2004) offered insights into the process of discovering one’s bliss, emphasizing that the journey is challenging and demands courage, intuition, and support from allies and mentors. Each person’s path to bliss is unique and often hidden or difficult to recognize. As Campbell noted, “You enter the forest at the darkest point where there is no path,” meaning that following an established path often leads to someone else’s journey, not your own. The key question for anyone seeking bliss is: How can they identify their own path? Campbell suggests three possible methods for doing so.

1. The first path involves following the stages of the mythic hero’s journey, as outlined by Campbell in his influential 1949 work The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This journey includes leaving the hero’s familiar world, navigating a dangerous new environment, meeting allies, facing villains, undergoing personal transformation, and returning home as a more evolved individual. The hero’s journey is a humbling process that expands the hero’s capacity for growth, learning, and maturity. Campbell (1991, 21) noted that “opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging,” highlighting how adversity can lead to personal development.
2. The second path to finding bliss involves engaging in spiritual practices aimed at fostering a positive mindset that is open to new directions in life. These practices include mindful meditation, yoga, gratitude, forgiveness, humility, loving-kindness, and presence. While rooted in religion and philosophy, modern scientific research has confirmed their positive effects (Jones 2019). Studies show that these practices benefit brain regions associated with emotional regulation, well-being, pain tolerance, body awareness, introspection, and self-image (Breedvelt et al. 2019). People who engage in such practices often report greater clarity about their life’s purpose and direction (Cahn et al. 2017).
3. The third path to bliss is the experience of profound love. For those pursuing religious transformation, this love is often directed toward a higher power, leading to spiritual awakening. For those on the hero’s journey, this love may take the form of newfound compassion for humanity or romantic love for an idealized partner. Examples of characters who find bliss through love in film and literature include Ebenezer Scrooge (*A Christmas Carol*), Lieutenant Dan (*Forrest Gump*), the Grinch (*How the Grinch Stole Christmas*), and Phil Connors (*Groundhog Day*). These characters, who begin as deeply flawed, only find their bliss through the transformative power of love. Often, they endure significant suffering, but by discovering love—whether for an individual or all of humanity—they are relieved of their suffering and granted the gift of bliss.

Conclusion

Campbell (1988) stressed that the path to bliss is filled with uncertainty. He emphasized that the ancient spiritual language of Sanskrit uses three terms to signify the gateway to transcendent bliss: *sat*, *chit*, and *ananda*. In Sanskrit, “sat” means being, “chit” means consciousness, and “ananda” means bliss. Campbell acknowledged that he was unsure whether his consciousness or his way of being were ideal, but he was certain about the source of his bliss—his study of world mythology. He decided to focus on what brought him bliss, hoping it would enlighten both his consciousness and his being. “I think it worked,” he reflected (p. 96).

Campbell firmly believed that experiencing bliss is a fundamental aspect of being human, and he was critical of the religious focus on achieving bliss only in the afterlife. He remarked, “Religious people tell us we won’t truly experience bliss until we die and go to heaven. But I believe in experiencing as much of it as possible while we’re still alive.”

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This post is based on the following chapter in the Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies:

• Allison, S. T. (2023). The quiet heroism of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. In S. T. Allison, J. K. Beggan, and G. R. Goethals (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. New York: Springer.

By Scott T. Allison

Finding the extraordinary within the mundane can be a deeply heroic act. In a world that often glorifies grand achievements and remarkable feats, there is a quiet heroism in the everyday individual who faces the routines of life with resilience and grace. This heroism lies in the ability to discover purpose, meaning, and beauty in the seemingly ordinary.

                             The Banality of Heroism

Zeno Franco and Philip Zimbardo (2006) proposed the idea of the “banality of heroism,” which challenges the conventional belief that heroes are exceptional individuals in extraordinary situations. The banality of heroism suggests that heroic acts are not limited to rare circumstances or a select group of people but are instead within reach of ordinary individuals in everyday life. Heroes can emerge not only in the face of extreme danger or crises but also in routine, everyday moments where people demonstrate acts of altruism, kindness, and moral courage.

The Heroism of the Masses

American psychologist William James (1899, 2) noted a quiet heroism within the working class, recognizing “the great fields of heroism lying round about” him. He was captivated by the small, seemingly insignificant everyday actions that demonstrated unacknowledged heroism. James argued that living a heroic life on a personal level involves the ability to let a higher ideal guide one’s actions. This ideal could be as simple as living a life defined by honesty and integrity.

The Heroism of Living an Ordinary Life

Craig Kocher (2016) also examined the positive psychological effects of discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary. Kocher shares the story of Jayber Crow, the main character in Wendell Berry’s novel. Crow leaves his small Kentucky town with dreams of achieving something remarkable, but eventually returns later in life. He then embraces a simple life as a barber and gravedigger. Instead of feeling discouraged by what might seem like a lack of heroic achievement, Crow builds an extraordinary life from the simplicity of his daily routines. He becomes “fully immersed in the community’s life” and realizes that “the fabric of his life is fully intertwined with people he knows and loves.” Despite not reaching the social status he once envisioned, Crow finds deep satisfaction and purpose in his life.

It’s a Wonderful Life Helping People

In the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, George Baily spends his life helping poor people. He dreams of leaving his dreary hometown of Bedford Falls, but circumstances continually keep him from doing so. Frustrated by his unmet ambitions, George considers ending his life, but is stopped by a guardian angel named Clarence, who shows George how bleak and troubled the townspeople would have been if he had never existed.

Through this revelation, George realizes that his seemingly ordinary life had profound meaning and purpose all along.

Many Small Positive Acts Add Up to Heroism

Ernest Becker (1973) explored the psychological aspects of how people confront their own mortality. People want to live a heroic life but almost always fall short. Rather than abandoning the pursuit of heroism, Becker advocates for a redefinition of what it means to live a virtuous and meaningful life. He writes, “The most that any one of us can seem to do is to fashion something—an object or ourselves—and drop it into the confusion, make an offering of it, so to speak, to the life force.” Becker suggests that individuals can adopt a mindset of acceptance—not as a cynical rejection of life, but as a healthy acknowledgment of their own limitations. He argues that people can find a balance by maintaining a deep respect for the mysterious vastness of the universe while also making many small, meaningful contributions to better the world.

Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary is essential to our emotional and psychological well-being. Everyday moments have the power to boost our happiness, resilience, and overall life satisfaction. Developing a mindset that values the extraordinary within the seemingly mundane not only boosts our mental health but also fosters a more fulfilling, meaningful, and heroic life.

By Brooke Gibson

Hollywood has facilitated a plethora of cultural influences over the past century. America places high earning actors/actresses on a social pedestal where they are often respected for their work strictly in the industry. These entertainers, often with net worth trending into the millions, use their platforms to broadcast personal beliefs and debut their successes. This is because the media allows this opportunity to be taken. Of course, people in the spotlight want as many supporters as possible to benefit their fanbase; however, does this mean their actions are authentic?

For some of Hollywood’s stars, philanthropic actions may be genuine. Foundations, organizations, and other institutions are often begun for the greater good of society. These stars have the ability to make this happen. One star in particular, Ashton Kutcher, has taken time to work outside of Hollywood’s light to advocate for a social injustice he is passionate about.

Ashton Kutcher is a happy-go-lucky actor with a handful of notable roles, one being Michael Kelso in “That 70’s Show”. Kutcher’s character is a funny, “bad-boy” who pokes fun at many other characters throughout the series. In real life, he is married to his “That 70’s Show” costar Mila Kunis. I consider this to be somewhat heroic because historically Hollywood couples are not able to facilitate a successful marriage in the spotlight; however, this is not why I think he is one of Hollywood’s heroes. I believe that his work to combat the sexual exploitation of girls globally is one of the most noble and selfless actions Hollywood has seen.

In 2012, Kutcher (along with other American actress Demi Moore) co-founded the organization “Thorn” which has been working to develop and perfect technology to identify victims of trafficking. Their goal is to locate and prevent child victims of sexual exploitation while simultaneously educating the public on this global issue. One may wonder, what makes this action so heroic and worthy of attention? Well, one reason is that Kutcher simply does NOT receive attention for this. He does all of his work voluntarily outside of the Hollywood spotlight, making this contribution to society truly genuine and selfless. Kutcher did not start this organization to benefit his own platform, but for the benefit of children globally.

Some people consider heroes to be “risk takers”. In this case, I do believe that Kutcher has taken many risks and sacrifices to be a part of this program. He has taken the time to fund this technology (which was offered to law enforcement for free, meaning there was no personal gain), testify in courts, and balance his family and career life. This level of personal sacrifice is something that I believe to be incredibly heroic.

The transparency of Kutcher in this project is another trait I believe qualifies Kutcher as a hero. While he clearly advocates for the eradication of child trafficking, he does not pride himself on his success so far and is continuing to work to combat this issue. When one types “Ashton Kutcher” into a search engine, his filmography, family life, and social media is presented. He does not try to let the whole world know what he is doing so they are on his side. He avoids the press in order to prevent the abuse of his power as a star in Hollywood, which is not something other colleagues have followed.

Ashton Kutcher can be considered a hero inside and out of Hollywood’s spotlight. His voluntary and selfless actions as a celebrity are made for the exceptional good of society are incredibly heroic. Thorn aims to find the solution to eradicate all child sex trafficking and has saved numerous amounts of children with its technology. Stars in Hollywood should aim to follow in the footsteps of celebrities like Ashton Kutcher who aim to make a difference not only in America’s entertainment industry, but globally.

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Brooke Gibson is an undergraduate student at the University of Richmond.  She is enrolled in Scott Allison’s Heroes & Villains course and composed this essay as part of her course requirement