What are the moments in life, big and small, that remind us we’re capable beyond our wildest expectations?
We often hear truisms like “the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity” and see, possibly on a daily basis, incredible stories of overcoming seemingly improbable odds, difficulties or demands.
In those cases, how often are those situations sought out compared to the times they find us?
In the language of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey — a framework that encompasses almost all stories and experiences of going from our known world through the unknown to claim a reward — this would be the Call to Adventure stage.
Yes, there are some adventures that we seek out and initiate, however, there are probably so many more that we go on, on a daily basis, which we barely consider.
This brings to mind what Viktor Frankl writes when he says that ‘...each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.’
How often are we answering the questions life poses us without even knowing?
And in answering to life, what qualities and capabilities do we show without even realising?
To illustrate this, two very innocuous examples come to mind from my week.
Firstly, I set out on a run without a phone or watch with the plan to go for about 20 minutes somewhere I’d partly walked. How partly I only realised when I became totally lost and ran until I found someone who could point out the way back. In the end I ran for 50 minutes, far further than I have ever run. If you had told me I was going to run for so long I wouldn’t have believed you.
Secondly, our fridge-freezer broke this week. As someone who likes to stockpile their freezer and meticulously meal plan that all went out of the window. And in doing so I found a real excitement for coming up with recipes that salvaged as much of the freezer as possible and having to conjure many more recipes than usual given the inability to store leftovers. My expectation that not having a plan of what to cook and cooking something every night would be draining and time consuming was proved wrong. Plus, I asked for help, something that doesn’t usually come so naturally, in the hunt for cool bags and for fridge and freezer space from nearby (and very generous) friends.
In short, what are the moments we respond to each day and the questions life poses, that in answering reveal we are far more capable than we think we are?
In knowing that we are always far more capable than we are, what things can we let go of that free us up to have more of what we want in our lives rather than what we think we need?
On the inverse, what are the things that keep us from trusting our capabilities? What stops us going on our own adventures?
Ultimately, when life forces us to respond we can let go of fearing failure or perfectionism, because we have to answer.
We may not want our capabilities tested and stretched all of the time, but if we knew that we are more capable than we think, for what would we like to lean into testing those capabilities?
It would be a lie to say both examples weren’t unsettling, there were irrational catastrophizing moments of wondering if I’d ever make it out of the fields I was running in and adapting to the fridge fiasco definitely took up unexpected headspace. No doubt both examples could have gone very differently, nonetheless they would have still shown me something of me that is valuable.
In another world I wouldn’t have run the whole way and walked, but most likely still run further than I expected. Likewise, it may have been less fun to have to make up meals so regularly or to have had to throw away food that has gone off, but I’d have learnt I don’t need to stockpile so much and a behaviour no doubt driven by a fear of not having enough would have lessened.
So, what would we love life to ask us, so that in responding we can harness all our capabilities?
What can we do to harness them now and trust life will take care of the rest?
What would the world be if we lived knowing that we are far more capable than we can ever imagine?
References
Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a thousand faces
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
