The Hero’s journey begins before time. The Hero’s journey begins before light touches their eyes or air touches their skin.

What did the Hero have in the time before?

Love. Love that was boundless. Love that was unconditional. Love that was like a newborn clinging to life.

The Hero loved life. The Hero loved.

Then, one day, the Hero loved and was wounded.

The wound was not mortal. The wound was not the Hero’s fault. But the Hero learned that wounds are Pain. Pain was new and Pain was cruel. Pain taught the Hero that Love can hurt. In Hurt and Pain, the Hero turned from Love.

The Hero sought respect. The Hero sought acceptance. The Hero sought belonging. But the Hero also sought control.

In control, the Hero experienced a lack of control. Lack of control brought Fear. Eventually, the Hero accepted Fear as control.

Then, one day, the Hero met a Guide.

The Guide showed the Hero a new way. The Guide gave the Hero a new option. The Guide pushed the Hero, but the Hero pushed back.

The Hero didn’t want to be challenged. The Hero didn’t want to leave the safety of their Fear and Pain. The Hero did not want the risk of vulnerability or the freedom of Love.

The Hero was trapped in a cage with an open door.

Then, one day, the Hero listened. The Hero heard the breeze in the trees outside the cage. The Hero felt the warmth of light as the Guide cleared cobwebs from the cage. Finally, the Hero listened.

The Hero listened when the Guide spoke. The Hero lifted her head. The Hero took one step, then another.

The Hero fell before the door. She didn’t know what would be on the other side. She didn’t know if the wind would freeze or if the light would burn.

The Hero had learned Pain and had learned Fear. The Hero’s cage was safe. But who was in the cage?

Were Fear and Pain truly trapped, or were they her captors?

The Hero stood. “I’ll take one more step,” she said.

And she did.

“I’ll take one more step,” she said again.

And she did.

On and on this went, one step and then another.

The journey wasn’t easy. There were trips and falls along the way. But the Hero kept her Guide and kept her stride.

Until, one day, she no longer said, “One more step.”

She turned to her Guide but didn’t see them there. For a moment, she felt lost.

The Hero turned to see if her Guide had fallen behind. But as she turned she noticed only her own tracks.

“So,” she thought, “my Guide has gone ahead.”

But no track lead.

The Hero waited for a moment.

“Is this where fear takes hold,” she asked.

“No,” a Voice answered. But no one was there.

Confused, the Hero waited; but she had to know.

“Where are you, Voice,” she called out in the stillness.

“I’m here,” it whispered, “where always I have been.”

“And where is that,” the Hero responded.

“With you, My Love,” came the Voice, stronger now.

“My Guide has been with me,” said the Hero, “not you.”

“Name your Guide,” the Voice requested.

“I… can’t.”

“And why?”

“I never asked.”

“Heart,” said the Voice. “My name is Heart, but you may know me as Hope.”

The Hero was confused. How could her heart be her Guide?

“Because you let me in,” Heart said. “The cage was cold and dark and lonely, but your steps set me free.”

Finally, the Hero understood. Many Guides had come along beside her in the thousands of steps before, and many more would in the infinite number ahead. But Heart was always with her, waiting and willing to be set free.

In my journey, I have realized that my heart is vulnerable and my fear is real. However, my vulnerability is an opportunity for intimacy and my fear can either lead me or I can lead it. Vulnerability and fear do not define me; they are tools I can use to grow and improve.

Have boundaries, but don’t build walls. Remember, even a house has doors; so can your heart.