Staying focused on your Journey doesn’t have to mean you ignore another person’s plea for help or digging into an interesting research topic. The trick is to be able to identify the difference between a distraction from your goal and a task that will benefit you.

Sometimes a thing or a person is a distraction – true.  But sometimes (and I think more often) it’ll be a boon to you on your Journey that you just don’t see yet.

How will you be able to tell the difference between a distraction and a boon? The method might seem counterintuitive at first:

Does it teach you a new skill? Part of what makes a Hero’s Journey is how you learn along the way.  You learn new skills. You learn about yourself. You learn about your place in the universe.

Is it hard to do emotionally? If it brings up fear, you absolutely know you have to do it.  The resistance is a big pointy arrow flashing “do this!”  While facing it, though, think micro-tasks or baby steps.

Does it help one of your allies or mentors? Your relationship with an ally or your mentor is not a one-way street.  They get as much out of the relationship as you do. Remember when you last helped someone or taught someone a skill? That’s what you both get out of this relationship.

If it doesn’t meet one of these criteria, you can be pretty sure it’s just a distraction. If it’s just bright and shiny—well. . . Distractions are fine for a few minutes, but if you want to get all the way through the cycle of your Hero’s Journey you’re going to have to stay on track.

Image Title: Gasc, Anna Rosina de: Porträt einer unbekannten Dame als Aurora Creator: Anna Rosina von Lisiewska Date: 1761 Providing institution: City Museum Berlin Aggregator: German Digital Library Providing Country: Germany Puiblic Domain Gasc, Anna Rosina de: Porträt einer unbekannten Dame als Aurora – City Museum Berlin, Germany – Public Domain.