Before people read my book they ask about the title: The Hero’s Choice: Living from the Inside Out. “What do you mean by the hero’s choice? What are you talking about when you talk about a hero?” These are good questions. So, I decided to write a blog about “The Hero Principle.”
We typically think of heroes as larger than life characters that possess extra-ordinary capabilities or who put themselves in harms way to save others. No problem with that definition. But, I also believe that heroes are everyday people who face life squarely and make choices based on courage, honor, compassion or integrity. What makes them heroes is not something extraordinary but how they handle the day-to-day circumstances and events.
Myths about Heroes
Here are a few myths and realities about heroes.
| Myth | Reality |
| Heroes are larger than life | Heroes are ordinary people |
| Heroes possess extraordinary capabilities | Heroes have strengths and weaknesses |
| Heroes put themselves in harms way | Heroes make good choices (even tough choices) during the challenges of life |
| Heroes are in the spotlight | Most heroic acts are private and not recognized publicly |
| Heroes are few and far between | Heroes are all around us—in our families, businesses, churches, social group |
Being a Hero in Your Life
My message is that you can be a hero in your own life and in the lives of those around you. (No doubt in many ways you already are.) You are living the hero principle as you:
- Step up to difficult situations and events (key moments) with courage
- Choose your attitude rather than leaving it to circumstances of the moment
- Enter into a difficult conversation you’d prefer to avoid
- Accept accountability rather than blame when things go wrong
- Raise your sights from getting by to making a difference in a position or area of personal responsibility.
It is not always easy to live this way. It takes commitment and persistence. It is far easier to live from the motives of fear or obligation, to live going through the motions of life. However, as you make the “hero’s choice” in the day-to-day moments of your life learn that you are bigger than whatever shows up in your life. And, you grow in character, which is the ultimate source of personal satisfaction, peace, and fulfillment.
