The Journey
What must you leave behind to become who you're becoming?
Every life follows the same arc. Not a straight line — a spiral. The hero's journey repeats at each stage, and each time through, the questions get harder and the stakes get higher.
The Arc
| Phase | Experience | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Call | Awareness of need | What's calling me to change? |
| Threshold | Crossing into unknown | What must I leave behind? |
| Trials | Tests, allies, enemies | Who helps? Who blocks? |
| Abyss | Darkest moment | What must die for me to grow? |
| Transformation | Death and rebirth | Who am I becoming? |
| Return | Coming back changed | What do I bring back? |
| Mastery | Integration, teaching | How do I pass this on? |
Life Stages
The same arc plays out across a lifetime. Different questions, different stakes.
| Stage | Age | Core Challenge | Key Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | 0-12 | Foundation | How to learn, who to trust |
| Student | 12-22 | Identity | What to study, who to become |
| Worker | 22-35 | Independence | Career path, how to earn |
| Partner | 25-45 | Connection | Who to commit to, how to build trust |
| Parent | 30-55 | Leadership | How to lead, what to pass on |
| Elder | 55-75 | Wisdom | How to mentor, how to stay healthy |
| Legacy | 75+ | Integration | How to let go, how to find peace |
The Enemy Within
Fear at each threshold. The lie that blocks the crossing:
| Transition | The Fear | The Lie | The Truth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child → Student | "I'm not smart enough" | Identity is fixed | Growth is always possible |
| Student → Worker | "I'll pick wrong" | One path determines all | You can pivot |
| Worker → Partner | "I'll lose freedom" | Love is constraint | Love is expansion |
| Partner → Parent | "I'll fail them" | Perfect parents exist | Good enough is enough |
| Parent → Elder | "I'm becoming irrelevant" | Youth = value | Wisdom compounds |
| Elder → Legacy | "It was all meaningless" | Impact requires fame | Ripples outlast waves |
Mastery Dimensions
What develops at each stage across four domains:
| Stage | Physical | Mental | Social | Spiritual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Motor skills | Language, basics | Family bonds | Wonder |
| Student | Health habits | Learning to learn | Friendship | Identity |
| Worker | Energy management | Domain expertise | Network | Purpose |
| Partner | Intimacy | Emotional intelligence | Deep trust | Commitment |
| Parent | Endurance | Patience | Leadership | Sacrifice |
| Elder | Longevity | Perspective | Mentorship | Acceptance |
| Legacy | Letting go | Peace | Gratitude | Transcendence |
The Bridge
The best coach reflects empathy with the challenge.
| Position | Where in Journey | The Work |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Trust | Threshold → Trials | Help them cross. The unknown feels less terrifying with company. |
| High Agency | Transform → Return | Help them integrate. What they learned becomes who they are. |
The better your company, the better the journey.
Context
- Play — The core loop: questions, problems, decisions
- Flow State — When the journey flows
- The Fractal — Same pattern at every scale
- Archetypes — The parts you play at each stage
- Agency — Building capability for the journey