M I N D F U L | M O N D A Y S

Joseph Campbell reigns as the creator of the Hero's Journey - 1949. The Hero's Journey is an ideology that states that most story structures deemed as classics share a wide-ranging category of tales in which a character ventures out to get what they need, faces conflict, and ultimately triumphs over adversity.

I believe that our lives follow the same 360-degree journey where we are the hero of our adventure! On the call to assistance portion of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, the protagonist (YOU) are often given/earn a magical weapon to assist you on your quest. For this Mindful Mondays I focused on the weapon of Forgiveness.

As stated on previous Mindful Mondays, responsibility is power. It is such that when we do not forgive or are incapable of forgiving, we are essentially relinquishing our control to the past. No matter what "they" did or how justified you may be in your feelings, if you are hellbent on holding on to the past, you will never be free to continue your positive journey to who you are becoming.

Holding on to the past will hinder you from appreciating the present. Logically, you can only control the NOW; thus, one could argue that it would be beneficial not to create a future on a foundation of negative thoughts.

Forgiveness is not always easy and requires a lot of self-work and starts within, but it is an integral part of letting go of past hurt and limiting pain. However, just because one may find it possible to forgive does not mean that you must accept the behavior moving forward. You can forgive someone and release them with love, which also goes for your past shortcomings.

Today let go of personal: hate, fear, blame, and resentment.

Forgiveness is Love

Forgiveness is Liberation

Forgiveness is POWER

I love and forgive you!

-Aaron Johnson

M I N D F U L | M O N D A Y S

We Are All Deserving

Today I want you to know that you are deserving of all things GOOD. Let the idea resonate deep from within and know that you were not made to be undeserving. Say the following aloud :

I am Worthwhile

I am deserving of Love

I am deserving of Happiness

I am deserving of Kindness

I am deserving of Forgiveness

I am deserving of Gratitude

In order to capture all that you deserve you must know that work is essential. Like the bamboo tree, we must all remember that hard work may not produce immediate results. The story of the Chinese Bamboo is a remarkable one. It is said that the tree takes five years to emerge from the ground, but when it finally appears, it grows rapidly in five weeks to a height of over 60 feet – as long as the tree was well nurtured. The bamboo tree knows it is deserving, however, the land needs to be tilled before the tree can emerge. You are deserving, but must till your land(mind) to emerge!

-Aaron Johnson