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?” That is a good question. 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.
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 |
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 a hero as you step up to difficult situations and events (key moments) with courage; as you choose your attitude rather than leaving it to circumstances of the moment; as you enter into a difficult conversation you’d prefer to avoid; as you accept accountability rather than blame when things go wrong; as you 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.
Roger K. Allen, Ph.D. is an expert in personal transformation, leadership, and teams. His tools and methods have helped hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of people transform the ways they work and live. To learn more, visit www.theheroschoice.com.
