(Adapted from the book, Work as a Heroic Journey: Use Your Workplace to Evolve Your Character and Consciousness by Marion Moss Hubbard, Ph.D.)

“Wherever you are–if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.”
—Joseph Campbell

One of the themes that ran throughout Joseph Campbell’s work was the idea that for us to feel the joy and vitality we seek, it is important to follow our bliss each moment. He described bliss as “the moments when you feel most happy, when you really are happy—not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy.” This requires us to be introspective and thoughtful about our lives. We have to experiment to see what brings us the most passion and enthusiasm among all the choices. We have to be persistent to find our own way despite distractions or seeming obstacles that divert us from our path.

When we follow our bliss, an invisible force emanates from the center of our being that captures our entire attention. It directs our actions and evokes our creativity, determination, and pure joy of being alive. And it acts as our internal benchmark, helping us know whether our external existence is in sync with our innermost desires.

There are some people who insist on interpreting Campbell’s idea of "following your bliss" as a call to do your own thing. But that was not at all what he had in mind. He was not suggesting that we follow a hedonistic lifestyle, but rather with our entire fervor find and pursue our personal calling, which inevitably serves society in some unique way.

The idea of following our bliss is a foreign concept to many of us in our culture. We may not have been taught that the purpose of life is to find our unique place in the world. We might not have received encouragement to pursue what brings passion and fulfillment to our lives. If anything, many of us have been told what we should do based on what others think is important. We are affirmed and rewarded for giving ourselves away rather than giving of ourselves to others.

We may feel pressured by family to sacrifice our personal goals and desires to run a family business. Employees are often encouraged to give themselves over body, mind, and soul to their employers. And as human being we often receive the message at an early age that our value is determined by our status in the cultural hierarchy.

We are, however, in the midst of a paradigm shift in consciousness. Many of us are being called to follow our individual guidance, so we can experience more meaning, purpose, and a sense of wholeness. When we do our creativity flourishes, which naturally promotes innovations and spirals individuals and the organizations they serve toward excellence. And when groups aspire to excellence, they are a powerful presence in service to humanity.

As we individually and collectively make this shift in consciousness, we all benefit from this co-creation. When we feel valued we are happier and more productive. Self-esteem improves. When we feel better about ourselves, we are less likely to lash out at others with frustration, anger or violence. We can then refocus our energy on what we want ourselves, our organizations, and the world to become.