“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

 
This post is the fourth of a series called “Start with Yourself,” a how to guide to live like a hero on your quest to change the world. You don’t have to have read the others to understand this one, but if you like it, you might want to read the call to adventure, why we refuse the call, and how to say yes. Sign up in the box to the right to be sure not to miss a thing 🙂
 

Do you know the edge of your known world?

 

Ok, let me back up. Did you ever play Zelda, the Nintendo video game?

 

Don’t worry if not – here’s what you need to know: Zelda is an adventure game where you ran around on quests to save the kingdom. Growing up, I loved to play Zelda. One of the things I loved about it was that when you first start out, there was a “map” —obscured completely by foggy mist. Yet as you roamed the Zelda world (talking to people, solving puzzles, and intermittently battling monsters), the mist on the map slowly peeled back to unveil the terrain beneath as you came to know each place.

 

 

Known and Unknown

 

On my first night of college, as I left my dorm with a friend, I remember feeling a thrill of excitement as I came around every corner. I had no idea what would wait for me when I turned the corner. I was living in Zelda, in the middle of map covered in mist, waiting for me to uncover its mystery.

 

This is what the edge of the unknown feels like. The territory is not always external –it’s not always as literal as a physical new place — but it is, in essence, unknown.

 

When we are called to adventure, this is where we are headed: into the mist; to places unknown.

 

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Standing at the Threshold

 

If you’ve been called to do something, made it through the refusal stage and said yes (or in some adventures, even if you are still refusing while the adventure takes you anyway), then you will soon find yourself at the edge of the mist. Thanks to Joseph Campbell, there is a name for where you are: standing in front of a threshold.

 

Thresholds are markers. Doorways. Entrances. Frames. Starting lines. They divide what you know from what you don’t.

 

Thresholds come in all shapes and sizes. There are mental thresholds, physical, emotional, spiritual — in every dimension of your life there are thresholds that lead to something unknown to you.

 

But here’s the important thing: the call to adventure is coming from the other side of one of them.

 

 

Crossing the Line

 

Another important thing about thresholds: the physical action of crossing them is small, but the significance is disproportionately large.

 

You cross them with a single step, but then everything is changed.

 

The physical action is small but necessary, while the significance of the step — what it means to you — is huge.

 

For me in last week’s story, it was a literal threshold: Stepping off a plane and showing up with two suitcases on the threshold of a house I had never been to before – my new home.

 

It didn’t take much to open the door and walk in — but what it meant was starting a new life in Boston, working with social entrepreneurs.

 

 

Mapping Your Unknown

 

Are you are wondering where your threshold is? It starts by finding the edge of what you know, and going to it.

 

What feels just past comfortable? Just outside of known? You can use your body to help with this: what feels scary or uncertain when you imagine doing it?

 

A super important caveat:

 

When you’re mapping what you know, what you’re comfortable with, it’s important to stay out of the “should”s. Don’t try to go to where you think your edge should be (remember how dangerous those “should”s are?)—go to where your edge actually is.

 

The activities, ideas or places that actually feel scary in your body, even if you think they should be easy — particularly if you find yourself thinking, “this shouldn’t be a big deal,” “I should have done this already,” or “I shouldn’t feel this way.” Those “shoulds” can shove it. Notice your edge — your real edge — and peek over.

 

 

Wanted: One Small, Significant Step

 

Now that you’ve seen the edge, what is one tiny step that would take you just over the line into that unknown territory?

 

Something small that feels just on the edge of possible, something a little—or maybe a lot—scary….but that just might feel electric if you actually pulled it off?

 

Imagine this is a movie about your life. Everyone watching knows your calling, because it’s been obvious to us all along. We can see the determination in your face change…the music is swelling…. you’re about to… do what?

 

Is it a phone call, an email, a plane ticket, an earnest internet search? Walking around the block?

 

What does the first tiny step look like?

 

Make it small. Make it significant. And then — lead yourself over the line.

 

 

Leading Yourself

 

You are the only person who can walk your journey.

 

This is what separates a hero from a spectator. Will you cross the line? Will you walk into the unknown?

 

At some point you have to just do it.

 

Only you can take that step. A friend, a mentor, a coach or other allies can guide you, cheer you, and help you….but it is only by living your own choice and leading your own life that will bring you here.

 

This is what’s so terrifying. If we are choosing, if we are leading ourselves…. then we have no one to hide behind.

 

But I don’t have to see you to tell you: being a hero looks good on you.

 

You can do it. Take that step. Cross the line.

 

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This week’s “start with yourself” challenge:

 

Do it. Cross the line. Step into the unknown — one small but significant step.

 

And bonus points for sharing your SBSS (small but significant step) in the comments!

 

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