By: Kaulana Mossman
Our cohort had the perfect curriculum session to revisit The Hero’s Journey as depicted by Joseph Campbell and illustrated through Finding Joe—The Story of the Golden Buddha, as Fellows of Cohort IX prepared to embark on our journeys. I’m not sure if it was the excitement of seeing each other, the thrill of sharing thoughts about our individual journeys, or perhaps the tinge of anxiety pertaining to the journey ahead, but the sense of urgency and elation in the air was palpable.
We often think of a hero as someone wearing a metaphorical cape who can defy all obstacles to save the world. The Oxford dictionary defines a hero as a “person who is admired or idealized for courage and outstanding achievements.”
Campbell believed that the hero’s journey provided guidance in actualizing our highest potential in our unique pathways to true happiness. We are all in different phases of our hero’s journey. The story of the Golden Buddha is symbolic of the belief that each of us are born golden by nature and connected to our happiness. It then begs the question, why do we seldom look inward and see ourselves as heroes no matter what incredible feats we overcome?
Campbell believed that through life’s experiences we begin to develop a dull concrete casing and become a stone buddha concealing the gold beneath the surface. The journey, typically in the form of a crisis, adversity, or setback, is what ultimately chips away at the concrete armor, exposing the gold within us.Who would have thought that it would be necessary to separate ourselves from what is familiar to grow? The hero’s journey speaks of how we must “go into the dark in order to see the light” despite our tendency to avoid anything that draws discomfort. And yet, it is only in those spaces that we experience true growth. We are all hungry for the hero’s adventures to discover who we truly are—essentially, delving into the depths to expose the strength and light within us. The potential to live a life of heroism arises when we refuse to fall victim to our fears and never settle for anything less.
The incredible day’s session led by Bill Coy and Cheryl Kaʻuhane Lupenui ended with emotional goodbyes as we each clutched onto envelopes containing inspirational messages of support from fellow Cohort members. No matter where we go or what lies ahead, we proceed with the force of the collective within us. We will no longer allow our inner fears to be the inhibitors for our return to bliss!
Read Cohort IX Fellows’ reflections on their leadership journeys in 2025:
This story appears in the May & June 2025 issue of Taking on Tomorrow.
Amanda Corby Noguchi and the rest of Cohort IX return from their leadership journeys to reflect on three questions: What do we need to remember? What do we need to hold on to? What must we let go of?