This is an 8-part Antihero Overview Series, where you’ll learn and quickly apply key concepts at every stage of the Antihero’s Journey.
The Antihero Clinic was created to help you live out your hero’s journey. When your “hero badge” has been stripped because of mistakes you’ve made, your story hasn't ended—it just shifted.
But we don't realize that when we’re in the thick of it. We tend to stay in shame and even try to live an invisible life with a small purpose. We don't want to be seen.
You can regain the honor you once had as a leader. It isn't easy, but it is possible. It'll take a new mindset and much patience.
You’ll need a place to connect, learn, and effectively share our stories with others going through the shame-to-honor conflict.
The Antihero Profile
Here's what makes you an antihero:
Calling Rejected. You know your purpose and manipulate it for selfish gain.
Influence Declined. It's hard to be the persuasive leader you once were.
Credibility Questioned. People have a hard time trusting you.
Sociability Reversed. You're distant from the people who love you.
Spirituality Staled. It's tough meditating, praying, or centering yourself.
Here's what doesn't make you an antihero:
A scandal event.
A failed experience.
Perpetual hardship.
Extreme selfishness.
A financial or sex scandal alone doesn't make you an antihero. Failing miserably at your job or marriage doesn't count either. And we’ve all faced repeated hardships and can be incredibly selfish at some point.
What makes you an antihero is why these events were developed and how you're now affected. If your 'why' had anything to do with you knowing your purpose and sabotaging it, the clinic is for you.
You need a new story paradigm
The Antihero’s Journey was adapted from the historical and biblical account of Samson. He was physically powerful, but his Achille’s heel lay with one woman. Samson’s height of Hubris, depth of Humiliation, turn of Humility, and rise to Honor all happened in the city of Gaza. As antiheroes, we all have a “Gaza” and it helps to recall the who, what, when, where, why, and how of yours.
The Antihero’s Journey
While Samson's life story has been analyzed and framed as the Antihero’s Journey, it’s not designed to replace your original Hero’s Journey (more on that in another newsletter). It is used as a structured detour to guide you back on track to living a meaningful life past your mistakes.Here's what Samson went through and also what your new journey looks like:
Reservation of calling/purpose.
Recognition of calling.
Rebellion against calling.
Ruination of one’s character.
Repentance of rebellion.
Repositioning of oneself.
Restoration of one’s honor.
We’ll go into this framework in more detail, but at the core of this entire process is your willingness to leverage your mistakes and old story to develop a new one. And that begins with a new mindset. Ready to take on the challenge?