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. You can find links to previous parts of the series at the bottom this newsletter.
A Practical Approach to Change
In the last post, you took a look at overcoming your rock bottom experience. It resembles a heel-to-toe, military “about-face”—a 180-degree turn in the opposite direction towards change.
You discovered that one of the biggest barriers that will block you from making a successful turn is how you handle your guilt. Guilt can either propel your antihero story or prevent your plot from developing, as you stay in ruin.
After you begin to move past your guilt, there are some targeted, tangible steps you can take in order to keep pressing towards honor.
Stage Six: Reposition
Repositioning is about transitioning from the mental desire to change to a behavioral application. This is where you get your hands dirty with the actual work it’ll take to make lasting change. For the sake of this overview, here’s a common list that might inspire some ideas:
Find an accountability partner or group
Keep a gratitude journal
End toxic relationships and replace them with healthy ones
Attend networking events
Volunteer at a nonprofit that serves your community or a cause you believe in
Reach out to your family (this one can be tough for many of us)
Notice how many of these applications are social in nature. You’ll eventually realize that true change will require you to reengage or rebuild your social circles.
How to Make the Shift
Remember the five factors from the Antihero Profile that helped determined if you were an antihero?
Calling Rejected (not in reality, but you feel this way)
Credibility Questioned
Influence Declined
Sociability Reversed
Spirituality Staled
These same negative factors can also be used to help you start moving forward after you've expressed a desire to leave Stage 4 of Ruin.
Try this exercise. 1 ) Turn those 5 adverse conditions above into Yes/No questions and then 2) Follow up each question with a practical “How” list and then 3) Make a to-do list, then 4) Do it!
1. The YES/NO LIST
Your calling helps to establish your motive for existence. Are you worth it? (Y/N)
Your credibility ties into your authenticity as a personality. Are you authentic? (Y/N)
Your influence validates both your calling and credibility. Do they care? (Y/N)
Your sociability is your innate connection with others. Are you needed? (Y/N)
Your spirituality helps you discover yourself and the world around you. Are you aware? (Y/N)
Depending on your current perception of yourself, you might’ve answered “No” for most of these questions. And that’s okay. The questions are really just to help you externalize what you’re thinking and feeling. It becomes even more powerful when you write out your answers fully: “I do not think I’m worth it…I am an authentic person.” But don’t stop there! Move on to the next set of questions.
The questions below will help you think about how to be more practical, regardless of your Yes/No answers above.
2. The “HOW?” LIST
Calling: How can you prove your worth? (Think beyond your talent/skills)
Credibility: How can you show your authenticity? (Start with a personality assessment)
Influence: How will measure your level of influence? (Numbers aren’t a main factor here)
Sociability: How can you add value to others you connect with?
Spirituality: What are some ways that you can embrace your spirituality?
3. The “DO” List
Now you find one thing you can do for at least one how in each question. For example, You might’ve said you can embrace your spirituality by practicing meditation. Write that on a separate to-do list.
4. Go Do It
Now, go do what’s on your list! Keep your list simple and short. Don’t worry about schedules and routines just yet. Just do it. Structure and planning will come, but don’t make planning the primary repositioning activity. That’s not repositioning—it’s avoidance and procrastination. You must do the actual work.
Need help filling out your lists? Drop a comment and let’s work through it together! Depending on the need, I’ll create relevant discussion threads where we can dive deeper together.
Get practical,
Chris Bartley