This is his final test. It’s all about asking: has our Hero really become stronger and more courageous through his journey, or was it all a fluke?

By making it through one last encounter (maybe even one that puts our Hero on the edge of death again), he shows that he’s grown immensely from his journey. Not only that, but the knowledge he’s picked up along the way is just as applicable in the Ordinary World.

And indeed, once he’s overcome the final obstacle in the Ordinary World, our Hero proves he really has been transformed by the journey.

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR

Our Hero returns to the Ordinary World with the spoils of his journey, otherwise known as the Elixir.

Again, the Elixir can be something tangible like an item of value, but more often than not, it’s something deep within the soul of our Hero. He’s stronger now. He’s beaten his demons. He’s followed through on something important, and has grown as a result.

Life returns to normal for our Hero. But it’s an even better sense of normal than the one he started with. As a result of his journey, he’s created a better version of himself and a better life.

All is right in the world. That is, until a new Call to Action arrives and the cycle begins again.

Will my stories feel “stale” if I use Hero’s Journey?

This is far and away one of the largest objections people have to using the Hero’s Journey in their own work.

Though the Hero’s Journey can and has been used as a plug and play formula, we’d almost always recommend viewing it more as a flexible set of guidelines.

If you follow the structure too rigidly, you definitely run the risk of telling a story that feels obvious and stilted and maybe a little bit trite. Most everybody, regardless of whether they know it or not, is familiar with the Hero’s Journey. It’s practically in our DNA at this point.

So as storytellers, it’s in our best interest to dress it up a little and use it subtly, maybe expanding on some of the stages and shuffling them around a bit. And definitely feel free to play around with character archetypes and keep audiences on their toes.

Where the Hero’s Journey still shines, regardless of how you use it, is in giving us a framework for a compelling and relatable inner journey for our main character. The plot points and supporting characters and structure are still important, but it’s the Hero’s inner journey towards overcoming fear that makes the story ultimately resonate.

If you can get that part right, you’re on the right track.

If you enjoyed this, check out our sweet Hero’s Journey ebook for an even more detailed breakdown