If the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's. Follow your bliss. Joseph Cambell Quote

If the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's. Joseph Campbell Inspirational Quote

Joseph Campbell was an amazing writer who coined the phrase 'follow your bliss' By that he meant be true to yourself, find out what makes you happy and follow that path. That path is rarely straight forward and there will always be kinks and ups and downs along the way.  We can't see our own path clearly and we aren't meant to, nobody knows what is exactly round the corner and that is fine.  That is part of life and we should just accept that as part of our path. Everyone's path is different and we should not judge others or compare our path to somone else's or see our path as inadequate or better than anyone else's path.

This is an account from Dennis Merritt Jones of the huffingtonpost.com on his personal journey on reading Joseph Campbell's ideal of following your bliss "Was Campbell saying that I could follow a career path that would make me extremely happy -- one that brings joy and a smile to my face -- and that doors would open effortlessly for me, providing me with the means to live well? But what would my parents think? I became a marketing major because my dad was my hero and made a great living as a VP in a major ad agency. It was then that I realized I was following my dad's path rather than my own. Why? Because, not only did I want to honor him (and make the kind of money he was making), I wanted to be him. The realization I had was that, in the process, I was really dishonoring myself. This was the first of what would become a series of re-defining moments in my life as I set out on the path that Campbell refers to as "the hero's journey."

This "reality check" became a re-defining moment because I knew in my heart that my bliss would never be found in studying economics and market trends, or selling someone else's ideas and products; as it would turn out, my bliss would be found on an entirely different path. I began to focus on where my passion was and one day, right there on campus, a new door opened for me. While sitting on the grass, playing guitar and singing with my friends, it became obvious where I would find my happiness -- it was right there in front of me: For three years I had been hanging out with people who were following their bliss... as music majors. In short, after going the distance for three years of college as a marketing major I changed my major to music and never looked back. I had found my bliss. As one door closed another door had opened, and in the process, I began to understand what Joseph Campbell meant by bliss." 

Our path may not always be clear but it is our path. It may not always be happy but it is our path. It may often be filled with pain but it is our path. It will be balanced we hope by times of happiness and bliss and it is our path. We own the path, we claim the path, it is our path. 

What is your bliss? Are you following your bliss? Are you walking your own pathI feel like I'm finally following my bliss becoming more spiritual and writing this blog. In writing about what I love and sharing my information with others I'm finally working at what I love and growing as I do so. 

Blissful blessings to you, Alison