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Blog My Mind

Keren Levi-Faran
Jun 29, 20163 min read

Your Inner Hero

Unmasking Your Inner Hero: Life Lessons from Literary Legends

Have you ever encountered a character in a book who felt like a kindred spirit, their struggles mirroring your own? The heroes and heroines of literature hold an extraordinary power – they guide us through journeys of self-discovery, whispering wisdom that transcends their fictional worlds.

And that's the magic behind "Not a story! Read, write, tell.", my workshop and game inspired by the enduring lessons within beloved books. Today, we delve into a unique section dedicated to these literary figures – mentors for life, ready to share their timeless truths.


Unveiling Hidden Treasures:

Each hero embodies a powerful lesson, a piece of their soul waiting to be unlocked. But the key lies not in blind imitation but in understanding and applying their essence to your unique story. So, before we embark on this adventure, ask yourself:

  • Who is the hero in your story? Who holds the torch that illuminates your path?

  • What characters populate your narrative? Are they allies, villains, or unexpected guides?

  • What lessons will you weave into your tapestry? How will you translate these literary whispers into action?


Lessons From Legendary Souls:

Now, let's step into the world of these iconic heroes and glean their precious pearls of wisdom:


The Guardian: From Daddy-Long-Legs, Jean Webster's spirited orphan, we learn the art of guarding our dreams. With optimism and determination as our shields, we navigate challenges and emerge stronger, knowing that "everything will be fine" with unwavering dedication.


Guarding Lesson Daddy Long Legs | Jean Webster An excellent old book about an orphaned girl who receives a coveted scholarship from a mysterious man known in the story as a long-legged father. Later in the story, she attends college and develops culturally and socially, with all her experiences described through letters between her and "Daddy Long Legs." This story has many layers and messages about opportunities, possibilities, optimism, and determination, but most of all, the motif of Guarding remains the lesson.


"I think that the most necessary quality for any person to have is imagination. It makes people able to put themselves in other people's places. It makes them kind and sympathetic and understanding." Jean Webster, Daddy-Long-Legs

The Lover: L. Frank Baum's Tin Man in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz teaches us that love is the source of true happiness. It is not grand gestures but the quiet embers of compassion and empathy that warm our hearts and light the way forward.


Love Lesson The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Frank Lyman Baum The Wizard of Oz is one of the best-known books in the world. Even though it's a fantasy, the message, the way, and the complex characters are authentic. The Wizard is a story about a journey, about a way we repeatedly look for something that we think is missing but was there all the time. But we need the journey to discover, understand, and give meaning or references to what we have.


"I shall take the heart. [...] For brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world." L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Dreamer: Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland invites us to embrace the wild beauty of dreams. We discover our true selves in the whimsical chaos, learning that "who in the world am I?" is a joyful puzzle, not a burden.


Dreams Lesson Alice in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll A 150-year-old book, though, continues renewing every time you read it. New layers reveal messages, thoughts, imagination, and sights. This book has many mirrors, not only in Wonderland but also in the space between the reader and the words. This book makes you stop, think, and learn. About falling into pits, self-definition, about how, in one moment, you can be the biggest and become small and invisible in another. How fast you return to being great if you know the right potion about madness, relativity, logic, and insights from chaos. And nonsense and how essential they are in the journey toward dreams.


"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

The Unique: Anne Shirley, the red-haired heroine of Anne of Green Gables, whispers the power of authenticity. She reminds us that our quirks and eccentricities are not flaws but brushstrokes that paint our unique masterpieces.


Uniqueness Lesson Lucy Maud Montgomery | Anne of Green Gables Anne Shirley, the girl with red hair, is a literary heroine who goes in her way. Anne goes through the story and undergoes a change in which she does not give up on herself and her unique abilities but uses her skills and weaknesses for self-realization and fulfillment. All of Anne's choices and references along the way are based on loyalty to the basic foundations and values of the character. Anyone looking for his destiny, fulfillment, and realization must remember Anne Shirley's lesson and find the authentic and unique way just for you.


"People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?" L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

The Empowered: Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre offers a lesson in conquering fear. Through her unwavering spirit, she teaches us that facing our anxieties with awareness and purpose empowers us to write our destinies.


Power Lesson Charlotte Bronte | Jane Eyre So what's power got to do with Victorian love? The heroine of Charlotte Bronte is Jane Eyre. She teaches a lesson of energy through her decisions throughout the story. Jane Eyre is not a fearless heroine; on the contrary, she is a heroine full of fears and problematic opening figures. She lives in a challenging period, in a society and culture that are challenging. Jane could have been full of excuses, but she's making choices, not without fear, but out of awareness of the fear and despite it. Jane Eyre's empowerment begins with a response to fear, acknowledging its existence through understanding the price she pays in every decision: completion, acceptance, taking responsibility, and willingness to act and bear the consequences.


"I am no bird, and no net ensnares me: I am a free human with an independent will." Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

These are just whispers from the vast library of wisdom waiting to be explored. Each hero holds a treasure, a key to unlocking a facet of your own story.


Ready to embark on your literary journey? Download all the lessons and dive deeper into the lives of these remarkable heroes. Let their stories become your compass, guiding you towards self-discovery and the extraordinary tale that is your own.



Embrace Your Hero's Journey: visit The Mined for more creative tools.

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