Jump! by Joseph Campbell

"A bit of advice given to a young Native American at the time of his initiation: "As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm. Jump. It's not as wide as you think."" ~ Joseph Campbell from A Joseph Campbell Companion

The hallmark of the advanced soul is a healthy relationship to fear. As we grow, we develop a deeper and deeper trust in that force that beats our hearts and grows our fingernails and, miraculously, seems to make those chasms not quite as wide the moment we jump.

Emerson tells us "God will not have his work made manifest by cowards." And pleads with us to "Always, always, always, always, always do what you are afraid to do." And assures us: "Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain."

And what about this classic from Everest-climbing mountaineer, W.H. Murray?

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!""

...

Are you at a chasm?

Jump.

It's not as wide as you think!

More from Joseph Campbell…

• Joseph Campbell’s Big Ideas
• Joseph Campbell’s quotes
• Buy the book from Amazon!

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