Follow Your Bliss

Joseph Campbell is one of my favorite writers.

To some, his musings on myths and symbols may seem sophomoric or purely surface-level. That may be true, but the work of Joseph Campbell has inspired some of the most notable creatives in modern memory; George Lucas is the most obvious example, but Campbell’s work influenced, and continues to influence, many others.

The reason Joseph Campbell’s work has had such an effect, despite lacking the depth and rigor of other notable scholars from that era, is because Campbell’s work is concerned with, above all else, the ways in which we, as human beings, can live a truly meaningful and authentic life. Myths and symbols are a way of exploring what it means to live such a life and, in turn, how one can do so.

Right below the paragraph underneath this one, you will find one of Joseph Campbell’s most famous quotations. Such words come from a man who took his own advice to heart and, as a result, blessed millions with stories, themes, and ideas that they would’ve, more likely than not, never heard or understood.

The reason I am writing this essay is to explore the quotation below this paragraph. To many, it is self-explanatory and, worst of all, a massive cliche. Those two qualities may reflect the true nature of this quotation, but I believe there are a few layers that most overlook but that, when engaged with, reflect a way of living far more beautiful than the cliche nature of the quotation, and those like it, would appear to suggest.

Follow Your Bliss And The Universe Will Open Doors For You Where There Were Only Walls.

You will find many, many quotes that look, and sound, just like the Joseph Campbell quote above. As a quotation, it is not unique. But, despite being relatively cliche, there are several layers to the quote that may be invisible, if you do not take the time to consider what Campbell is really saying.

The reason these layers may be invisible would be, in my opinion, due to the fact that there are so many quotations, many of which seem to come from the bowels of Corporate America, that convey messages such as “Follow your passion and never give up” or “Follow your dreams and you will succeed”. None of these statements are bad, per se, but they are rather shallow and, for many, they do not reflect practicality or any semblance of reality.

All of this begs a question, though, and this question is, essentially, what is Joseph Campbell really saying with this quotation?

Following Your Bliss

The dictionary defines “bliss” as “perfect happiness; great joy”. To “follow your bliss”, you must follow “perfect happiness” and “great joy”.

But, how do you follow feelings and emotions?

You follow that which evokes the feelings and emotions you seek to experience.

For many, it is the activities and pursuits that evoke feelings and emotions of tremendous happiness and extraordinary joy that serve as one’s “bliss”.

The really special thing about “following your bliss” is that you do not have one source of bliss. Rather, you have many sources of bliss, and these sources of bliss may be as vast and varied as writing essays, taking long walks, spending time with people that you really love, listening to romantic Bollywood music; and so much more.

All of those pursuits and activities are sources of happiness and joy. Both of those qualities, when combined, serve as the essence of bliss.

Joseph Campbell is, essentially, saying that you should — or, at the very least, you can — engage in the pursuits and activities that evoke feelings of happiness and joy within you as often as you can. By engaging in such pursuits and activities, you “follow” them and allow yourself to be swept up into some of the most beautiful states that we, as human beings, can reach.

The Universe Will Open Doors For You Where There Were Only Walls

I, personally, know a few people who adore the “Follow your bliss” portion of Campbell’s quote, but feel rather ambivalent towards the second portion. Speaking generally, the reason for this ambivalence is due to the cliche nature of the quotation’s latter half; it sounds no different than any number of “Follow your dreams and you will succeed” quotations.

The ambivalence, and its origins, are understood. But, in my experience, it comes not from the statement itself, but from a fundamental misunderstanding of Joseph Campbell’s main point.

You see, Joseph Campbell is not talking about you following your passion and making lots of money or becoming incredibly famous. Those are all worthy pursuits, in many ways, but the fulfillment of those aims is not what Campbell means when he says “The universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”. Joseph Campbell is actually saying something a little more special.

By following your bliss — engaging in that which evokes the feelings and emotions that comprise bliss — you experience some of the greatest and loveliest states that we, as human beings, can experience. Within these states, you could say that you are “truly alive”, and that would not be incorrect.

As you follow your bliss, and exist within those states, things begin to happen. You are happier, of course, and you feel a great deal more fulfilled. But, there’s something else that happens. A series of things, actually, and this “series of things” is, in my experience, dependent on the person and what they are doing. The fact that things begin to happen, though, is never in question or in doubt.

The things that begin to happen, as you follow your bliss, serve as the universe “opening doors” where “there were only walls”.

For myself, the things that have taken place include new friendships that begin with tremendous ease, a sea of wonderful ideas that turn into creative work that satisfies myself and others, spontaneous moments of novelty and adventure, and even some excellent opportunities for money.

Do not follow your bliss solely for money or fame, though. Follow your bliss to experience the purest happiness and greatest joy that you, as a human being, can experience.

As you experience those states as often as you can, doors will open, and these doors will open in a manner that is natural, harmonious, and surprising. What lies beyond those doors, and what comes from going through them, is not something that can be defined or described for you or anyone else, for it is rooted entirely in your experience of the world.

All of that being said, though, the promise that can be made is that what lies beyond the doors you have opened will only serve to enhance, in the best of ways, the extraordinary bliss you are choosing to experience.

Conclusion

In the end, the true meaning of Joseph Campbell’s quote is that we, as human beings, are called forth to follow that which evokes within us the deepest and most profound experiences of joy and happiness. There are many such things that will do just that, and if we surrender ourselves to that myriad of things, we will walk through doors that lead to treasures far beyond our grandest dreams.

Thank you for reading this essay! I do hope that you enjoyed reading it, and I hope that you resonate with the message and allow yourself to pursue and experience the things that give you true happiness and joy! If you want to reach me, for any reason at all, you can do so at “maxwellcakin@gmail.com”.

Best wishes, and have a great day!