A forward journey is actually cyclical.
The reason stories follow a cyclical pattern is because humans experience time in cycles. Consider a teenager, ready to go alone into the world, eager to make a name for herself, just to discover that the very thing she left was the same goal she desperately pursues: family. Except the next time she lives in a family environment, she is the mother.
The very challenge that defeats the hero is his call to adventure.
The hero's inability is what spurs him on the quest. If he already had the strength and tools to stop the bad guys or to survive a tragedy, they wouldn't be in a position where they needed to go on an adventure. So, ironically, the very thing the hero fails at becomes the greatest piece of their identity. The weakling becomes the strong one. The despairing become the peaceful.
The hero needs others to succeed in his quest.
Although the progress of the soul is a private, individualistic endeavor, and in the end the hero has to stand alone against the dragon, along every step of the way, they are spurred on by love and encouragement in their community.
The monomyth means that everyone is a hero.
If every story is the same story, it follows that every human life follows the hero's tale. Therefore, the difference between being a hero and not being a hero is an issue of timing and bravery. If a person is brave enough to challenge their status quo, then they have the option of becoming a hero.
The way upward is down.
The way to climb the ladder toward the ultimate goal is actually a downward process. One would think that a king or hero would be the most powerful being, so others would be beneath them, but consistently, heroes are called upon to be sacrificial and self-defeating. They have to abandon their fears and insecurities. They have to give up treasures and pleasures. But in the end, the humble work of improving the self is an act of giving, because when they get home, the are good kings and the whole kingdom improves.
