Let them say what they will about the academic merits of Joseph Campbell, probably the most widely known American mythologist. I find that discussion misses the point of the awe-inspiring thought experiments Campbell introduced to the world. Drawing on his vast knowledge about the stories of many world cultures, he was able to connect the dots between seemingly disparate peoples and communicate that insight clearly and in a poetic way that expressed the wonder and passion that he saw in those connections.

If you've heard only one thing about Joseph Campbell, it would likely be his widespread call to action: "follow your bliss". I believe that rally cry is shared by Gary Veynerchuk in his book, 'Crush It!' Gary's language is different (he uses the word 'passion' to express bliss), but the concept is the same.

Campbell says it best, so I'll let him speak:

Now, I came to this idea of bliss because in Sanskrit, which is the great spiritual language of the world, there are three terms that represent the brink, the jumping-off place to the ocean of transcendence: sat-chit-ananda. The word "Sat" means being. "Chit" means consciousness. "Ananda" means bliss or rapture. I thought, "I don't know whether my consciousness is proper consciousness or not; I don't know whether what I know of my being is my proper being or not; but I do know where my rapture is. So let me hang on to rapture, and that will bring me both my consciousness and my being." I think it worked.

If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are—if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.

When I first heard this idea while studying music in college, it really resonated with me and ever since, I've tried to find and follow my bliss. Sometimes I don't see it in the moment, but looking back on events and my life's path, it always surfaces that my greatest experiences and biggest opportunities came to me while I was "in accord" (another of Campbell's concepts) with my passion. When I lose track of my passion, I feel lost, and it can take some time to refocus and find a thread of bliss of again. But, I can think of no better way to serve the world and leave behind a legacy of positive impact than to seek and follow what you love.

If you've never heard Bill Moyers' interviews with Campbell, 'The Power of Myth', I recommend giving it a listen. Campbell brings us glimpses of familiar and exotic cultures, some still thriving, some long dead. And the message that stands out is that there are similarities in all human cultures that indicate we're all telling the same story—the human story! It unites us all in this reality and finds common ground amongst all the world's religions and folk traditions. I think we can benefit from sharing this idea in a time of polarizing politics, wars, and environmental concerns. So, thank you Gary V. for reminding us to follow our bliss.