Journey into Transfiguration

8/11/25

Journey into Transfiguration

"In order to get what you want, you have to go where you don't want to go."

It’s not always what we want to hear, but it’s what we need to know. Real growth doesn’t come wrapped in ease or familiarity. It lives out in the wild unpredictable places that we tend to avoid.

If you truly want to become the person that you are meant to be, if you feel called to a life of deeper meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, you will have to cross the line between comfort and challenge. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. And it won’t feel easy. But that’s often the clearest signal that you are on the right path. That you are exactly where you need to be.

This powerful quote, often echoed by modern spiritual teachers and high-performance leaders, taps into a deep and timeless truth:

The life that you dream of lives on the other side of what you're avoiding.

Breakthroughs

We all carry maps in our minds. The routes that we are willing to take. And those dark areas and edges of our map that we instinctively avoid. Those shadows are usually filled with fear, doubt, old wounds, or parts of ourselves that we are not ready to face. But here’s the paradox: the very places that we resist are often where our greatest growth is waiting.

If it helps, think of your life like an epic adventure story. On the way to your highest potential, there's always a final test. A guardian that stands at the gate to the next level.
You’ll meet:

• The dragon standing between you and your treasure.

• The storm that challenges you and dares you to continue.

• Deep discomfort, doubt and fears.

You don’t level up by staying safe. You rise by daring to feel the fear and keep going anyway.

The moment you step into that trembling space, whether it’s speaking your truth, creating something vulnerable, risking rejection, or admitting what you really want, you unlock something powerful. That single act of courage can become the very turning point that reshapes your entire life.

This concept has been emphasized throughout the ages:

• Joseph Campbell's Hero’s Journey: The hero must leave comfort, face the unknown, and endure trials to find their true self.

• Carl Jung’s Shadow Work: The parts of yourself that you avoid are where your true power lies.

• Modern Stoicism: Challenge is not the enemy. It is the way to become more.

This saying whispers: "You want freedom? You want truth? You want greatness? Then you must walk through the fire that you fear."

Journeys Through the Fire

Examples:

• The woman with social anxiety who finally shares her voice from a stage - trembling, but free.

• The man who’s avoided grief for years, finally stepping into therapy and finding peace.

• The entrepreneur who dares to try again after public failure and builds something even better.

• The seeker who finally turns inward, sits in stillness, and uncovers a radiant truth buried beneath layers of distraction.

None of them got there by staying where it was safe. They moved toward the discomfort.
And that changed everything.

The Way Forward

The uncomfortable truth is this: the life you dream of isn’t hiding in the easy or familiar. It’s waiting beyond the resistance. Fear, doubt, discomfort. These are not barriers. They are signposts. They are showing you exactly where your treasure is buried.

To thrive in this new paradigm:

• Let fear be your compass. If it makes you nervous and excited, you’re on the right track.

• Identify your “dragon” and your “treasure.” What’s the difficult thing that you are avoiding? What breakthrough lies behind it?

• Take one brave step at a time. You don’t need to leap. You just need to move consistently and consciously.

• Fortify your spirit. Use journals, read books or talk with a mentor. Whatever strengthens your core, make it a habit.

• Live like the hero you are. See every challenge as your next initiation. Each step forward transforms your fear into power.

When you go where you don’t want to go, you become who you were always meant to be.

It’s time to stop avoiding those places that cause you discomfort. Go into your “shadows” and overcome yourself.

Your most extraordinary life is waiting on the other side of comfort.

The Spirit Behind the Words

Though the quote isn’t tied to a single author, its essence aligns with the teachings of Joseph Campbell (1904–1987), a trailblazing mythologist, writer, and teacher who illuminated the structure of human transformation through the “Hero’s Journey.” His work invited countless individuals to “follow their bliss,” even when that path led into darkness, fear, and uncertainty. One of Campbell’s most famous reminders: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”