As a society, we’re saturated with the myth of the warrior: the man locked in constant conflict. He battles his body, his environment, his rivals. It’s in gym culture, boardroom talk, locker room banter. Grind harder. Crush the competition. Attack your goals. Toughen up. Be a man.
For some, this warrior archetype resonates. It becomes a personal myth, a framework for inner and outer struggle. It can motivate. It can give meaning. But it’s not the only story.
And for many men, it’s not their story at all.
The warrior myth, when it becomes the only myth, can be limiting. Even harmful. It eclipses other powerful models of masculinity: the traveler, who seeks and explores. The sage, who questions and teaches. The maker, who builds and tends. These are agentic roles too, rooted in strength, courage, and wisdom.
Then there are the communal archetypes: the lover, the caregiver, the friend. These stories don’t shout as loudly in our culture, but they matter deeply. What could be more masculine than being a devoted father? A loyal friend? A partner who shows up with care and presence?
We should be cautious of stories handed to us without consent. You’re allowed more than one script. You can be a warrior in the gym, a sage at work, a caregiver at home. You are not one thing.
So today’s prompt:
Who are the main characters in your personal mythology? Are they truly yours, or were they assigned to you?
What other roles would you like to explore in your life and what’s stopping you?
Happy journaling.
Dave Bawden is the founder of This Journaling Journey, where he helps people (especially men) use journaling to rewrite their personal myths, reconnect with meaning, and define success on their own terms. He writes at the intersection of self-authorship, narrative identity, and everyday philosophy.
