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Heroic Myth Index

The Heroic Myth Index (HMI) is designed to help people better understand themselves and others by identifying the different archetypes active in their lives. Individuals taking the inventory receive a numerical score indicating their degree of identification with the twelve archetypes described in this book. All twelve archetypes are valuable, and each brings with it a special gift. Each has an important contribution to make in our lives. None is better or worse. Hence, there are no right or wrong answers.

Indicate how often you would agree with each statement as descriptive of yourself by answering the following questions. 

Work as quickly as is comfortable; your first reaction is often the best indicator. Please do not skip any items, since doing so might invalidate your results.

Credits: Carol S Pearson

1. I collect information without making judgments.

1. I collect information without making judgments.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

2. I feel disoriented by so much change in my life.

2. I feel disoriented by so much change in my life.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

3. The process of my own self-healing enables me to help heal others.

3. The process of my own self-healing enables me to help heal others.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

4. I have let others down.

4. I have let others down.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

5. I feel safe.

5. I feel safe.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

6. I put fear aside and do what needs to be done.

6. I put fear aside and do what needs to be done.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

7. I put the needs of others before my own.

7. I put the needs of others before my own.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

8. I try to be authentic wherever I am.

8. I try to be authentic wherever I am.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

9. When life gets dull, I like to shake things up.

9. When life gets dull, I like to shake things up.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

10. I find satisfaction caring for others.

10. I find satisfaction caring for others.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

11. Others see me as fun.

11. Others see me as fun.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

12. I feel attractive.

12. I feel attractive.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

13. I believe that people don’t really mean to hurt each other.

13. I believe that people don’t really mean to hurt each other.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

14. As a child, I was neglected or victimized.

14. As a child, I was neglected or victimized.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

15. Giving makes me happier than receiving.

15. Giving makes me happier than receiving.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

16. I agree with the statement: “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

16. I agree with the statement: “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

17. I embrace life fully.

17. I embrace life fully.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

18. I keep a sense of perspective by taking a long-range view.

18. I keep a sense of perspective by taking a long-range view.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

19. I am in the process of creating my own life.

19. I am in the process of creating my own life.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

20. I believe there are many good ways to look at the same thing.

20. I believe there are many good ways to look at the same thing.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

21. I am no longer the person I thought I was.

21. I am no longer the person I thought I was.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

22. Life is one heartache after another.

22. Life is one heartache after another.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

23. Spiritual help accounts for my effectiveness.

23. Spiritual help accounts for my effectiveness.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

24. I find it easier to do for others than to do for myself.

24. I find it easier to do for others than to do for myself.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

25. I find fulfillment through relationships.

25. I find fulfillment through relationships.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

26. People look to me for direction.

26. People look to me for direction.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

27. I fear those in authority.

27. I fear those in authority.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

28. I don’t take rules too seriously.

28. I don’t take rules too seriously.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

29. I like to help people connect with one another.

29. I like to help people connect with one another.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

30. I feel abandoned.

30. I feel abandoned.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

31. I have times of high accomplishment that feel effortless to me.

31. I have times of high accomplishment that feel effortless to me.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

32. I have leadership qualities.

32. I have leadership qualities.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

33. I am searching for ways to improve myself.

33. I am searching for ways to improve myself.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

34. I can count on others to take care of me.

34. I can count on others to take care of me.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

35. I prefer to be in charge.

35. I prefer to be in charge.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

36. I try to find truths behind illusions.

36. I try to find truths behind illusions.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

37. Changing my inner thoughts changes my outer life.

37. Changing my inner thoughts changes my outer life.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

38. I develop resources—human or natural.

38. I develop resources—human or natural.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

39. I am willing to take personal risks in order to defend my beliefs.

39. I am willing to take personal risks in order to defend my beliefs.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

40. I can’t sit back and let a wrong go by without challenging it.

40. I can’t sit back and let a wrong go by without challenging it.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

41. I strive for objectivity.

41. I strive for objectivity.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

42. My presence is often a catalyst for change.

42. My presence is often a catalyst for change.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

43. I enjoy making people laugh.

43. I enjoy making people laugh.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

44. I use discipline to achieve goals.

44. I use discipline to achieve goals.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

45. I feel loving toward people in general.

45. I feel loving toward people in general.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

46. I am good at matching people’s abilities with tasks to be done.

46. I am good at matching people’s abilities with tasks to be done.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

47. It is essential for me to maintain my independence.

47. It is essential for me to maintain my independence.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

48. I believe everyone and everything in the world are interconnected.

48. I believe everyone and everything in the world are interconnected.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

49. The world is a safe place.

49. The world is a safe place.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

50. People I’ve trusted have abandoned me.

50. People I’ve trusted have abandoned me.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

51. I feel restless.

51. I feel restless.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

52. I am letting go of things that do not fit for me anymore.

52. I am letting go of things that do not fit for me anymore.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

53. I like to “lighten up” people who are too serious.

53. I like to “lighten up” people who are too serious.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

54. A little chaos is good for the soul.

54. A little chaos is good for the soul.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

55. Sacrificing to help others has made me a better person.

55. Sacrificing to help others has made me a better person.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

56. I am calm.

56. I am calm.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

57. I stand up to offensive people.

57. I stand up to offensive people.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

58. I like to transform situations.

58. I like to transform situations.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

59. The key to success in all aspects of life is discipline.

59. The key to success in all aspects of life is discipline.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

60. Inspiration comes easily to me.

60. Inspiration comes easily to me.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

61. I do not live up to my expectations for myself.

61. I do not live up to my expectations for myself.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

62. I have a sense that a better world awaits me somewhere.

62. I have a sense that a better world awaits me somewhere.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

63. I assume that people I meet are trustworthy.

63. I assume that people I meet are trustworthy.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

64. I am experimenting with turning my dreams into realities.

64. I am experimenting with turning my dreams into realities.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

65. I know my needs will be provided for.

65. I know my needs will be provided for.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

66. I feel like breaking something.

66. I feel like breaking something.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

67. I try to manage situations with the good of all in mind.

67. I try to manage situations with the good of all in mind.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

68. I have a hard time saying no.

68. I have a hard time saying no.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

69. I have a lot more great ideas than I have time to act on them.

69. I have a lot more great ideas than I have time to act on them.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

70. I am looking for greener pastures.

70. I am looking for greener pastures.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

71. Important people in my life have let me down.

71. Important people in my life have let me down.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always

72. The act of looking for something is as important to me as finding it.

72. The act of looking for something is as important to me as finding it.
Almost NeverSometimesAlmost Always