When my boys were younger, they used to imagine having Superpowers. They would often ask, “If you could have a Superpower, what would you choose?” and then serious debates would ensue about the merits of invisibility versus flying, or mind reading versus mind control.
When you think about a Superpower, I am sure images of Superman and Wonder Woman come to mind. You don’t associate Superpowers with mere mortals, but we do have Superpowers. We don’t fly, or have superhuman strength, but we do have our own Superpowers.
Have you ever thought about what yours are?
Perhaps you do already know, but it is unlikely that you have given it a name, and more unlikely that you acknowledge it. We tend to shy away from our Superpowers and hide them from the world. I am damn sure you don’t don lycra tights with underwear on the outside, or flounce around with a big shiny silk cape swooshing behind you.
You’re probably reading this and thinking, “I don’t have a Superpower”, but I can assure you, you do. Your Superpower is that thing that is unique to you because it sets you apart from other people. Other people may have the same Superpower, but it is not displayed in the same way as you yield yours.
Take a moment to reflect on where you have come from and where you are today. You have led a life that has brought you to the point where you are now. You had a starting point, wherever that was for you, and looking back now you can see what about you got you where you are currently.
It is important to acknowledge where you have come from and recognise what you bring to the world. We all hold powers that shape our passions and desires, but unfortunately sometimes we tend to shy away from them. Sometimes, probably too often, we can’t yet see the enormous potential they hold for us. It is hard to discover them, and it’s easy to lose touch with them. They can become buried beneath other obligations or responsibilities or fears, but because they’re a part of who we are, it’s hard to step away from them, and it’s painful not to be fully aligned with them, once you know what they are.
Living your Superpowers is very fulfilling and liberating. The impact of living your Superpower should not be underestimated. Similarly, the pain of NOT living your Superpower should also not be taken lightly. Knowing what your Superpower is increases your happiness. It is something that is closely tied to your ‘self’. It is something you should practice and hone like any skill. The more comfortable you become with it, the more confident you will become because of it. The more confident you are about it, the more you will use it to benefit the world.
Your Superpower makes you feel like a hero when you use it.
So what are our Superpowers and how do we unveil them? Most of us have spent all our lives neglecting our Superpowers and even though we can’t revive them overnight, there are many different ways to get in touch with them. If you are still thinking, “I don’t have a Superpower”, I’d love you to take a moment and think about the following things…
- What are you naturally good at?
- What are you passionate and curious about?
- When do you not notice time disappearing?
- What do people come to you for?
- If money wasn’t a consideration, what would you do?
Write down your answers and then look if there is a theme to them. That is your superpower. That is the thing that lights you up and where you make a difference in the world.
Now name it. Embrace it. Use it. Show it. Share it.
Do not make the mistake of hiding it anymore. Be brave and let it grow within you, and then without you – let it grow beyond the limits you currently think you have. Rip off your civilian clothes and reveal the Superhero within you. The world needs your Superpower. More importantly, to live a satisfied, authentic life, you need to live your Superpower.
As Aunt May, Spiderman’s aunt said, “I believe there is a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble and finally, allows us to die with pride.”
Go don your Superhero suit, take up your Superpower, and live a life that is Superpowered.