Discovering Your Superpowers

Who doesn’t love superheroes? Who hasn’t secretly dreamed of being able to fly or become invisible or walk through walls? And how about hanging out with the Avengers? The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man and the Black Widow. That would be beyond cool, wouldn’t it? 

But what’s the real draw behind being a superhero with superpowers? What’s the magic, really? Is it about being able to snap titanium rods in half and leap buildings in a single bound? Or does the pull go deeper than that? Isn’t the cachet of having superpowers actually about being unique? Special? Getting things done? Being unstoppable? Standing up for justice and righting wrongs wherever they’re found? 

That’s the bottom line of why we have superheroes, isn’t it? To defend and help those who can’t stand up for themselves? 

Stop and think about Christopher Reeve, the handsome actor who played the title role in the 1978 movie Superman and again in the popular 1980 Superman II. After he played the iconic action figure, men around the world envied him. Women around the world swooned. And then, in 1995, a fall from a horse paralyzed him from the neck down.  

It was at that point that Reeve became a real superhero. He dug deep inside and discovered his super powers. He refused to be crushed by the loss of his he-man physique. Determination and an absolute refusal to be beaten rose up inside. For the rest of his life Reeve was an inspiration for people with spinal injuries the world over. He became an activist for human-rights causes, for artists, and for the environment. He lobbied hard for spinal injury research, as well as for decent insurance coverage for people with disabilities. 

Superpowers – not what we think 

Here’s another example: Dolly Parton, the famous country-western singer. What do you think her superpowers are? And if you say “Beauty and a great voice,” I’m going to steer you in a completely different direction and say: “Nope! Vision and persistence.” 

A lot of beautiful women and handsome men have great voices and never get anywhere. Dolly Parton, however, at age nine, told her teacher exactly where she would be as an adult. Not only would she be a famous singer, she would create Dollywood, one of the world’s finest theme parks, known for its award-winning shows and special entertainment events. 

She set that vision forward at age nine and never stopped working a day until it happened. And then she still didn’t stop working. 

Hidden gold 

The thing is, every human being has their own unique superpowers. It’s just that most of us don’t recognize them as such. We’re stuck thinking “superpowers” means hurling lightning bolts from our fingertips. As a result, we don’t act on and play up our greatest strengths. And yet they are the key to everything.  

Look around you at the people with perfectly ordinary jobs who do incredibly well. I’ve seen waitresses that make a lot of money. Taxicab drivers that buy their own cab and go into business for themselves. How did they do that? It’s because they employed their individual strengths to maximize their situation. The waitress brought a bright, genuine smile to the table everyday. They both genuinely cared about the people they served. Their enthusiasm and participation never flagged, even when they were tired or had serious personal problems going on or were scared. 

You want to know one of the greatest of all superpowers? Kindness. Another superpower is authenticity. Or how about the ability to listen? Or how about compassion? Empathy? 

What’s your superpower? 

In a minute I’m going to ask you to think about what your superpowers are. And here’s something to watch out for: Mental toilet talk. In other words, all those automatic, stupid, negative things you tell yourself about yourself all the time.  

This is a very common problem for people. And did you know a negative self-image can actually be handed down to you from your ancestors? It’s true. And the science of epigenetics has proven it. Your great-grandmother could have been told she was stupid. Or maybe she was told it was a good thing she had brains because her looks sure weren’t going to get her anywhere. And she let that one comment ruin her whole life. Now, three generations later, you proudly call yourself a “geek,” but don’t like looking in the mirror. 

So, watch out for that little voice that whispers, “But I don’t have any good qualities let alone superpowers.” Don’t listen to it!   

Exercise 

The best way to find your superpower(s) is to ask yourself “What do I best like about myself?” And you’re not allowed to say, “Nothing.” It’s not true. There is always something you find admirable about yourself, even if it’s small.  

• Once you’ve identified at least one thing, ask yourself: “How often do I minimize this strength of mine? Do I think being _______ (nice, quick, efficient, thorough, etc.) doesn’t mean much?” If you think this, you couldn’t be further off base. Each one of those attributes is a huge superpower! 

• Go back as far as you can remember—all the way to high school, and maybe further back to when somebody told you that you were super agile on the monkey bars.  

• Write your superpowers down on some sticky notes or make a list in a file.  

• Print this list and keep it where you can see it everyday.  

• Ask yourself, “How can I use this superpower of mine to better my life?” Really think about it. 

Another great way to get a handle on your superpowers is to ask your friends and family members what they admire most about you. Don’t dismiss anything they say and write it all down. 

Do your two lists match? Are there surprises? How can you leverage your superpowers to help yourself and others? 

Congratulations! You’re on your way to being your own superhero!