Sara is a volunteer at Safe Passage, a lover of nature, psychology, sharp cheddar and the band Queen.
Lately it seems as our media is more super-flooded with superheros than ever. The wave has crashed into the formats of video games, movies, TV shows, and Halloween costumes. It has become trendy and an “In” thing to like superheros as the new rockstars to idolize and to join their fandom. Most of the time, these superhero movies are based on comic books and graphic novels, showing complex characters with fantastic powers we wish we could have. Sometimes the powers wreak havoc, sometimes they help in a way no “normal” person could, yet act as a personification of the altruistic values our communities hold dear.
Superhero stories pivot around a point that there are common human elements, one of which is wanting to help the greater good and to decrease suffering, to enable justice. At the foundation of these common human elements, of trying to help others, have a meaningful life purpose and to fulfill a role, is the desire to connect. A superhero is in all of us. Superheroes are not passive, they are proactive. They stand for justice, demand accountability, and round up the bad guys. All superheros also have adversity or trauma in their past that they use their powers to deal with, and their powers may even be a result of their pain.
I repeat, there is a superhero in all of us.
How does this relate to “real life”? Well, as The Amazing Spiderman's mantra goes, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” A part of all of us wants to connect and help others, to be fulfilled and better themselves after struggle. Because of all of this, the superhero within us has great inner will that expresses itself through an outside set of powers. What comes with this is a responsibility to help others. In our lives, within our dynamic stories of privilege, disadvantage, and perseverance, we can become overwhelmed by our struggle, and forget we have our own powers. We are stronger than we were yesterday. All the lessons we learned from our struggles have given us power to help empower others. We can also feel helpless against all the suffering in the world, and sometimes pay less attention.
But what about the Super Villains?
It can be easy to be angry, afraid, disturbed, or hurt by them. It is less easy to remember they have their own origin story, and walked their own pathway to violence. It is not as simple as bad guys versus good guys. Just like real life, most people are a mix of the two. What does separate this binary identity crisis, is the will to connect to others, and this is based on a vital human and superhero ingredient:
Hope.
After facing any kind of transforming pain, whether trauma, tragedy, loss, or major change, what we do from that point forward is determined by hope. If someone suffers great pain and is struggling without anyone willing to listen to them, they may perpetuate the cycle of systematic violence that victimized them. They could, without support and compassion, lose their hope to connect, and become more super villain than superhero. There are always pathways towards both violence and peace, it isn’t random, and there is a choice. The more supported someone feels and the more purpose they feel, the stronger their powers grow and the more they can help others to level up.
So what do we do, to empower ourselves through and beyond our pain, and other superheros? How do we level up our game and life force? You’re already a superhero, so how best to level up your #superherostatus to take care of yourself and help others as well?
There is even evidence in neuroscience to support the power of choice and habit, as well as the presence of social support, self care and their impact on overall well being. The more an action is repeated, the brain creates neural pathways, and as an action becomes habitual, these pathways strengthen. But! You can change your habits, and this skill in itself is a superhero power. The more social support you have, and the more self care you practice, the easier it is to break habits and level up your game. Having superhero powers starts with taking care of yourself and having hope.
So its good to remember:
Self care: shine your shield as often as you please.
Practice active listening in everything you do: activate your super-sonic hearing.
Understand: everyone has their own story, some with rather rocky and dangerous pathways. Some Origin stories are rife with danger and heartache.
Get Involved: no matter your superpower, every little effort helps. In your family, group of friends, school, organization, workplace, every act of kindness can have ripple effects.
Your powers may be invisible to you, but make a profound impact on others. You may be a sensitive, funny, caring, blunt, welcoming, open, empathetic, or a good listener. All of these are super powers and all can be used for leveling up your #superherostatus game.
Lately it seems as our media is more super-flooded with superheros than ever. The wave has crashed into the formats of video games, movies, TV shows, and Halloween costumes. It has become trendy and an “In” thing to like superheros as the new rockstars to idolize and to join their fandom. Most of the time, these superhero movies are based on comic books and graphic novels, showing complex characters with fantastic powers we wish we could have. Sometimes the powers wreak havoc, sometimes they help in a way no “normal” person could, yet act as a personification of the altruistic values our communities hold dear.
Superhero stories pivot around a point that there are common human elements, one of which is wanting to help the greater good and to decrease suffering, to enable justice. At the foundation of these common human elements, of trying to help others, have a meaningful life purpose and to fulfill a role, is the desire to connect. A superhero is in all of us. Superheroes are not passive, they are proactive. They stand for justice, demand accountability, and round up the bad guys. All superheros also have adversity or trauma in their past that they use their powers to deal with, and their powers may even be a result of their pain.
I repeat, there is a superhero in all of us.
How does this relate to “real life”? Well, as The Amazing Spiderman's mantra goes, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” A part of all of us wants to connect and help others, to be fulfilled and better themselves after struggle. Because of all of this, the superhero within us has great inner will that expresses itself through an outside set of powers. What comes with this is a responsibility to help others. In our lives, within our dynamic stories of privilege, disadvantage, and perseverance, we can become overwhelmed by our struggle, and forget we have our own powers. We are stronger than we were yesterday. All the lessons we learned from our struggles have given us power to help empower others. We can also feel helpless against all the suffering in the world, and sometimes pay less attention.
But what about the Super Villains?
It can be easy to be angry, afraid, disturbed, or hurt by them. It is less easy to remember they have their own origin story, and walked their own pathway to violence. It is not as simple as bad guys versus good guys. Just like real life, most people are a mix of the two. What does separate this binary identity crisis, is the will to connect to others, and this is based on a vital human and superhero ingredient:
Hope.
After facing any kind of transforming pain, whether trauma, tragedy, loss, or major change, what we do from that point forward is determined by hope. If someone suffers great pain and is struggling without anyone willing to listen to them, they may perpetuate the cycle of systematic violence that victimized them. They could, without support and compassion, lose their hope to connect, and become more super villain than superhero. There are always pathways towards both violence and peace, it isn’t random, and there is a choice. The more supported someone feels and the more purpose they feel, the stronger their powers grow and the more they can help others to level up.
So what do we do, to empower ourselves through and beyond our pain, and other superheros? How do we level up our game and life force? You’re already a superhero, so how best to level up your #superherostatus to take care of yourself and help others as well?
There is even evidence in neuroscience to support the power of choice and habit, as well as the presence of social support, self care and their impact on overall well being. The more an action is repeated, the brain creates neural pathways, and as an action becomes habitual, these pathways strengthen. But! You can change your habits, and this skill in itself is a superhero power. The more social support you have, and the more self care you practice, the easier it is to break habits and level up your game. Having superhero powers starts with taking care of yourself and having hope.
So its good to remember: Self care: shine your shield as often as you please.
Practice active listening in everything you do: activate your super-sonic hearing.
Understand: everyone has their own story, some with rather rocky and dangerous pathways. Some Origin stories are rife with danger and heartache.
Get Involved: no matter your superpower, every little effort helps. In your family, group of friends, school, organization, workplace, every act of kindness can have ripple effects.
Your powers may be invisible to you, but make a profound impact on others. You may be a sensitive, funny, caring, blunt, welcoming, open, empathetic, or a good listener. All of these are super powers and all can be used for leveling up your #superherostatus game.
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