Super Hero in Disguise?

Its a bird! Its a plane! Itsyou. You?

Are you a superhero in disguise? (Do you even know that you are a superhero?) Most heroes dont realize the full extent of their powers at first. They may spend years being confused, overwhelmed and unfulfilled. Even Spiderman resisted his superhero powers before he donned his spider-suit! Deep down dont you know that you can accomplish much more? When you keep your special talents hidden, you lose time, energy and money. Heres a quick test to see if you are a closet superhero:

• Are you a doormat for other peoples success (i.e. you give and give, only to find that your boss, company or friend is the one receiving all of the good stuff?)
• Are you exhausted from overextending yourself with commitments, projects and plans none of which could possibly ever get done in this lifetime?
• Are you confused by that inner voice that calls to you to do more, to make a difference, but you have absolutely no idea how?

It doesnt have to be this way. You can get amazing results and accomplish more with greater clarity simply by implementing the five superhero secrets into your life. It all begins by realizing that a hero is no more than an ordinary person making extraordinary decisions. Gandhi is a perfect example:

It was in South Africa that Gandhi, a shy, timid twenty-four year old lawyer, made an extraordinary decision. When he arrived by train in South Africa to work on a case, he was traveling first class. A white passenger objected to the presence of a colored man and ordered him to the third class seats. Gandhi refused. He and his luggage were then pushed into a cold waiting room. Gandhi sat and shivered there the whole night thinking, Should I fight for my rights or go back to India? He decided it would be cowardice to run away. Raising his standards, he decided to change the way things were done.

Gandhi went on to achieve amazing results; a real life superhero. His results really didnt come from his doing things; it came from who he was being. Thats the secret. Its a mindset of being unstoppable; of playing a bigger game than they think they can. Who you are being on the inside will allow you to accomplish more than all the things you are doing on the outside. Its a strange paradox, but true.

Who are your heroes and why?

Your heroes may have accomplished a lot, but so did Hitler. What are the qualities of your heroes that make them so special to you? Who were they being that made such an impression on you? You too can awaken the superhero within you by focusing on these qualities. I see five key qualities that are true with all superheroes (and some of them may surprise you.) These qualities are the foundation for you to stand on to accomplish more and be a true superhero

Secret #1 Be Authentic

Remember when Lois Lane was interviewing Superman on her terrace? He said something she thought was funny and she said casually, Youre kidding! He replied seriously, Lois, I never tell a lie. Thats one of his standards, but more importantly, he never tells a lie to himself.

To be authentic is to be real; to stop the charade and pretense. To love and accept who you are and who you arent. That means stop comparing yourself to others. Be authentic to your greatness; know that you have unique gifts that only you can express in your particular way. And be authentic to your weakness; grant yourself grace for not being perfect.

You all know when someone is being inauthentic faking it. Its slimy. And you all know when someone is honestly coming from their heart. We love people for their candor and vulnerability not for trying to be something they are not.

Secret #2 Have Courage

It takes courage to change. A hero moves out of his or her comfort zone (often unwillingly but still, they move.) When you are on your death bed and look back on your life, what are you going to regret more the things you did do or the things you didnt do? From that perspective you realize that your comfort zone is an invisible wall made of illusionary bricks. You have to be willing to play a bigger game. When you take on bigger problems, your current, smaller problems will be insignificant. Life becomes thrilling. Heroes have the attitude of W.I.T (Whatever It Takes). They see the bigger picture and dont let the little things stop them. It took Gandhi courage to refuse to move his seat. Yes, he underwent hardship for a short time, but ultimately he changed a nation.

Secret #3 Take Responsibility

Every superhero knows that the buck stops with them. When they want life to be different, they take action to change it. If you want superhero results, pay attention to where you are complaining. Stop playing a victim and blaming others for the current results you have in your life. Superheroes never blame they are proactive. They take ownership of their life and get things done. They dont wait for others to give them permission or direction. Gandhi never waited for anyone to give him permission to change a nation he became the man who others look up to.

Secret #4 Be Selfish (Extreme Self Care)

How do superheroes take such great care of others? Because they take such great care of themselves! Think about it. In an airplane the stewardess tells you that in case of an emergency, place the oxygen mask on yourself first and then the children? How can you care for others when you are suffering and damaged?

Being selfish used to be a bad word, but consider it as taking extremely good care of yourself, you are your first priority. When you are stable and healthy, you can impact and help so many others.

Pamper yourself. Take time for yourself. Practice self-care; it is the path to having more energy and more results. When your inner batteries are fully charged, you have more to give others.

Secret #5 Set Higher Standards

By setting higher standards you create a direction for your life. You know where you stand and how to manage your circumstances. Every superhero lives by a code, a barometer by which they choose to live by. Superman said, Im someone who never lies.

Standards are a combination of your values, priorities and the boundaries you set to ensure your life aligns with what you want. Think of it as your North Star. When you are clear about your standards, you never have to think twice about a decision it is either on the path, or not. When you set high standards, your entire quality of life is up-leveled. Every superhero knows that living a life of high standards positions them to be able to accomplish more with less effort.

Accomplish More with Less Effort

Ordinary people can live extraordinary lives. We see it every day in our clients. When you integrate these five secrets into your life, you will feel an increased confidence to do whatever it takes! When you have confidence you can create the life you have always dreamed of your ideal relationships, dream job, supportive environment, and a fulfilling lifestyle.

Why? Because you are

• Strong.
• Confident.
• Committed to a greater purpose.
• Committed to your convictions.
• Making a difference in the lives of others.

If you have been so busy that you overlooked your super powers, take some time right now to make a list of the top three things you wish were different in your life. Now, go through the list of the Five Secrets of Superheroes and notice if you are doing these things yet. If not, how could you take action on one of them in the next 21 days to get closer to your goal?

Im willing to bet that if you elicit superhero qualities you too can accomplish more with less effort. Imagine being a superhero for a moment. There you are in your costume unstoppable! Need to get a lot done? Easy! Need to stand up for yourself? No Problem! Want to truly help others? A given! So go be an extraordinary human being find your inner superhero and be unstoppable!