What's your Superpower?

Who didn’t want to have superpowers when they were growing up — like super strength, invisibility, X-ray vision or flying. Some of us still dream of having superpowers even as adults. It would certainly make the world more interesting!

Everyone’s got a superpower.

Something that is unique to you, which makes you stand out above what anyone else can do in this world... What’s yours?

While genetic mutations that give us an edge over the rest do happen, such as an enhanced muscle build, for faster running. Or being born with analgesia, aka congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), which means not being able to feel pain. This is not the kind of superpowers I’m talking about. The reality is that everyone has a superpower that allows them to live life more authentically, and transcendentally. 

Legendary humanistic psychologists like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers talked about how humans are not just creatures desiring food, rest, mating and comfort. They both referred to a level of transcendence that we all seek, yet rarely achieve, by being in a state of congruence within ourselves, and our surroundings. They called this self-actualisation. And your superpowers are revealed within this state.

This may sound a little obscure, complicated, or even difficult. But the truth is that it’s kind of the opposite. Think of someone who has already reached this state of transcendence in their careers, like a great artist, or a sports athlete like Roger Federer. They seem to be easily, seamlessly flowing when they do what they love.

Everyone can achieve this. It’s just up to you to find what your biggest talent is.

Because it is all about your talent. That which you are born with, that you are naturally good at, and if you practice it enough through the years, can become a high-level skill. You need both — inborn talent and practiced skill — to obtain this level of superpower, where you can achieve that which others can only dream of...

Are you ready for the challenge?

For inspiration, think of those people who discovered their hidden talents — their hidden selves — much later in life. Actor Steve Carrell, famous for the lead role in the American version of The Office, did not find success or stardom until after his 40th birthday. In fact, he graduated with a history degree, and planned to move on to law school, when he realised that what truly made him happy was acting.

Like others before him, once he realised his dream career, he found great success. He achieved this by practicing for years his inborn talent for comedy, and drama. Then there are those who realised their talents from very early on, like Sir Richard Branson, who from a young age had an eye for business, as well as telling a story.

So whether you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s or beyond, it’s never too late to reach the highest level in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — self-actualisation — by discovering within yourself what you are naturally good at. As well as that which you enjoy doing more than anything. If they intersect, you have found your unique power. All you have to do is practice it enough, so one day it can become your superpower. 

If you don’t know yet what you are naturally good at, then just go back in memory lane and think about what you were good at when you were growing up. This could be anything like painting, singing or coding, all the way to fashion designing, movie-making or fixing things. Or perhaps you had a talent for helping others, like taking care of stray animals. Or helping out at a local homeless shelter.

This is one of the reasons why the character of Batman has been so enduring in comic books, TV and cinema. He’s not truly superpowered, like other comic book characters. Instead, he was born with a great intellect and wealth, using them to save his city from crime. His natural-born talents were trained, day in and day out, to become the best crimefighter in the world. His superpower is his determination.

That is the last ingredient for finding out what your superpower is. If you are willing to spend enough time on it — several hours every day — then you can achieve feats that will blow the minds of those who behold your fully-grown powers. It may not be walking through walls or reversing time, but you’ll be on a whole other level.

As a closing example, there are many reasons why The Beatles were so successful. Their wide musical talents. Their innovative songwriting. The 60s. But one that stands above the rest was their time in Hamburg, Germany. This is where they practiced for hours on end, every night, in whichever bars and clubs that took them. Paul McCartney once jokingly called it "800 hours in the rehearsal room”.

There would likely be no Beatles without their time in Hamburg, developing their talents, where their legendary sound came alive. And this is true for you, too. Whether you develop your physical prowess, your creativity or your wisdom, if you are willing to put in the effort, you will be able to turn your talent into something that will make you proud. Your very own superpower.

To identify and grow your Superpower so you can live The Big Life, find me here.