RELEASE YOUR INNER SUPERHERO
From Spider-Man to Catwoman, we all love our heroes, right? They’ve got the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to keep us hooked. But what is it that makes them different to us? And how can we unleash our inner hero?
Being more Wonder Woman
What makes Wonder Woman awesome? Aside from the Lasso of Truth and lustrous hair – it’s her confidence. She’s steps in and owns the room. She’s ‘the man’.
So what’s her secret? It’s the power pose. It’s scientifically proven. Some really clever people have shown that “power posing” (standing with your chin out and your hands on your hips) makes you feel confident. Developed by social psychologist Amy Cuddy, seen on Grey’s Anatomy, and trialed in many a bathroom before a job interview, holding a Wonder Woman power pose for just two minutes can make you feel, well, awesome.
Be more hulk
What makes The Hulk awesome? He kicks arse. But he’s also flawed. Soft-spoken Bruce Banner turns into his smash-frenzied alter ego in times of stress, anxiety or anger.
So how does he use it to his advantage? Psychiatrist Arnold Beisser wrote about the paradoxical theory of change. This describes how a person can’t truly evolve until they accept their flaws. While it’s not ideal to turn into a Hulk in times of stress, identifying your flaws and accepting your vulnerabilities is in itself a strength. Knowing your weakness ultimately makes you stronger.
Be more Batman
What makes Batman awesome? The caped crusader never went out alone. While everyone remembers the Batman and Robin Dynamic Duo, the true ‘Batman Family’ is a real big one.
Sidekicks anchor, support and centre the hero emotionally. They remove otherwise unnecessary distractions (like a particularly foxy Poison Ivy) and keep the focus on the important things, like fixing Gotham City. These sidekicks don’t do it for the recognition, they do it because they believe in you. Everyone needs a team of allies. So identify yours and you’ll be on track to be the hero in your own story.
You can be a hero too
You don’t need a fancy cape or a magical lasso to be a hero. There’s a hero in all of us, and there’s things we can do to draw them out. So take up your power pose, recognise your flaws and get yourself a sidekick. And with all that in place, you can be a superhero too.