Ordinary Dad to Superdad: How To Inspires Hope & Courage in Your Children

Men are only as good as their most significant goal.

When a man's goals are small and insignificant, it is too easy to give up on them. If the goals are small, so are the consequences of failure. When the goals are large and seemingly unconquerable, victory and defeat are equivalent, therefore, to life and death. To complete the unconquerable goal, man must draw on something deeper, more powerful and more ancient within himself. Only by calling on all of himself is he able to rise to this occasion.

Purpose is what gives our lives meaning and direction, and it helps us to fulfill our true potential. Our purpose is not a random occurrence, but a powerful force that drives us towards our personal destiny. It is the true joy of life to pursue a purpose considered by yourself to be a mighty one. When your spirit is meant to serve a greater purpose than it is currently serving, it will spend its entire existence kicking and punching you from within. You will feel a persistent and immense discomfort in all your relationships, your day-to-day activities, your environment, and the decisions you make. That is until you answer the call of greatness.

Our history is full of men and their call to purpose. Their pursuit of greatness was always unique to them, and they were uniquely qualified to fulfill their unique purpose. The path that lays before you is your path and your path alone. It is meant for you because no other man could possibly walk it. Men who live a life of purpose are not more qualified to do so than any other man. The differentiator, in fact, is their courage. This is not courage to complete the mission. This is merely courage to start. Many of these brave, courageous men will also question their abilities on their path to purpose. But these men will continue regardless, stepping forward into the unknown, directed by a deeper internal voice that whispers "keep going."

Growing up, I remember one man in particular that I understood to be living a life of purpose even at a young age. Although I couldn't articulate that's what I saw, something within myself recognized that this was a man on the correct, noble path. Christopher Reeve. Yes, the man who played Superman. Christopher Reeve was the Superman to an entire generation. He was a man who lived his purpose. And his journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the call to greatness that lies deep within us all.

As a young man, Reeve was the embodiment of strength and heroism. He was the quintessential Superman, soaring through the skies with ease and saving the world from danger. He had a clear sense of purpose and was fulfilling his calling as a leading actor in Hollywood. He was a man at the top of his game with the world at his feet. In 1995, Reeve became paralyzed from the neck down after a horse-riding accident. The man who had once flown through the skies as Superman was now confined to a wheelchair. Unable to move his arms or legs, he could no longer stand up straight, never mind fly effortlessly through the clouds. His life was transformed in an instant.

Despite his disabilities, Reeve remained steadfast in his purpose. He was a man who refused to be defined by his limitations and instead chose to focus on what he could do, not what he couldn't. He became a symbol of hope for millions of people, once again showing them that no matter what life threw at you, you were able to stand tall and fight adversity. He became an advocate for people with disabilities. Reeve inspired millions of people to believe in themselves again, with a different body, new challenges, different words, but the same purpose-driven message. Christopher Reeve became a real-life Superman.

Many years after his death, Christopher Reeve is remembered as a symbol of hope, a man who faced incredible challenges with courage and grace. His legacy is one of purpose and determination. He will always be remembered as a hero who inspired millions to live their best life and strive for greatness. Like his fictional counterpart, he stood for truth, justice, and the American way.

My father was the original Superman, standing tall above me with dark wavy hair, sometimes wearing glasses and sometimes without. To a young boy, the similarities were uncanny. I remember drawing my dad as Superman, giving it to him as a gift, and then discovered years later that the same drawing remained pinned to the board that sat at the end of his desk. My father's dedication to hard work and providing for us as a family, no matter what, put him in my mind side by side with the man in red and blue.

I say this to make it clear that if your purpose is currently unknown to you, it is your commitment to find it that will inspire your kids in ways you cannot imagine. Your resistance to your great pursuit will not only kill your greatness and your potential but will make it even harder for your kids to find the courage to pursue and listen to that guiding voice inside. If you can find the courage to listen to the voice that says "keep going," it will not be a whisper for your kids. The whisper will become loud, ever-present, and synonymous with the voice of - dad.