Uncovering Your Super Power

The things that make us different, those are our superpowers. – Lena Waithe

Superpowers are typically defined as abilities, characteristics, and/or attributes that are supernatural and superhuman in nature. We tend to attribute superpowers to superheroes – Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Captain America – and yet, many of us possess our very own superpowers, although we don’t tend to characterize them as such. Maybe your superpower has been with you since childhood, maybe you’ve developed it in the last few years. Whatever it is, it’s likely that your superpower is your unique contribution at work or play, and results in a positive impact on those around you.

How to uncover your superpower?

Sometimes you just know, and other times it takes reflection.

Your superpower may be positivity, or your DYI abilities when it comes to crafting furniture or restoring homes; it may be that you exude calmness when the going gets tough, or that you’re a stellar chef. It may be that you stay with it – whatever it is – longer than others, or that you’ve cultivated a growth mindset to overcome insurmountable obstacles. It may be that you are deeply empathetic, or that you excel when it comes to budgeting. You get the point: superpowers come in a variety of flavors.

Can’t drum up your superpower? Reflect. Think about what unique contribution you bring to meetings or projects or activities you take part in. It may something that comes natural to you, or a skill or activity that you’ve worked hard at refining for the last decade. It may be an activity that you are likely to drop everything for and spring into action when opportunity strikes, like surfing or chasing a storm, or something your friends and colleagues rely on you for. Asking your friends, family, and colleagues what they consider to be your superpower may be illuminating, too.

Why does uncovering your superpower matter?

In a world in which many of us don’t believe in ourselves and tend to look outside and marvel at other’s accomplishments, uncovering your superpower is a way for you to acknowledge and cultivate that within you which shines. You don’t have to broadcast your superpower to the world – consider Clark Kent – you just need to commit to refine it so that you can continue to do your part. It’s empowering to uncover the force within you that helps to define your purpose and has the potential to create lasting impact for others.

Beyond that, knowing what you do well is a great indicator that you will do other things really well, too. It’s a reminder of where your perseverance, purpose, and passion have already gotten you in life, and may be a launch pad for you to consider what you want to do next. Tracing the steps of how your superpower originated and evolved over time may kick start your roadmap for the development of future superpowers.?