See the Hero in You
A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer. – Novalis
Ordinary people just like you and I perform heroic acts every day. All we have to do is stop long enough to see the hero in us.
Heroic acts are not only measured by their grandeur or ability to change history, heroic acts are measured when simple tasks are performed that positively influence the lives of the people who receive them.
Heroes grab the bag from the overhead storage bin for the person who can’t lift it; heroes remember those who are alone and make certain they are considered; heroes wipe the noses of their sick children. Heroes keep their promises.
Too often we don’t take sufficient credit for what we do. We may think it’s an obligation, an expectation, to care for our families, to help with homework, or to run an errand so our partner doesn’t have to do it. But these things are indeed heroic because the life of another person has been made just a little better.
There is great value in doing these things because anyone can show up in life; but a hero contributes to life.
Heroism can be measured by how well you take care of yourself, too. Making the decision to step out of your comfort zone and into the fear is indeed heroic. No one may be watching and no one may ever notice, but you will know if you took that leap of faith to pursue a dream or to change a part of you that you knew needed some changing.
Heroism isn’t just measured in gulps, it’s also measured in teaspoons:
- There has to be some hero in you when the alarm clock starts your day and you don’t stop until you return home and set the alarm for the next day.
- There has to be some hero in you when you trade security for risk and set forth on a new path that will take you to where you have always wanted to go and be who you have always wanted to be.
- There has to be some hero in you when you protect the defenseless and use your voice to help them use theirs.
- There has to be some hero in you when you live by your wedding vows; when you love, honor and protect and never do anything that would violate the trust.
- There has to be some hero in you when you look over the fence and know your grass is greener.
Don’t understate your own significance. Your very presence can be just the lift, the encouragement someone needs to get through the day. This may sound trite, but there’s some hero in you when you become aware of your own importance and use it to achieve ordinary results that have extraordinary implications.
See the hero in you and feel your amazing strength.
Elsewhere
Looking for some good reads? Try these:
- 13 Ways to Improve Your Concentration with a Distraction Free Work Environment by Sid Savara
- 20 Ways to Create More Time at Advanced Life Skills
- Personal Growth: Comfort is NOT an Option by Jeff Nickles
- You Know You’re Favored by God When… by Jarrod @Optimistic Journey
- No Productivity System Can Override Your Choices at Productive Flourishing.
More from The BridgeMaker
Alex Blackwell is the Founder of The BridgeMaker. His book, How to Love Consciously, is now available as a free download here. Join Alex and The BridgeMaker community on Facebook and don’t forget to get your free subscription to receive free updates and exclusive content.
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Comments
11 Responses to “See the Hero in You”
What do you think?
Hey Alex, this was such an encouraging article. I really appreciated that you said “Too often we don’t take sufficient credit for what we do.” There is nothing egotistical about giving ourselves credit when it is deserved. It is not a lack of humility to see your actions as others might see them. I really enjoyed this whole article.
I love this article Alex. You’re right, too often we don’t give ourselves enough credit.
The world teaches us that we should be humble and look outside of ourselves when giving credit. But their needs to be a balance, we need to give ourselves credit too.
At the end of the day our bodies is just that, our’s. (<— possession derivative) In other words if we don't take care of OURselves then who will?
Great food for thought, thanks for sharing.
Jarrod
@ Jonathan & Jarrod: It’s good to see the credit piece touched both you. You guys are right that it’s not about the lack of humility, but the awareness of our own value that’s important. Thank you both for the encouragement.
Alex: This article was marvellous. It did touch a nerve. I have such good friends and they are all heros to me in one way or another. I cannot appreciate them enough. It is a pleasure for me to perform small acts of kindness every day for both strangers and friends knowing that in some way I have perhaps made their day a little happier, and perhaps they will share it with those in their world.
@ Debbie: You have captured the essence of what I was trying to express. It is the small, but kind things that mean the most. Thanks for reading!
Makes me feel like a hero already
“Being amazing means being faithful, and being faithful means being persistent through all the stuff that’s not amazing.”
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Hi Alex and THANK YOU for the reminder that a hero is all about contributing. In our society, we think of heroes doing these superhuman things, but you helped me to remember that I, too, am a hero with unlimited opportunities throughout my day to step into and embrace that role.
It’s funny, I just published a blog post about my experience during a presentation where I lost my breath and couldn’t speak. It was due to my extreme feeling of vulnerability…and I’m so touched and humbled to see that the comments coming in are from people who saw that moment as me being a ‘hero’ of sorts–showing my humanness and helping them feel their own vulnerability.
So your post today really resonated with me. I love being that hero, and I believe it’s why we are here on this planet…to be heroes for ourselves and for each other. Thanks, Alex!
Hey Alex,
Just wanted to let you know (in case you didn’t see) I shared this link with my Facebook buddies and people messaged me as well as commented on the link saying how it had inspired them. I always enjoy coming here and seeing what you have to say, just wanted to let you know it travels far =)
Thanks also for the shoutout!
@ bondChristian: Thanks for sharing the wonderful quote.
@ Michelle: You are indeed a hero Michelle!
@ Sid: Anytime my friend – thanks for all you do!
worth reading..
you made me realize that i have a hero in me which i couldnt see from past 20 years..
article was articulated in an awesome way..
its gud to come back n here n searching for new motivational articles..
keep writing…
u already raised my spirits up and m stepping out of my comfort zone to achieve my goals..
thank you alex