You may think of superheroes—Wonder Woman, Batman—strong, powerful figures who swoop in to save the world. Maybe you think of real-life heroes and inspiring stories of strength and power.
But how do you become a superhero in everyday life? How do you discover your potential when you aren’t even sure what the outcome looks like? In heroic tales the protagonist has a destiny, they’ve got a sense that there’s something MORE in store for them. They have the potential for greatness.
But I’m going to tell you a secret—YOU too are powerful. You have great strength. You have the power to transform yourself–to harness your inner strength, reach your potential, and use it as a force for good!
Do you ever feel like you don’t know how to reach your potential? You may feel pretty good about your life. In fact, your career may be going well, and your relationships may be on the right track. You might be surrounded by friends you enjoy. Yet, there’s a nagging feeling that you are destined for deeper fulfillment or that you have a greater purpose.
No matter how happy we are, how much we’ve grown or how many changes we’ve made in our lives, we sense there is more. No matter how much we achieve, we feel the beckoning of our unfulfilled potential. Some part of us wonders, Am I fulfilling my destiny? Living the life I’m supposed to be living? Becoming who I could become? Is there a greater life—or a greater me—awaiting my discovery? And when our lives aren’t going the way we want, we often hope that a better life is available.
The possibility of greatness is powerful, and it’s why stories of transformation are so resonant. We delight in Harry Potter’s developing magical ability, the Force within Luke Skywalker, the hidden courage of Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. We are inspired by the transformational stories of our heroes—Gandhi, from attorney to spiritual leader; Oprah, from abused young girl to a media giant beloved by millions; Abraham Lincoln, from his humble roots in a one-room cabin to the White House.
But is this kind of transformation just the stuff of myths and legends, distant historical figures, or super-celebrities? Is transformation more ideal than real? Can regular people like you and me really change in significant and multifaceted ways? Is it possible to revolutionize all aspects of your life—your relationships, career, sense of self, spirituality, leadership, service?
If you’re like most skeptics, you may think that buying this concept is akin to buying snake oil. In fact, your pantry may be stocked full of dusty bottles of this oil that never delivered on their promises. Maybe you took a workshop or course that talked about transformation, but eventually left you feeling let down at best and deceived at worst. You may have started meditating, gone into therapy or followed the teachings of a guru with the hope that a new you would emerge, but found that while you made some changes, at the core you were the same. It’s no wonder you have doubts and questions.
Here’s the short answer. We’ve all been swindled, bamboozled and hoodwinked—probably not out of a malicious intent by others, but out of our own ignorance and denial of what it takes for real transformation. We all want a quick fix but buying into junk fixes is like a junk food binge, empty calories that never really satisfy. That’s the bad news. The good news is that not only have we witnessed the real transformation of hundreds of individuals, but our research and hundreds of other scientific articles, books and research studies validate the concept.
Transformation comes through examining your early views on your personal power and strength. Then, like those transformational superheroes and celebrities we admire so much, we need to overcome our internal struggles—the feelings of powerlessness and work toward living a life of greater purpose and fulfillment.
If it sounds like a tall order, that’s because it is. As someone who has worked with many students and clients, I’ve witnessed incredible transformations and self-discoveries. I’ve seen people break out of their perceived limitations and self-doubt to discover unrealized strength and untapped potential.
Yet, I too, struggle with occasional self-doubt. I’ve felt embarrassment. I’ve felt shyness. I’ve held myself back.
Discovering your potential and harnessing your personal power is lifelong work. No matter how strong we become and how confident we are, we will all experience moments where we question ourselves.
This doesn’t make us weak or any less powerful, it simply makes us human.
Our childhood patterns and beliefs are what we often refer to as our “matrix.” This internal matrix creates and reinforces the way we feel about ourselves. It dictates the way we interact with others and react to situations. Our matrix is our foundation.
As we explore our relationship with power and seek our inner strength, we may need to do some dirty work. We will need to roll up our sleeves and sort through all our early childhood structure that creates our beliefs, our patterns, and self-doubt. We need to get-to-know our matrix—how our foundation contributes to our beliefs–so we can re-matrix ourselves into the powerful beings we’re meant to become.
This lifelong process isn’t a quick fix. There will be moments when you slide right back into your old patterns. There will be times you catch yourself holding back, doubting yourself, or questioning your path.
Change is possible. There is a superhero within each of us. We’re all full of limitless potential. Each of us has the same abilities as our heroes to create and live the lives we desire.
Examine your core beliefs and values. Understand not only what you believe and think about power but WHY. Ask yourself the tough questions and “go there.”
This process of transformation is one I’ve seen over and over with our graduate students. I’ve seen those working in our self-study programs, reading our books and coursework, experience huge realizations and “eureka” moments. As you walk through the process of self-examination, you’ll discover strength unrealized.
If you’re ready to become your own superhero, it’s within your grasp. Begin today!
To explore the great materials and coursework we offer, please check out our new online library! We’re excited to offer many of the excellent lessons online for self-study. If you’re seeking an in-depth experience, please join us for an upcoming weekend training. We’ll help you unlock your personal power.