Throughout our life and career, we will take hits to our confidence.
A project gone awry.
Being laid off.
Overlooked for a promotion.
Rejection.
Negative feedback.
The list is endless.
Depending on the scale of the hit, our confidence can waver for a day or years.
On the flipside, sometimes we need to muster up confidence to do something challenging.
A presentation in front of a big crowd. A project tapping into new skills.
Opportunity.
Scary.
My Perspective
In both the negative and positive situations, we struggle with confidence.
We need a way to remind ourselves of our strengths.
Our unique difference.
Give ourselves the courage to take the next step sure of the value we offer.
I thought an interesting approach could be to create a “Superhero Self”.
An articulation of the superhero inside each of us.
Representing our strengths, values, and aspirations.
Below are the steps to take to allow your inner superhero to emerge.
Steps to Discover Our Inner Superhero
Step 1: Identify Your Core Strengths
Think about the qualities that make you feel proud, strong, or capable. These could be personal traits, skills, or characteristics. You could look to your CliftonStrengths and/or ask yourself:
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What do others admire in you?
- What challenges have you overcome, and how?
Example: Compassion, resilience, creativity, leadership, etc.
Step 2: Define Your Superpower
Choose one of your core strengths that reflects your best qualities in an exaggerated or symbolic way. Your superpower should empower you and represent how you want to face challenges.
Example: If your strength is resilience, your superpower could be “the ability to bounce back stronger from any setback.”
Step 3: Visualize Your Heroic Outfit
Your superhero’s appearance should reflect your unique identity. Imagine your costume and make sure it incorporates symbols, colors, or elements that represent your strengths and values.
- What color scheme makes you feel empowered?
- Are there any symbols or objects that represent your inner power?
Example: A vibrant red cape symbolizing energy and passion, or a shield representing protection.
Step 4: Choose a Name
Give your superhero self a name that embodies the essence of who you are and what you represent. Playful, serious, or symbolic, it should inspire confidence every time you think about it.
Example: “The Resilient Radiance” or “Captain Creativity.”
Step 5: Craft a Backstory
Every superhero has a story that shapes who they are. Think about the experiences in your life that have made you who you are today. Incorporate these experiences into your superhero’s origin story.
Example: “After overcoming years of writers block, Captain Creativity learned to harness their inner muse to let the ideas flow freely.”
Step 6: Define Your Mission
What is your superhero’s purpose? This could be aligned with your personal or professional goals. Think of how your superhero self would use their powers to impact their world, overcome obstacles, and make a difference.
Example: “To empower others to see their potential and help them rise above their struggles.”
Step 7: Create Your Heroic Affirmation
Write a short, powerful mantra that your superhero self would live by. This should remind you of your strength and purpose and boost your confidence when you need it.
Example: “I am unstoppable. I turn every challenge into a victory.”
Bonus Tip
Write down or sketch your superhero.
Seeing it visually can be a powerful reminder of the qualities we possess!
Using Our Superhero Self
Now that we created our superhero self, we need to leverage it when we need confidence.
We can ask “how would my superhero face today’s challenges?”.
We could also create a daily ritual during tough times.
A ritual could be created with the following steps:
- Physical Action: Define a superhero pose and use it daily to give ourselves strength.
- Affirmation: Create a statement that you repeat while standing in your pose.
- Visualization: Close your eyes for 1 minute, visualizing yourself completing a challenging task in front of you each day with confidence and ease.
- Repeat Daily: Choose a time each day (likely in the morning) to complete the activity.
Our ritual can evolve over time.
As we grow, our confidence ritual can grow with us.
We might change the pose, add new affirmations, or adapt it to different parts of your life.
The key is that it continues to empower.
Your Turn
What do you think of the superhero activity?
Do qualities come to mind that your superhero would embody?
How could you use this technique in your life right now?