Prompt #6 - You're a Superhero

Not just for today

How we see ourselves is a matter of how we look at ourselves. We can look at everything we are not, everything we want to be/have/do, but aren't, and all the things we dislike about ourselves.

Or we can tell the Itty Bitty Shi**y Committee inside our heads to be silent for once, and try looking at ourselves like a loved one would.

We are so much harder on ourselves than we are on our friends, family, and the people we love. So today, let's put that beam of love and respect on ourselves.

If we do this regularly you'll start seeing yourself in a positive light more often, and hopefully by default at some point.

The Activity: Draw yourself as a superhero

Step 1: Your superpowers

Take a moment to reflect on the many things that make you awesome. If you want, you can try writing it down in a journal. Sometimes writing makes the thoughts flow more easily.

We don't need to be saving lives on a daily basis or have incredible strength in order to be superheroes. What are the things your friends love you for? Are you a great listener? Very funny? Really good at math? Or a fast runner? Or an even faster reader? Can you quote all the lines from the Big Lebowski?

How would that translate into a superpower? What is your superhero name? What makes you a hero?

I also have an alternative version with a twist:
“What if the thing you disliked most about yourself was actually your superpower?”

Step 2: Draw your hero-self

Draw a picture of your hero-self in any medium you like. Are you wearing a super-suit? A mask? How do we see your powers reflected in the picture?

If you prefer writing instead of drawing, you can also write a story about your hero-self. What is your origin story? What happens on a typical day of your hero-work?

If you want a little head start, I drew a simple hero-person outline here that you can download, print, and draw over.

Step 3: How awesome are you?

Look at your picture or story. You're the hero of your story! And a hero in the eyes of a lot of people. Make sure to keep it in a place where it can remind you on a regular basis how amazing you are!

My Examples

I really love this exercise and I've done it a couple of times, including the twist version.

Looking at my hero-selves makes me feel great about myself, especially on a day when the inner critic in my head is yelling at me that I'm no good.

So, please allow me to introduce.. myselves.

I AM… RAINBOW GIRL

Rainbow Girl - colour-bender, defeater of gray. She wields the force of the rainbow to banish sadness, stress, and anxiety from this world.

I AM ALSO… QUEEN OF THE REALM

She uses the weight she carries on her head to passionately protect her realm. She defends her kingdom and her people with her toddler on her arm and her fierce animal companion by her side.

AND I AM ALSO…. HAIR GIRL

Hair Girl can control her body hair with the power of her mind and she uses it to fight evil. I actually turned this one into a little webcomic too!

So, superheroes assemble and introduce yourselves in the comments!