We can be heroes, not just for one day!

Hi everyone,

Our last post referred to a couple of sporting heroes and legends, Mohammad Ali and Tiger Woods. Here we want to talk some more about heroes.

We choose our heroes for many different reasons and our heroes can come from many different areas of life such as sport, politics, the arts, science, human endeavour and achievement etc. Alternatively, our heroes can come from the people we find closest to us, our family, friends or neighbours.

There is indeed much that we can learn for ourselves from the heroes we choose. Here is a simple task, three steps to walking a heroes walk.

Step #1: - Choose 3 people you admire. They can be someone you know personally or someone you don't, someone famous or someone from your circle of family or friends, they may be living, dead, fictional or real.

Step #2: - With each person write down three qualities that they possess or characteristics that you love.

Step #3 - The next time you face a challenge in life, think about what those people would do in the situation. Then ask yourself, which of the characteristics and qualities I listed above would I need to grow in order to deal more effectively with this challenge or difficulty?

We can be heroes, just for one day - David Bowie

But really? Just for one day?

Oftentimes, when we face challenges in life and when we struggle to find the strength to overcome these difficulties, we find it easier and even seductive to wallow in self-pity, come up with excuses and then proceed to give ourselves a hard time.

We forget however, that the real solution, the real act of heroism is never too far away. It's inside, within ourselves. Maybe we are just a little afraid to let it out. Here is an extremely powerful quote which expresses just this.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the universe.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of the universe that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

This quote has been often attributed to Nelson Mandela and is said to have been taken from his inaugural address in 1994. However, it appears that the author actually is American writer and lecturer Marianne Williamson.

Make it a great week, it's your choice.

My best
Séamus