We have all been disappointed at one time or another in our lives, searching endlessly for a person who can soar ahead of the pack and keep danger away. The thing about heroism is that it is not a quality that should be packaged in rigid ideals. Instead, it should be sought in the every day grind of the busy day and in the hustle and flow of the busy bodies that pass us everyday as life forges ahead. If you want to create a hero in your life, read on to learn how you can find inspiration in the action and achievements of others.
Instructions
1. Define what it means to be a hero. Look beyond the comic book ideal of heroism to discover a more dynamic and complex definition of what it means to truly be heroic. For example, consider a school principal who fights against budget cuts and lax spending toward student resources and cultural activities. Challenge yourself to measure the impact of how this act of bravery and leadership will impact the social and academic life of hundreds of students.
2. Ask questions. Communicate your desire to learn and be shaped by the strength, courage and innovation of an everyday hero. Talk to community leaders, church elders, older siblings and school officials to discover who demonstrates the qualities you believe define a real world hero. Because you are in search of your own hero, interview as many people as possible and be clear in your desire to learn from his skill, innovation and education. Express a desire to establish a partnership with the person so that you may one day use her teachings to become a hero called upon one day to do so.
3. Think outside the box. Leave fantasy ideals of strong men and crafty women to the comic books and action genre film. Instead, look to firefighter, police officers, community activists and teachers as the driving force behind the great push toward making the world a better place. By learning to rethink what it means to be a hero, you can more easily create your own hero and become one in the process. Creating a hero is not always about looking outside of yourself. Sometimes creating a hero is just as simple as looking at the person in the mirror and pushing her to be just a little stronger, wiser, braver than she was the day before.
4. Be proactive. Challenge ideals and redefine what it means to be brave. Think of ways a person can demonstrate bravery on a daily basis and then look for examples in your everyday life. From your mom and dad to your bothers and sisters, search for small acts of kindness that inspire sharing and caring in others. Use these as a measure for yourself and challenge others to reach even further.
5. Find many heroes. Decide to name a new hero each month. From cultural leaders to past political activists, agree to find as many heroes as you can. In one year's time try to name at least 12 heroes that you were able to learn from and take away a valuable piece of wisdom you did not have beforehand. Use these examples as a springboard or conversation piece when mentoring younger students at your school or in your community. Tell them what you have been doing and what you have found in the process!
