Hero in the Mirror

Humans love to create heroes. You look up to your celebrities and athletes. You have a special place in your hearts for your spiritual guides and leaders. You hang on their every word. You rush in to protect them when they are under attack. Even when the attack is justified.

When they let you down, you fall hard. It is as though a dream has died. Santa Claus does not bring the presents. The Easter Bunny does not hide the eggs. It hits you as though you were still a vulnerable child.

You tend to pick heroes just as you pick romantic partners. You see in them, the qualities that you feel you lack. You see a level of ability you wish you had and believe that somehow, your hero worship will bring it to you.

It is alright to admire a person for their talents and abilities. You can respect a person for the guidance they give, or the lessons they offer, but worshipping them, takes the pressure off of you. You do not need to succeed, someone is doing it for you. You do not need to be brave. Someone has enough courage for a hundred people.

This is another reason why you are so affected by fallen heroes. Now, you are expected to do the work yourself. You are the one who must play the instrument, sing the song, write the book, run for office. Success is a lot of work. Much easier to let someone else do it while you complain that you could never be that way.

You can be that way. You can be any way you choose.

Look to the people you admire. What qualities do they have? Are these qualities that you lack? Or do you just not do something as well as they do? Do you resonate with the words of a particular leader or teacher? Are you putting into practice what they teach, or do you just stand back and admire the words?

Look in the mirror, and know, that you are amazing! You are capable! You can do anything you set your mind to and no one else can do the unique job that you were put on this Earth to do.

Then when you find that the celebrity whose courage you admire, ran and hid in a crisis, a beautiful actress had plastic surgery, the athlete you have been trying to emulate took illegal drugs, you will be fine, because the qualities you admire, are inside of you. You have become your own hero!

Jinnzania's side notes: when I was a child, I thought it would be fun to be famous. I pretended to sing and dance for an invisible audience. I thought it would be great for people to look at me lovingly, admiring my talent and putting me on a pedestal. I was always looking outward, because I was never good enough. Whenever an idea inspired me, I would quickly let it go, because someone else could do it better. I never tried, so I never failed. I didn't have the patience or confidence when I was younger and as I got older it seemed that everything took too long to learn, or I didn't dare as I was somehow unworthy.

In the past year, I've been thrust from my comfort zone, so failing and looking silly became less of an issue. So, I've tried new things and new ways of doing things. I've taken chances and taken bigger steps. As a result, I've learned that I am a unique and powerful being. I have begun to appreciate my strengths and work around my weaknesses. I love being me! I wouldn't want to take on the experience of another no matter how much I love and admire them.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go, the citizens of Earth need me! Fairy powers, ACTIVATE!