My Kind of Hero

Heroes. We love them so. It seems we can’t get enough of them. Around the world and throughout time, storytellers share tales of brave souls who overcome the odds and save the day. It’s all over the place. Superheroes grace the big screen generation after generation. Local heroes grace the television screen night after night on the news. Heroes. They live in the pages of our books and in the beat of our hearts. But mostly, I think they live in our imaginations as we hope for a day when somebody or something suddenly swoops in and makes everything alright again. They help us keep going as we keep on keeping on.

What is it about our heroes and our idols that we crave so much? Perhaps they represent the kind of people we want to be ourselves. Heroes are strong and courageous, noble and confident, steadfast and pure. Whether we’re sharing inspirational stories through email or losing ourselves in a novel, we’re giving ourselves tiny doses of the inner peace we cry out for so deeply. We want to feel secure and free. We want to be compassionate and giving. We have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding. Sometimes even a sense of purpose or a mission. Sometimes we have something to prove.

Personally, I’ve spent years waiting for my knight in shining armor to rescue me. From what? Oh, fear and self-doubt, I suppose. Then one day it dawned on me: Everyone gets a chance to be their own kind of hero. The only thing stopping us…is us! In every moment we’re making choices about how we are living our lives; choices about how we react to the circumstances and people around us; choices about how we express ourselves. So, if inner peace comes from within, and we have the ability to determine what’s inside of us, let’s go inside and see what we’re working with.

First, ponder the characteristics of the people you admire. What is it about them that you want to emulate? Now go within and see if you can spot those qualities in yourself. Chances are that with a little bit of contemplation, we easily find lots of evidence. It’s actually quite simple. The seeds are already planted so we’re already off to a great start! Now we just have to let them grow, by encouraging them with our focus and awareness. If you do that for a while, one day soon you’ll likely find that you’ve transformed. That’s how it works for me, anyhow. No more waiting for something to happen. I’m making it happen! And simply endeavoring to be my own hero…well, that’s good enough for me.

What kind of person do you want to be?

Gina Marie Cannistraro writes a blog, Pieces of Me, in which explores her interest in self discovery and spiritual development with a focus on the Law of Attraction. She shares personal stories, observations and revelations as she figures out how all of this spiritual stuff really works, tests it out and shows us how to put it to practical use. Visit her blog at www.ginamariecannistraro.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter at GMCannistraro to join her in the joyous pursuit of a more authentic and fulfilling life.