Reflection

Superheroes think deeply about their own actions and virtues.

In the superhero stories, the villains are the bad guys because they harm others in ways that they wouldn't want to be harmed themselves. To be a superhero we must #bethemirror. Reflect on how you wish to be treated and then treat people like that.

But empathy is even more than that. It's putting yourself in others' shoes (even the villains) and thinking about how you would wish to be treated if you were in their situation. This is important because the way you would wish to be treated might be very different in their shoes than in your own shoes.

Don't require victims of villains to have this superhero-level empathy for others. But as a superhero, it comes with the job description.

Heroes need to find the center of things. Where is the center of an opponent's strength? What's the main issue in a debate? In order to get to the root of a problem, you have to understand what the center of that problem is.

We need to find our own center too. In order to #bethemirror, we need to cleanse the mirror first. In an airplane, superheroes put on their own oxygen mask first. Otherwise, they can't help others. In a crisis or conflict, it's natural for our minds to get frantic. Superheroes are calm in a crisis because they first found their center, and can then help others remain calm too.

Superheroes know what's going on. They understand how things work. They have insight. But at some point they had to learn! It can be embarrassing to admit when you don't know. But admitting you don't know is how you learn! Superheroes are courageous and ASK QUESTIONS. It's understanding nature. It's understanding reality as it really is. Knowledge is Paw-er!

But we can't understand nature unless we listen to nature. It may turn out that reality doesn't work the way we thought. That's okay. Have superhero-level courage to change your understanding.

Most importantly, as a superhero it's your sacred duty not to belittle others who are asking questions. They are trying to be courageous. Put yourself into their shoes, #bethemirror, and think about how you want to be treated when you don't know something.

Superheroes know that with great Paw-er comes great responsibility. Superheroes want to share their Paw-er and help others. Villains want to hoard and take from others. Reflect with gratitude on the things you have and then put yourself into others' shoes who have less. Superheroes help those in need. Reflect on the superheroes who helped you get where you are and then be a superhero for others.