Of Superheroes and Secret Identities

 

In the world of comic books, there is a common thread running through the lives of many characters. This common thread is so essential to the story, so compelling to the reader and so unique to the superhero genre – that thread is the Secret Identity. The nearly omnipotent Superman is also Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter. The dark and mysterious Batman is also the well known billionaire Bruce Wayne. The smart mouthed wall crawler Spider-Man is also the geeky Peter Parker. The fearless Daredevil is the blind attorney Matt Murdock. The raging brute known as the Hulk is the quiet, timid Bruce Banner.

 

This pattern is repeated in every superhero story from the past sixty years. Even then, the concept was an old one. The dashing and daring Zorro was the cultured and sophisticated Don Diego del la Vega. The legendary Robin Hood was also The Earl of Huntington or Robert of Locksley or other noblemen, depending on the version. For centuries, the minds of readers and audiences have been captivated by disguised heroes, men of valor who none the less hide their identities and lead double lives. Why is this pattern so successful? What makes the secret identity such an enduring concept?

 

The Superhero

 

            Let’s begin with the unusual, the characteristics that distinguish these men from the rest of the world. In every enduring superhero, there are some common denominators. First is the stance as a hero. These characters, some times willingly, others reluctantly, stand up for good, fighting to protect the innocent and vanquish evil. This may be done generally or specifically. Superman, though he spends a great deal of time in Metropolis, is routinely traveling the world and even goes to outer space to fight bad guys. His general mission is to stand for Truth and Justice, wherever he may be needed. Earth is his adoptive home, and he stands as a champion of humanity. Batman, though a colleague and friend to Superman, generally keeps closer to home, the protector of Gotham City.

 

Even more territorial is Daredevil, who specifically fights to clean up an especially bad part of New York, Hell’s Kitchen. Spiderman, though he works mostly in New York, is less geographically focused, instead dealing with whatever is presented to him. His own personal philosophy is simply that because he has the power to fight evil, he is obligated to do so whenever the need arises, where ever it happens to be. In their own ways, each superhero stands for good in their own little part of the universe, some traveling in search of purpose, others fighting to protect their homes.

 

Next, there is the issue of power. Superheroes have varying powers and abilities which uniquely qualify them to fill their self appointed roles. As usual, Superman sets the standard for super-powers. He has superhuman strength, is impervious to nearly all physical harm, he can fly, see through most anything, hear anything, blow freezing and gale force winds, shoot heat and fire from his eyes. Batman, on the other end of the spectrum, has no superpowers. His abilities are the result of intense physical training and study. He is further enabled by an array of technological wonders, from his Bat-mobile to his utility belt; all of these high-tech tools are made available by his immense wealth, inherited from his deceased parents.

 

Spider-Man has more specific powers. He exhibits the traits of a spider – he can climb walls, shoot webs, has strength proportional to a spider and has a unique sixth-sense (called ‘Spidey Sense’) that alerts him to danger. He often finds himself relying on his high intelligence and scientific knowledge as well. Daredevil, like Batman, is an athlete, highly trained but without the super strength of other superheroes. His powers, rather than significantly augmenting his abilities, instead compensate for weakness. Blinded by an accident, he developed high sensitivity in the remaining senses – hearing, touch, smell and taste. His hearing functions as a ‘Radar Sense’, like built in personal sonar, allowing him to perceive objects and bodies in space, in a sense enabling him to ‘see’. Beyond these heightened senses, he has no superpowers.

 

Different heroes gain their powers and personas in different ways. Superman is an alien, drawing power from Earth’s yellow sun, like a solar battery. Batman trained and studied, fueled by the childhood memories of his parent’s violent murder. Spider-Man was bitten by an irradiated spider, changing his physiology. Though he developed great powers, it was the preventable death of his uncle which drove him to put on the tights. Daredevil, blinded while trying to save someone from an approaching truck, was both blinded and endowed with super-senses to compensate. His father’s death then led him to study and train, much like Batman.

 

Each superhero also has a weakness of some kind; each has his own Achilles Heel. Superman is incapacitated by even the smallest piece of Kryptonite. He’s vulnerable to magic as well. Lastly, his relationships with others have often been manipulated. Batman is human, and thus vulnerable to physical harm. (One villain broke his back, incapacitating him for months.) He is also (though only rarely) controlled by those who might expose his secret identity. Lastly, he is also vulnerable to manipulation when the safety of friends and family is at stake. Spider-man isn’t invulnerable, though he is closer to it than the average person. He’ll often leave a fight bruised and bloodied. He too is vulnerable to attacks upon his friends, family and spouse. Lastly, Daredevil, though an exceptional fighter and athlete, is as vulnerable as any other human. He is frequently injured, and his blindness is often a stumbling block, despite his compensatory powers. He is especially vulnerable to psychological pressures, having had multiple nervous breakdowns.

 

The Secret Identity

 

            In many ways, these weaknesses are given flesh and blood, embodied in the secret identities of each hero. While masked or costumed, these men are incredible heroes, paragons of virtue and valor. They present to the world an intentional mask, one that shows only strength; but like anyone else, they have problems and weaknesses. They have needs and desires that aren’t part of being a superhero.

 

            Superman, though many assume him to be a full-time hero, is also a reporter. He is mild-mannered, putting forward a contrived image of weakness, social ineptitude and meekness. Though this is largely a disguise, hiding his identity as Superman, it is also the life he leads from day to day. It is the man Clark Kent that goes to work everyday, that has an apartment, pays bills, goes grocery shopping. In the role of Superman, his strengths tie him to a role, one which doesn’t give him a complete life. In the role of Clark Kent, his normalcy is equally restrictive, requiring him to hide his abilities and obscure his traits and talents. Neither role changes the fact that he is powerful and strong, and neither role eliminates his desire and need for normalcy and belonging.

 

            Batman is a similar case. As Batman, he becomes a mythic symbol, an avenging angel in the form of a bat. He’s harsh, hardened and often violent. As Bruce Wayne, he becomes a carefree playboy, a billionaire with few responsibilities. Again, this persona is as much a disguise as his cowl and cape, hiding his activities as Batman. At heart, Bruce Wayne is a dark, brooding man, tormented by his own personal tragedies and driven to set right the wrongs around him.

 

            Spider-man is a different creature in many ways. Peter Parker existed long before Spider-man. Before his fateful encounter with a certain spider, Peter was already a nerdy, bespectacled science geek. He was shunned by his peers, socially challenged, clumsy and unathletic. In receiving his new powers, Peter found himself growing stronger and more coordinated, but when that paired with his lack of personal confidence it led to an irresponsible use of his powers. Personal tragedy led to a new resolve to fight evil and crime, but it did not change Peter Parker as a person. As Spider-man he is a cocky, smart mouthed hero. It contrast to his entire previous life, he became flamboyant with a sense of showmanship and humor. As Peter Parker, he hides his abilities and in many ways looses them. He remains the geeky kid in glasses, still unconfident with others and plagued by bad luck.

 

            Daredevil is another unique character, much like Spiderman. Blinded while saving a blind man, Matt Murdock’s life has been one filled with cruel irony. His boxer father discouraged him from fighting. Once blinded, he found himself both handicapped and empowered by his new heightened senses. This blindness, for many years, shielded him from any suspicion of his alter ego.  As a lawyer, he fought for justice, but often saw such justice thwarted by an imperfect system. In many ways, this dichotomy of law and lawlessness, order and violence, between his blind identity and his fearless alter-ego pulls him apart. In recent years, Matt Murdock was revealed to the public as Daredevil, which has led to a myriad of personal tragedy and problems.

 

True Identity

 

            When dealing with characters who live within two separate identities, the question naturally arises – which identity is the mask and which is the real person? Is he the caped Superman or the bespectacled Clark Kent? As Superman, he wears no mask; but it’s behind the glasses that he met and married Lois Lane. Which is it?

 

            The answer is both simple and confusing – it’s both, and it’s neither. Let’s look at Batman for a clearer example. Bruce, as a child, watched the death of his parents, and was irrevocably changed by it. He went on to travel the world and train incessantly in every applicable discipline he could find. For years, under often grueling conditions, he studied and trained, driven by his own demons. Finally, this culminated to create Batman. Is Bruce Batman? Yes, he is. Batman allows a release to the trauma of his childhood. He channels the anger and guilt and fury, he specifically presents an image to criminals, one that is dark, mysterious and vengeful. This is indeed an aspect of Bruce, but has of necessity grown, creating in Batman another person, a related but separate personality. To function as Batman, there must be a division, separating that identity from the rest of his life. When he dons the cape and cowl, Bruce becomes someone else.

 

            Does this mean that Mr. Wayne, the billionaire playboy is the real Bruce? Let me ask another question that would put this in perspective. If Bruce truly identified with his ‘Mr. Wayne’ identity, would Batman even exist? The simple answer is no. Mr. Wayne is just as much a disguise as Batman is. Hiding behind the veneer of a privileged socialite, he intentionally presents an image distinct and separate from Batman, removing himself from suspicion by appearing to be anything but the driven, focused man that he is. It becomes easy to see that Mr. Wayne is not Bruce. Bruce is a person that few people ever see. Only those who know of both identities and can closely observe him as he transitions from one to the other or as the masks fall away when in private, only they see the real Bruce. Bruce is a man with purpose, with a mission. He defines himself by this mission, this personal call to duty. It is in order to satisfy his real needs and motives that he created Batman. It is to protect the means to that mission that he continues to live as Mr. Wayne.

           

The Johari Window

 

            There is an important psychological concept which deals with identity, one which is especially applicable to these men with dual identities. The concept is known as the Johari window. The concept is simple, that our identities are divided along two lines.  The first division has to do with those aspects of our personality that we know of. Some of ourselves we allow others to see, some we do not, hiding it from others. This is the first division – known to others/unknown to others. The second deals with what others perceive about or personality, whether we are personally aware of it or not. Thus, this division is between that which is known to self and that which is unknown to self. This simple concept clearly illustrates that any person has their own hidden aspects to their personalities. This window becomes all the more segmented and fractured as we introduce dual identities.

 

            In many ways, a person who adopts a costumed alter-ego does so in response to their own feelings of helplessness. In their own persona, they feel limited, unable to act, to be who they could be. There is a conscious decision to separate this new persona from their normal life. Superman does it, knowing that his friends and family would be vulnerable; also knowing that should the world know who he is without the cape, any chance for a normal life would be gone. Batman does it to facilitate his vigilante activities, drawing funds and resources from Bruce Wayne, creating a mythic symbol in Batman. His identities serve more as tools, yet at the same time, he finds himself unable to separate himself from his life and actions as either one.

 

            Spiderman dons a mask, ostensibly, to protect his loved ones. There is, however, a different effect. By wearing a mask, he hides part of himself from the world. Hiding his face and identity, he is suddenly free to be as confident and assertive as he wants. The anonymity of Spiderman lets him shed the worry and the learned weakness that, as Peter Parker, he lived with daily. That weakness then becomes its own disguise as Peter Parker tries to hide his identity as Spiderman. Because Peter has always been Peter, this lack of confidence becomes further ingrained, making it a larger part of him while, at the same time, the cocky confidence of Spiderman becomes a part of him as well.

 

            Here in lies the appeal and the problem of superheroes and their secret identities. People experience life through their experiences and actions; these shape much of our character and self-concept. However, our self-concept is also largely determined by ‘reflected appraisal’, what others think of us. By presenting the world with two wildly different images, the reflected appraisal received by the men behind the masks and glasses is wildly contradictory, at opposite ends of the personality spectrum. They see themselves as simultaneously weak and strong, powerful and frail. Where the average person could reconcile between the two, realizing that they are a mixture of both weaknesses and strengths, these men are forced to identify alternately with each extreme, and make each extreme a separate part of them selves. They make a personality that is strong and another that is weak. As they fill those two roles, the roles become further separated; the one becomes stronger, the other weaker. The man, however, lives as both. His experiences and actions shape him, often contradicting each other.

 

            As this continues, there are two possible outcomes that allow the man to cope with this dichotomy. The first option is to further separate the two lives, to continue to try and live a life that is both weak and strong, increasingly so in each way. The man’s life, and soon his mind, becomes increasingly fragmented. The polar opposites that pull him in different directions may actually cause a full split between the two identities, leading the hero to truly be a different person when wearing the cape or mask. This fracturing of the life and psyche either destroys the man or leads him to the next coping method. The second option in dealing with two lives is to blur the lines between the two. Instead of the man being both hero and non-hero, he becomes a heroic man that still has problems. Instead of changing with a mask, he fills each role as the same man, in a different uniform. The secret identity becomes stronger, more confident. At the same time, the superhero persona finds itself dealing with the doubts and weaknesses of the alter-ego, thus being weakened or at least distracted.

 

What does this mean for you and me? Why do we identify so strongly with these conflicted men? The answers lie again in the Johari window. Each of us, to one degree or another, hides ourselves from the people around us. Maybe it’s a strength we hide, maybe a weakness. There is an entire half of us that the world doesn’t see, but that is undeniably there. Some hide bad habits or inadequacies, presenting a strong face. Others, in an attempt to be accepted, hide their abilities and strengths, feeling that if they are too talented or too brilliant, others might feel inadequate or overwhelmed. Others hide their strengths to avoid the responsibility that comes when others know what you are capable of.

 

As we see superheroes give life to both halves of their personality, we feel an inner yearning. We feel within ourselves repressed stirrings toward greatness. Our own desires to do something and be something are strengthened as we see or read about these men who do so in a highly visible, incredibly able way. As we see the trials and difficulties their own weak halves experience, we relate, feeling trapped by the realities of day to day life. We see that these men are just as weak as we are, they get snubbed by coworkers, they get over charged at the store, and they deal with traffic and telemarketers and clogged toilets, just like we do. As we see the normalcy of the mundane, we know that their ‘normal lives’ are just like ours. On some level, we ask ourselves – ‘If they still deal with normal life, but they can go out and do all of these things, why couldn’t I?’ We see the manifestation of their hidden strengths and we reflect on our own.

 

Though we would rarely voice it, we often think about just how much we could really do. We know that we’re stronger than we let ourselves be. We know that we wish we did more good. We look at our own mundane problems and we think ‘if only’; if only I had superpowers, if only I could do this or that, maybe if. We want to be more than we are, but we look around ourselves and see the obstacles. We want to be better neighbors, but worry that our self-image might be threatened. We want to show others our talents, but know that if others see them, they may call upon them; we may have to use them when we don’t want to.

 

Why are we so bound by such thoughts? Marianne Williamson summed up the whole of the matter in a now famous quote, one often inaccurately attributed to Nelson Mandela, “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 God. 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 God 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.”

 

Why do we love superheroes? Because they help us remember that we can be something more, something better than we are. They help us to dream of our own potential, and they lead us to examine the mark we will leave in the world.

Climbing a Mountain – Seven Life Lessons Learned

 

            For many years of my life, I was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years of my Scouting experience, I have had the opportunity to go on many outdoor activities, such as campouts, hikes, river rafting trips, and others. One a few occasions, we actually climbed some of the mountains in the Pacific Northwest. During these trips, I learned a great deal about myself and others. Most importantly, I learned something about accomplishment – it is no small task to climb a mountain. As I look back on those experiences later in life, I see that those lessons learned while climbing mountains are the lessons we all need to learn to reach our dreams and to overcome our personal challenges.

 

Begin with a Plan

 

            The simple fact is that no one climbs a mountain on accident. It’s the sort of act that is always, under every circumstance, a conscious choice. Likewise, no significant accomplishment in life is reached without the decision to achieve. Like hills and mountains, some accomplishments are great and others small; the important thing is that we choose to climb them.

            Once we set out to climb a mountain, the wise climber makes a plan. Some approaches will be easier than others while some will be more difficult, even impossible for many. Maybe a straight line from the bottom to the top is the best route, but many times it is not. With any goal, determine before hand what needs to be done. If some steps must occur in sequence, you should know what order they should be done in and you should have a plan to accomplish them in the necessary manner and time.

 

Prepare for the Journey

 

            Climbing a mountain is a serious undertaking. Perhaps it’s a large hill that you’ll be hiking, or maybe it’s climbing Everest or Mount K2 – each has its own unique challenges. What will you wear? What will you eat? How will you stay hydrated? How will you stay on your predetermined course? Do you have the necessary equipment to climb? Are you prepared for an injury or other accident? No serious climber ignores these questions, nor do they fail to equip themselves properly for the climb.

Unfortunately, many people, when faced with their own goals or challenges, fail to ask any of the important questions. People will often set off to conquer their personal Kilimanjaro, but don’t take the right equipment. They fail to get the necessary education or training for the job they really want. Maybe they decide to work out more, but never get around to buying shoes for such an activity. Sometimes people forget about the need to sustain themselves, and don’t give a second thought to financial or medical necessities.

Proper preparation is essential to any real accomplishment. In order to prepare you must take the time to consider the many factors that go into such an undertaking. Well worded is the old adage, ‘A failure to prepare is preparation for failure’.

 

Begin Where You Are

 

            When standing at the base of a mountain, it is easy to wish you were already well on your way. It’s a common thing to look up at the trail before you and feel overwhelmed. This is just as true of any other challenge. Many times, people look at something they truly desire and allow themselves to be discouraged by the enormity of the mountain before them. They tell themselves, ‘If only I had…’ maybe it’s more education, more money, more free time, less stress, fewer pounds, fewer debts, better coworkers, a nicer boss. As they list the things standing between them and their goals, they give up. They quit before they even start. They look at the mountain and decide that, because they aren’t half way up it already, it’s too far to climb. But what mountain climber really lets the mountain discourage them from the climb? Instead, they look at the mountain and welcome the challenge. If there is a midpoint that they wish they were at, they decide to climb there, and then to go on as they wanted to.

            In our own lives, we need to realize that there are no obstacles, there is merely more mountain to climb. Your own challenges should never prevent you from reaching your goals. Instead of seeing a problem and giving up, set for yourself an intermediate goal, a midway point on your journey up the mountain. If you lack the necessary education for a job, make it an intermediate goal to finish your degree. Like the mountain climber, once that intermediate goal is accomplished, then you will find yourself halfway up the mountain. No matter what your circumstances are and what your goals may be, you cannot hope to begin anywhere but where you are.

 

Never Climb Alone

 

            For beginning and even experienced climbers, there is one simple rule. Never climb alone, ever. A climbing partner provides you with all sorts of support – they help carry your gear, dividing the load between you. If your attention wanders, they help you to keep on the path. They are there to help you if you are hurt. They can help you when you are tired or hungry or sore. They prevent you from becoming lost. They help keep you motivated over the more difficult parts of the climb. Only the most experienced climbers attack a challenging mountain alone, and even then it is both rare and risky.

            This same practice is easily applied to the accomplishment of any other task or goal. If your goal is to be in better shape, a partner helps you to remember to work out, helps you stick to your plan. During those times when your own desire wanes from time to time, it isn’t uncommon to keep working and progressing if only to please your partner. A partner keeps you accountable for your progress. They help to share the stress or the worry. They give input and offer suggestions. They encourage and support, motivate and reward. It is never a bad idea to have your own ‘climbing partner’, even if it’s just someone who knows what your goal is. Don’t keep your goals a complete secret! Find others to help you and motivate you and you will find that the goal is more easily accomplished.

 

Difficulty and Changing Terrain

 

            One of the unique aspects of a mountain is that it might have many different types of terrain and different climates. As you climb, some areas are steeper than others, some areas colder, some hotter. As you climb higher, trees stop growing, rocks change in type and texture. Changes in weather can make a simple stretch of path into a serious difficulty. Between the base of the mountain and the summit, there is a variety of change and challenge.

            As we work towards our goals, we also find that the terrain changes, becomes more difficult. Sometimes our growth comes slower than we had hoped, requires more work, more time, more energy. Sometimes, events around us create a climate of stress, making even pleasant activities a nearly unbearable burden. Sometimes we experience set backs we had not anticipated, find difficulties we had not foreseen. At these times, it is easy to want to give up. Sometimes, we start to think that one muddy stretch of path is the whole mountain, or that our present challenge won’t ever go away. It’s important to remember that this is not the case. Just as unexpectedly as these challenges arose, they may disappear. A few more steps may lead you from rough rock to a smoother path. Even if it doesn’t, you may quickly learn to navigate through these difficult stretches with more ease, strengthened by the challenges you have already faced.

 

One Step at a Time

 

            Between base and summit, regardless of what problems you encounter or what advantages you have, a mountain is climbed by putting one foot in front of the other. Even on flat ground, progress requires action, and if you don’t take step after step, again and again, you won’t ever get anywhere. Though a mountain may look daunting, it is still overcome one step at a time. When it is wet and cold and muddy, you simply move forward, step after step. No matter how steep or rough the path, your progress comes the same way, by moving forward one little bit after another.

            Other goals are no different. Once a working plan is made, it’s simply a matter of moving from point A to point B. If your goal is a college degree, then you must go to class every day, one at a time, one after the other. If you wish to play the piano, it must be practiced, known skills mastered and new skills learned. If you wish to build your muscles, it is done one repetition at a time. This is important for two major reasons. The first has to do with the long run – moving from the base to the summit. You must realize that you have to take steps. No amount of planning, preparation or determination will amount to anything if you never take the next step. You will instead spend day after day, standing at the base of the mountain. The long term is made up of countless steps, and you must take them.

            The second reason it is so important to understand the step by step process is found in the moment. At any given moment in your climb, you may look up at the rest of the mountain and tell yourself that it’s too much, that you can’t do it. Maybe you think it is simply too difficult to lose weight, or to quit smoking. If taken all at once, it probably is. You cannot summit a mountain in one step – it’s too far, it’s too steep. You can, however, take the next step. You can choose to eat something healthy for your next meal. You can choose to go another hour without a cigarette. You can always take one more step even if you don’t think you could do another after that. Knowing this, you can look not at the entire mountain, but at the ground immediately in front of you. Conquer that single piece of ground and you will surely conquer the mountain in time.

 

Reaching the Summit

 

            When all is said and done, you will reach to peak of your mountain. Step after step, you will finally reach that goal you have longed for, the thing you have worked for. There is something magical about standing on top of a mountain, looking out over the world below. There is a powerful sense of accomplishment as you look back down at the path you have taken, knowing that you are done. There is a sense of profound reverence as you gaze out at the view, knowing that the only people to see it have climbed the very mountain you stand on. Your own goals will feel the same way – the fact that you have worked for them gives them deeper meaning, makes them worth the effort. Remember than anyone who sees the view from atop a mountain has earned that view, and nature has paid them in full for that work.

            Go out and find your own summits. Reach the heights you have only dreamed of reaching. Step by step, you can reach any height you dare to climb to. Good luck and good climbing.

 

Brian Westover is an author specializing in personal motivation and growth. He is the director of Project Superhero, an exploration of human growth and potential. To learn more about the author or Project Superhero, visit http://projectsuperhero.onesite.com.

 

Success Training Strategies- The Success Secrets of the Greatness Grower

By Doug Firebaugh 

"The power inside of you would stagger you if you really knew what it could accomplish. It is a power that conquers, empowers, and Grows Greatness. But most of us have been conquered by Greatness thieves that have robbed us blind. "

Clueless.

That is how most people are about their Power to Succeed that lies dormant within them. They have no idea of the Success Greatness that lies deep within just waiting for a chance to explode into the world and make a so so life into a life made only of dreams.

You have a great Power within that can help create any life you want, have anything you want, and do anything that you desire. This Power is one that has been waiting, watching, and willing to take on the Success Journey in a way that would leave you breathless and in awe.

YOU are that powerful on the inside.

Yes, that Success Power and Force is within you, and waiting to come out and change your whole world! Success is basically the releasing of that Inner Will and Power in your life, and then operating your life in such a capacity that Success can ONLY be the result!

DARE to step beyond the limits today and live "Life Beyond the Barriers.(tm)"

But people will tell you that this Success Power is for others and not for you, as you came from the wrong family or side of town. They will tell you that Success has never been a part of who you are. Don't buy into the lie.

Success is already inside of you.

YOU must release it, and never look back, as that is where you came from, not where you are going. It is where you used to be, not where you are now. It is WHO you used to be, but not who you are now.

Today, something has shifted inside of you.

You are a POWERFUL being that God has made for massive Success and Achievement, and today you make that decision to release it and never look back at what USED TO BE.

Success is about what is GOING TO BE! And you are going to be a HUGE Success today and not be clueless like so many others.

Let others walks among the clueless crowd and be blind to what the Truth is about their Success.

But not you.

There are so many people in the world that simply are deceived into believing that what they have and are doing is all their is to life.

They are clueless to the Greatness that lies within them.

I should know....

Mine laid dormant for years. It laid there like a rock that I carried around with me. It heard all the excuses and the pathetic reasons I was not a Success. It put up with my lack of great effort, as I replaced it with weak effort that was "just enough" to get by.

Am I proud of that fact?

Nope...hardly. I shake my head at it, and that is the reason for this lesson- Release the Greatness and Giftings that you have been blessed with!

I had the Shift- and so have you today! The Inner Shift of Greatness that shifts your life into Success overdrive!

Let me ask you the questions that I had to ask myself:

Are you proud of the fact that you probably have truly never tapped into the Greatness and Gifting of Success within you?

Are you proud of the fact that you could be doing do much better in life? We ALL could!

Here is a Million Dollar Question...

Are you more proud of your Mediocrity than your talent and Power God gave you to Massively Succeed?

YOU are a WINNER and Blessing to people!

YOU are a Gifted Talent that attracts Success to you like a magnet on Steroids!

YOU are the Enlarger and YOU will enlarge you and others today by encouraging them and taking them to a higher realm of thinking, belief, dreaming, actions, and life and total faith in what they can do with it by simply releasing it, and GROWING IT.

Truly, YOU are a Greatness Grower, and Success Shifter today...

And today...YOU start with YOU!

(c) 2006/ all rights reserved

Doug Firebaugh is one of the top Success Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_9.html
http://www.passionfire.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Firebaugh

As I build content for my blog and book, I'm writing articles on the various topics that I'm studying. Here's one I've just written about the goal setting process. It's a first draft, so it's still a little rough around the edges, but I think it's reasonably good.

--------------------
By: Brian Westover

“All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy,
and great things in that which is small.” – Lao Tzu

It is possible to have greater happiness and satisfaction in life than you are having right now. The satisfaction of achievement, the regular improvement of yourself is a powerful force that you can use to change your life for the better! Perhaps you want to quit smoking, or buy your child a birthday present. Maybe you want to loose weight; maybe you want that promotion at work. Well all have things we want and wish for, but many people go through life and never have the things they want. What can you do to change yourself? How does someone attain the things they want or need? The answer is through effective goal setting and accomplishment. In these simple seven steps, I would like to teach you how you can do just that and become a happier, more effective person.
One very important note before we begin – through out these steps, I emphasize the importance of writing things down. Do not, under any circumstances, skip this essential step if you truly want to make changes in your own life. The act of writing does many important things. It takes ambiguous, fleeting thought and makes it a concrete reality. The act of writing reinforces commitment in the brain, psychologically helping you to work toward your goals and giving you a deeper sense of satisfaction when you make significant progress towards them. If you fail to record things in the way the next seven steps ask you to, then plan to fail every other step – it’s that important.

1. Decide what you really want or need. Be clear and specific, write it down.

What is important to you? Don’t just list the things that people tell you are important, or the things that you think you should want, but don’t. Be honest with yourself, and decide what you really want or need. If it isn’t something that’s important to you, it’s a waste of time to pursue it. You will either give a half-hearted effort then quit, or you will accomplish the goal, but accomplish something that you didn’t want or attained something you didn’t need. There is little satisfaction in either option.
When selecting these goals, be specific. Are they measurable? For example, if you want to be physically stronger, set a specific goal as to what you will be able do or how much you will be able to lift. If you are unclear as to what your goal is, then you don’t really have a goal because you can’t work towards an ambiguity. Would you begin to run a race with no finish line to cross? Of course not! You wouldn’t know where to go, how to get there, or even if you got there or not! Be clear about what you want to do. Next, decide when you want to accomplish this goal. By setting a timeframe you not only give more clarity to the goal, you also give yourself a finish line to cross. Lastly, and this is essential, write down your goal. No matter how specific your goal may be, if it is just a thought, it isn’t a real goal. We call such thoughts dreams, and no matter how clear your dreams may be, until they come out of your head and put down on paper, they aren’t real. Write it down!

2. Determine what must be done to get what you want, then write it down.

Your path should always be determined by your desired destination, and goal setting is no different. Once a measurable goal is decided upon, there are steps that can be taken to get there. Is your goal to buy a new appliance? Find out how much it costs. Look at how much your income allows as far as savings and spending. If you want a $100 blender in the next year and have no money to do so now, how much can you save? How soon do you want it? Could you put aside an extra $10 per month, maybe $10 per week?
The important thing is to break down your goal into manageable, doable steps. They should be set to stretch you a little further than you are currently stretched, but not so much as to discourage you or keep the goal beyond your reach. Once your goal is written down, list all of the things that are necessary to achieve it. Figure out what sequence these steps must occur in and decide how the will fit within your goal’s timeframe. These are called intermediate goals – the smaller goals that help you achieve the larger ones. Just as with your main goal, be clear and specific with a measurable goal in a reasonable timeframe. Write it down!

3. Ask yourself, is it worth it?

Once this goal has been clarified, and you can see clearly what is required to meet your goal, you need to ask yourself if it is worth it. Do you want to loose weight? Do you want to loose weight enough to adhere to a better diet? Do you want it enough to start jogging or exercising? If you aren’t willing to make the necessary adjustments and changes that will help you reach your goal, perhaps it isn’t really something you want, perhaps it’s not important.
Another possibility is that you have set you sights too high, asking too much of yourself too soon. If necessary, readjust your goal to make it something that you can really do, that you are willing to do. Go back to steps one and two as often as you need to until you have a course of action you can honestly commit to following.

4. Commit to a clear course of action; write your commitment down!

Once you have found yourself a feasible goal, one that you truly want and are willing to pay the price for, you must commit to do so. Decide in your own heart and mind that this is important to you and that you will do it. If you cannot make this personal commitment, then return to steps 1-3. When you have found an acceptable course of action that allows you to achieve the things you truly want, commitment shouldn’t be hard.
Once you have made this personal commitment, write it down again on a separate piece of paper. If it helps, phrase it as a contract with yourself, complete with a space to sign and date. I would strongly suggest that you share this goal and personal commitment with someone else, letting them know what you’re doing and why. Ask them for help to stay motivated, make yourself accountable to them – this will speed your progress and strengthen your resolve. Additionally, because they also know your commitment to your goal, they will most likely support your decision and offer to help if they can.

5. Make daily steps towards this goal

With your goal broken down into manageable steps, it should be a simple process to make small, daily goals to bring you closer to your goal. Instead of focusing too much on the overall goal, it is sometimes helpful to focus instead on the smaller steps that will get you there. This will help keep you from being overwhelmed by your goal and will also help you to see the progress you have made.
Additionally, give yourself reminders to help you remember your goal and to stay focused and motivated. Perhaps a Post-It Note on your bathroom mirror will remind you or maybe you need a chart to fill out to track your progress. Find a way to remind yourself of your goals and find a way to record your progress.

6. Regularly reevaluate progress and reaffirm your commitment

On a regular basis, maybe once or twice a week, sit down and look at what you’ve done towards your goal and what is left to be done. If possible, do this with your helpful friend, report your progress to them. Is your progress on track to get you where you need to be? Is it productive enough? Sometimes, a goal must be readjusted. Once you have determined your level of progress, quickly review steps 1-4, and then recommit to your goal. Continue on with step 5 making daily progress. Continue also to reevaluate regularly.

7. Set new goals regularly

Once these steps are followed and you goal is achieved, do it again! There is always room in life to improve, and there’s no better way than through regular achievement of well planned goals.

“Great men have not been merely dreamers.
They have returned from their visions to the
practicalities of replacing the airy stones of their
dream castles with solid masonry wrought
by their own hands.” – Anonymous

Brian Westover is an author specializing in personal motivation and growth. He is the director and subject of Project Superhero, an exploration of human growth and potential. To learn more about Brian, visit his website at abouttheauthor.myblog.com or, to learn more about Project Superhero, visit projectsuperhero.onesite.....

Here's another excellent article by Dan Edwardes, this time about proprioception, the body's built in systems for balance and body awareness. It's quite interesting, and highly applicable to the superhero business.

Check it out at www.urbanfreeflow.com
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Surface Areas - Know Your Terrain
By Dan Edwardes



‘Whoa, hold on a minute’, I hear you say. ‘I came hear to learn the art of movement, not to study geology! What’s this surface area thing got to do with fluidity and flow?’

Well, bear with us. We have your best interests at heart. And with that in mind, we want to bring your head out of the clouds for a moment and down to ground level: after all, as the experienced will know and the inexperienced should learn, this is really where it’s at.

The quality of any movement is heavily dependent upon the surface it is carried out on. Try the same set of vaults on concrete, then on grass, then on sand, then on a sprung floor and you will realize how your motion is affected by what is beneath your feet. Now, for a sport such as running this is basically all the information you need – but for Parkour, you need to look a little closer.

Effectively, what this means is developing a familiarity with the stuff you are working with: stone, concrete, brick, metal, plastic, wood, earth…whatever you are likely to be jumping off or onto, vaulting, sliding across or rolling over. On a basic level, this entails checking surfaces you are going to be using for that day’s training. Some objects may look solid and strong to the eye, but introduce your weight to them with gravity backing you up and suddenly it’s a whole new ballgame. So, when and where you can, actually physically inspect the surfaces first. This may seem like a boring task when you are ready and raring to go, but it really is worth the time.

However, there is much more to all this than merely preparing your training area, and here is where the matter becomes truly interesting. For starters, you have to know everything about these surfaces – do they provide good grip? How much give is in them? Can they become slippery under certain circumstances? How abrasive are they – will they cut or tear the skin? Everything. And then you need to gain an appreciation for the myriad different variations of each surface you can encounter – there are a over a hundred different types of stone used in the construction of our cities, and each type offers its own set of variables for the freerunner to factor in. So get to know them.

Reach Out and Touch Something…

Fortunately getting to know your environment does not mean you have to break out a tonne of library books on the composition of stone blocks… what it does mean is gainng a tactile understanding of the surfaces around you, to the extent that eventually you are able to appraise terrain and obstacles accurately before you interact with them. This has to be the goal, simply because you won’t always have time to stop and check a surface before you land on it. At the very least it does somewhat take the ‘flow’ out of your run.

So in order to improve your ability to evaluate surfaces, make physical contact with your environment as often as possible: reach out and touch walls, railings, gates, trees…get to know how they feel both to the bare hand and to the shoe. You can do this even while not training – divert some attention to it while on your travels around any urban setting,; let your hands glide over surfaces as you walk, check the stability of any bollards, bins or rails that you pass, anything you might utilise in a training run. You will find that very swiftly you develop an aptitude for judging the attributes of most objects and obstacles with only a glance, and also that your sense of touch becomes that much more sophisticated and refined.

And this is the hidden bonus behind this kind of practise. Learning to assess your surroundings constantly in this way will enhance that innate but under used capacity we all possess: proprioception

Proprioception: The True Sixth Sense

Proprioception includes all the thousands of inputs into your central nervous system (CNS) which originate from your joints, muscles, tendons and deep tissue. Just as much as vision or taste, proprioception is a SENSE – it is not the processing of this information, it is one of our information-gathering systems: and it is quite possibly the best and at the same time the most neglected.

It develops early on – by twelve months most of us are able to walk, or near to it, and this requires rapid improvements in our proprioceptive ability. It is how you directly assess your muscular tensions (including movements and breathing), postural equilibium, and joint stability, and therefore it is, very simply, how you perceive your position in the world.

It is what allows you to scratch a specific point on your back that you cannot see, for example, and how your body knows to adjust muscle contractions in order to achieve stable balance on a thin railing. So, all in all, it’s pretty damn important for what we do!

There are five different types of ‘reception’ by which your body gathers information on a proprioceptive level, but the one we are interested in is mechanoreception. This involves your positional sense, your movement sense and your tension sense, and between them these three carry almost all the information your body needs to navigate its immediate environment. This information is then transmitted to your CNS and to your brain, which then decides on how best to interact with that environment.

Proprioception is so powerful that it causes the most widespread and intense electrical activity in the brain, and more often than not the spinal cord receives this critical information before the brain stem receives information from the eyes and ears. Thus it is absolutely vital that you learn to refine your proprioceptive skills, as this will mean you are that bit faster in reacting to changes in your surroundings, which of course are occurring all the time when practising parkour.

The difficulty is that we tend to rely on vision and hearing as our primary information gatherers, to the detriment of all our other senses. Yet your eyes can be fooled – many times when we visually misjudge our body position as we move, despite our proprioceptive Sixth Sense warning us of the error, we still obey what our eyes show us and end up slamming when we could have avoided it!

One way to counteract this deficiency is through sensory deprivation training – in other words, get a blindfold! Not that you should go leaping from pole to pole on one foot with a black cloth around your head like some Shaolin monk in a bad movie – like the shaven head, that isn’t necessary. Start small: try even the simplest of movements while your eyes are closed and you will find out how much you rely on your vision for balance, control, everything. Work with some basic ground exercises, but close your eyes; go slowly and surely; try to remain in balance and stealthy (as always!).

Fully experience each and every movement, from the angle of your joints to your weight distribution to your breathing to your contact with the floor. Then repeat the same exercise with your eyes open – you will soon find that your motor sensitivity is enhanced. Another method by which to access senses other than vision while you move is to train at night: in the dim, ambient light of the city your sight is heavily compromised, meaning you have to rely on your sense of touch and your body’s naural wisdom a whole lot more. This is an excellent tool for developing your proprioception, so use it!

As a freerunner, knowing your terrain is something that cannot be emphasized strongly enough, and proprioception is the sense that allows you to connect to your surroundings on a deep, visceral level. And that connection, that experiential knowledge, is what keeps you safe. Have you ever vaulted a rail or a fence that suddenly gave way or wobbled as you were halfway over it? If you managed to compensate for this without bailing, managing to recover your balance and direction to finish the movement correctly, guess what – it was your proprioceptive ability that enabled you to do that. And it all happens faster than conscious thought.

Think about that – while you have time to…




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