When I was about seven years old, my younger sister and I each got a pair of Wonder Woman Underoos. Do you remember Underoos? They were superhero underwear for kids. I used to love watching Wonder Woman on TV and dreamed of having bracelets that could deflect bullets and an invisible jet of my own.
Who wouldn’t want to do this?
My Wonder Woman Underoos didn’t give me superpowers, but they sure did make me feel special. They must’ve made my sister feel special too because one day she decided to do an impromptu striptease during lunchtime at school in front of everyone. I was mortified and promptly ran to get my mother who worked in the school as a teacher’s aid. By the time my mother plucked her out from the middle of the lunchroom she had already removed her shirt and was peeling off her pants.
My sister thought that her Wonder Woman Underoos were great. She wanted to show the world the special thing she had hidden just below the surface … the thing that gave her super powers. Unlike me she wasn’t old enough to feel embarrassed or ashamed about standing in her underwear in front of everyone. Even though my mother and I shut her down before she finished her little show, the incident made an impression on me.
Like those Wonder Woman Underoos, we all have unique qualities that are our superpowers in a way. Your talents, abilities, and unique perspective are only yours. No one else can claim them. Many of us keep those parts of ourselves hidden away. We slip on the costume of what we think others expect of us before we step out into the world.
When did you learn to hide those parts of yourself? When you were made fun of or laughed at for doing something that felt right to you? When you were rejected by someone you loved? I learned when the other kids made fun of my pink Velcro sneakers. I liked those sneakers, but they weren’t a name brand and not a good fashion choice for third graders at my school. We learn that we aren’t good enough or that it is unacceptable to be different when we are very young. When we are young children we have no filter we just take it in. We record it and remember. We shape our actions to avoid experiencing pain again.
You learned to hide pieces of yourself to be accepted by the group. You learned to tuck those vulnerable unique parts of yourself away. Some of us have buried them so deeply that we can’t even remember them anymore. For others they bubble just beneath the surface waiting to burst free.
It’s time to show off your Wonder Woman Underoos. I’m not just saying that because it will be Halloween at the end of the month. I’m also not telling you to go to the break room in your office and start stripping. That might have some interesting results, but they would be far from favorable. What I am saying is that it is time to stop hiding yourself from the rest of the world. It is time to show off your superpowers again.
What makes you unique? Where does your brilliance lie? Now is the time to celebrate those things. The world is waiting for you. There is no reason to hide yourself away. When you are less than yourself, you are just that … less. When you are trying to fit yourself into the mold that someone else created for you, you are doing yourself and the world a disservice.
Playing a role in life benefits no one. If you are brave enough to be who you truly are many benefits will follow. Here are just a few:
Deeper connections with others. Human being appreciate authentic, real people. When you are authentic you are vulnerable and alive. You may not get along with everybody, but nobody does. Trying to fit in with every group makes you fit in nowhere. One of the joys of living is the bonds you build with others along the way.
People around you feel more comfortable being themselves. I can’t help but think the world would be a much better place if people where unafraid to be their authentic selves. When you are authentic we are that much closer to making that world a reality.
You feel more relaxed in general. Putting on airs is tiring. When you are truly you, you have the freedom to relax and breathe.
You’re better able to honestly analyze your circumstances. Instead of judging the things around you by trying to figure out if you should like it or not, you can pay attention to how you really feel. You don’t have to like something or dislike something just because the people around you do. You like what you like. You feel the way you feel.
Your self-esteem increases. Nothing brings you down like trying to be something you’re just not. Being authentic can be a big relief and help you realize that who you are is just fine … in fact it’s better than fine, it’s great.
Now it’s time to get out into the world and show everyone the superhero that you really are:)
