Be the hero of your own story.
Having spent a quarter of my life in the army and having witnessed firsthand some of the most heroic men and women serving their country, I have always asked myself, “What does a hero look like?”
A great many of the people whom I served with and respect the opinion of would collectively reserve the term “hero” for select individuals. The term “hero” is defended for those who act in the face of danger or adversary while showing courage; they do what is morally right in spite of peer pressure. A hero is defined by his or her choices and actions, not by chance or circumstances that arise.
A hero can be brave and willing to sacrifice his or her life, but I think we all have a hero in us — someone who is unselfish and without want of reward, who is determined to help others.
My heroes are people like my family members, who have stood by me and supported me through thick and thin; my school teachers, who didn’t give up on and believed in me although the time they invested didn’t guarantee results; and a mentor, who led the way and took the time to steer me in the right direction when I was lost.
I’ve learned most heroes are ordinary people — it is their act that is extraordinary.
We all have a unique talent and skill set. What the world needs are heroes who have the ability to make extraordinary things happen in the environment we live in.
Performing an act of kindness or good deed, no matter how small, starts a shift of positive energy that can profoundly change lives. Doing something nice for someone with no ulterior motive can impact someone’s life and give them hope for the future.
A good deed you did for someone today can have a far-reaching, powerful, and lasting effect on more than just you and that person.
How you affect others allows you to be the hero of your own story and sets an example of what is possible. You become an inspiration, opening the awareness of others to their own potential.
Think back to a time in your life when someone was a hero for you. I bet you have never forgotten what they did for you, their courage and their actions.
A hero is not necessarily someone who wears a cape, has superpowers and saves the world.
Being a hero is about helping others and endeavouring to make a difference in other people’s lives, creating a ripple effect that all started with you.
Believe it or not, helping others is more about helping ourselves than about the people we are helping. We gain increased self-esteem, self-confidence and pride from knowing we are doing the right thing and making a difference.
Because of the great deal of negativity in the news on a daily basis, I think it is important to inspire people to make their own news and feel good about what they do rather than complain and be brainwashed to think everything is bad.
