Take a deep,
Powerful breath.
Fill your lungs with air and hold that breath for a moment.
And completely exhale.
Continue to breathe purposefully and consistent as you feel the air that is surrounding you.
Take a deep breath to clear your mind from today's details and prepare yourself for a tremendous journey.
We travel to a world maybe more familiar to us as a child.
A world consisting of superheroes,
Myth,
And legends that we hear about who protect our great metropolis day in and day out.
We explore feats of incredible strength where splendid surprises are commonplace.
A place larger than life characters.
The world of our superheroes.
What age were you when you first thought of being a superhero?
I invite you to take a moment to reminisce over the thoughts of placing a shield of armor on you.
A cape,
Tiara,
Or maybe bracelets.
Remember when you believed in yourself so strongly that you knew you could transform into one of these characters?
You were strong and fast.
You possessed special powers.
Intelligence,
Courage,
Wisdom,
And insight to combat crime and rescue the world.
You could fly,
You may have had x-ray vision,
Maybe you could swim deep within the ocean or walk unharmed through fire.
Were you Batman,
Batgirl,
Aquaman,
Captain Marvel,
Catwoman,
The Incredible Hulk,
Or Iron Man,
Spiderman,
Or Wonder Woman?
Maybe you and your friends were Guardians of the Galaxy.
Your memories are yours.
Your story is yours.
As adults,
We draw upon our unique internal wisdom to accept our power.
The power that has always lived within us.
The capacity to heal others evolves from our ability to look deep within ourselves,
To heal our own pain,
And to turn from the identity of a victim.
Just as a superhero saves others,
They first learn to save themselves.
So what is hiding under your cape?
What is lying in the crevices of your mind?
What keeps creeping into your thoughts?
As a superhero,
You have the ability to do hard things and propel forward.
The decision to heal the pain that we carry within us and face our fears grants us the strength to live authentically,
Realizing that we do not need to be a Man of Steel who soars at great heights,
An Iron Man,
Or Captain Marvel who fights crime and terrorism,
Or Wonder Woman who courageously rescues herself from bondage.
The decision to put aside the pain we carry within us is what grants us the strength to redeem that pain through service.
There are many ways to use the pain you feel to help others.
Your pain gives you a unique insight into the minds of others who have experienced trauma and heartache.
You draw from the wellspring of strength that allowed you to emerge on the other side of a painful experience and pass that strength on to individuals who are still suffering from their wounds.
Helping others gives you greater well-being,
Boldness,
Pride,
And peace.
By experiencing your pain and transforming it into strength,
Followed by service,
You may feel a sense of euphoria that leads to increased feelings of self-worth and optimism.
Your courageous decision to reach out to others can be the best way to declare yourself and to the world that your pain didn't defeat you,
And in fact,
It helped heal you.
Own your story.
Strike your Wonder Woman,
Superwoman,
Or Superman pose.
Each morning confidently place your colored cape upon your shoulders and be present to all that occurs.
All of you is present in each moment.
You are mindful of your thoughts,
Mindful of your movement,
And breath is your power.
You seek nourishment for your body,
Mind,
And spirit.
You are safe.
You are knowing.
You effortlessly connect to the driving forces within you.
As superheroes rise from the loss of life,
Loss of love,
Violence,
And abuse,
You do so as well,
And you choose the tools that are at your disposal.
You educate yourself and you seek and embrace training.
Your guiding light leads you to personal growth,
Leading you to freedom,
Goodness,
Confidence,
And joy.
You stand knowing that the beginning doesn't define the end.
You are the protector of your mind.
You respect your well-being and welcome the invitation to help others.
Whether that be a child,
Someone who is old,
Someone who is lonely or cold,
Or someone that has been abused.
Remember who you are.
Place your shield of armor on and see yourself standing firm.
When you wake tomorrow,
Venture boldly into your day.
Stand firm as you strike your Wonder Woman or Superman pose.
You have everything you need right within you.
You are a superhero.
