Do you have superpowers? Learn how to create unique names for your strengths to see them in a more powerful way.
Do you have superpowers?
When it comes to self improvement, we often focus more on our weaknesses and what we want to fix about ourselves rather than our strengths and what we are already good at.
The main reason for this is that we tend to have a “negativity bias.” Our minds are designed to solve problems and fix things. And as a result, we take our strengths for granted and instead we spend most of our time thinking about the things we perceive as “wrong” with ourselves.
One essential shift in your perspective is to pay more attention to your strengths.
This is why I often tell people to “follow your biology” because the things you are naturally good at are the characteristics that are going to make you stand out in the best way possible and become the best version of yourself.
While reflecting on your strengths is beneficial as a standalone exercise, here’s an extra twist on it to make it more fun: create unique and cool-sounding names for your strengths.
In fact, think of yourself as a type of superhero and think of your strengths as superpowers. What would they be called?
For example, instead of thinking you’re just “intelligent,” think you’re a “Master Absorber.” Or instead of thinking you’re “creative,” think you’re an “Idea Machine.” Or instead of thinking you’re “confident,” think you’re a “Devout Self-Believer.”
By coming up with your own unique names for your strengths, you automatically make them sound more powerful and badass.
Language can have a tremendous power over our psychology and self-perception. By changing how you describe things, you can drastically change the way you perceive them and how they make you feel.
By transforming your strengths into “superpowers,” you’re actually practicing a type of cognitive restructuring (or “reframing”). But instead of reframing something “bad” into something “good,” you’re reframing something “good” into something “awesome.”
That’s taking reframing to a whole new level.
Here’s an exercise for you to try: First make a list of 5-7 strengths you have. Just use ordinary terms like “intelligent,” “creative,” “helpful,” “confident,” “motivated,” etc. Then go through each one and try to think of a cooler name for it that truly captures your personality and the best possible version of yourself.
Transforming Strengths → Superpowers”
- Intelligent → “MASTER ABSORBER”
- Creative → “IDEA MACHINE”
- Confident → “DEVOUT SELF-BELIEVER”
- Helpful → “GENTLE NUDGER”
- Motivated → “SYSTEMATIC MOVER”
- Kind → “UNIVERSAL GIVER”
- Problem-Solver → “ULTIMATE PATHFINDER”
- Honest → “AUTHENTIC TRUTH-TELLER”
- Responsible → “TRUSTWORTHY COMPANION”
Of course, these are just my personal examples. If you want to create “superpowers” that truly resonate with you, then take the time to be creative and come up with your own unique names for your strengths.
Words are powerful. And while this may feel like a silly exercise, it’s a fun and simple way to enhance your mindset and how you see yourself.
When you reframe your strengths as superpowers, it often makes them sound more descriptive and unique to you. Everyone likes to say they are “intelligent” or “hard-working,” but those are boring labels. When you say you’re a “Master Absorber” or “Systematic Mover,” that sounds way more empowering.
Our imagination and creativity can be one of the most powerful tools when changing our mindset, so it’s important that we experiment and have fun with it. This is why I often recommend “oddball” exercises like pretending to be someone else, or adding swears to your affirmations, or creating your own placebo pills.
The more you play with your mind, the more you find ways to motivate yourself, inspire yourself, and create more meaning in your life. But you have to first give yourself permission to experiment.
It only takes 5-10 minutes to write down your strengths somewhere and reframe them into superpowers. So try it out for yourself and see how you feel after!
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