What’s your superpower?
Back in May, when Kelly Rae and I did an event at Teahouse Studios, we went around the room and posed this question. I was delighted and surprised to find that everyone had an answer! (I was imagining a lot of pushing and prodding, coaching people into defining their particular strength)
Instead, everyone knew. And they were all unique. And pointed to something that lit them up, that made them come alive. Not only is your superpower something you are good at, it’s something that gives you deep meaning and joy. It’s something you offer the world as a gift.
I am a wise listener.
I bring the humor and fun.
I can see the big picture.
I connect people.
I can make a space beautiful.
Some responses from my tribe
To celebrate the new site, I asked some members of my tribe to answer the question, What’s Your Superpower? Here are their wonderful answers, in blog form!
Vivienne McMaster Superpower: Playfulness
SARK Superpower: Joy
Marianne Elliott Superpower: Caring
Karen Walrond: Superpower: Cheerleader
Laurie Wagner Superpower: A digger
Jen Downer Superpower: Photography
Hannah Marcotti Superpower: YOU
Catherine Just Superpower: Willing to be transparent
Mati Rose Superpower: Choosing color
Susannah Conway Superpower: Truth-telling
Jen Louden Superpower: Cheerleading
Sherry Belul Superpower: Celebration
Design Mom’s Gabrielle Blair Superpower: Recognizes beauty
Your turn
Now I want to hear from you! What’s your superpower? Leave it in the comments below.
P.S. If you want to put your name in the hat for the big giveaway, go to this post!
staying calm when surrounded by chaos
Seeing beauty in the small things in my immediate surroundings.
My first thought was photography, but then I let my brain be quiet and listened to my heart. Compassion and empathy are my superpowers.
and the ability to make a mean penne ala vodka!
Being funny. Make-your-belly-hurt-from-laughing, unapologetically, irreverently, dark-humoredly funny. Oh, and I can also wipe a very poopie butt, on my lap, using only two wipes. And only get poop on three surfaces. That’s very Super-Power-y.
I am a ‘fixer’ and a gratitude cultivator 🙂
My superpower is being nice. It is probably, at worst, a strong desire to people-please, but I also really do wish the people whom I encounter on a daily basis well. I hope that I can be a spot of brightness in their day. Maybe I’m the only smile they see all day … that sort of thing. It’s something that I struggle with, however, as I’ve been told that I’m “too nice” and that I can “let people walk all over” me, so I may need to think about how best to use my superpower in the future.
Also I can drink copious amounts of Diet Coke and eat nachos for every meal without getting tired of either.
I show students who think they can’t draw that THEY CAN DRAW!!
Candyce,
I think re-framing your superpower as “kindness” might even say it best, without all the other stuff attached.
I really resonate with wanting to be the bright spot in someone’s day.
Such a great superpower…
My initial thought was photography… but it’s “listening and “getting” people”… I think
A friend told me yesterday that my colleagues appreciate the way I lead with a “generosity of spirit.” I’m mulling that over today.
My superpower is ENTHUSIASM! Where there is “meh” I will bring excitement.
I’m a problem solver – whether than is in my work, solving design and branding problems or at home finding inexpensive ways to do things, getting something to work or finding out how to find the information I need. I can look at something, see the problem and usually find ways to solve it. I like to think of myself as MacGyver! 🙂
SENSE OF SMELL – which is terrible on those days that I encounter more dog pee than roses. BUT I think that is just one element of my heightened sensitivity, which inspires me to bring compassion and wit to those stinky times in life. 😉
My superpower is kindness 🙂
My superpower: connecting people with books, stories, music, information that they don’t even know they want/need.
When I was in NY this summer, I made a purchase at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. You have to say an oath and give them your Superhero name when you buy something. I was stumped. I couldn’t come up with anything and I couldn’t even remember if I had superpowers (stupid, we all have at least one superpower). I gave them a completely lame name (Super Authenticity Girl – I don’t even know). It was a reminder that I needed to exercise those super powers.
My strongest superpower is truth and finding the truth. At least this is what I’ve been told by others. I think my superpower is pie crust. I make a mean pie crust.
My son asks this all the time! The superhero power I want to have is making sure everyone feels loved. The one I have for real is arriving (most) places ahead of the line.
Being funny and having fun, recent quote from a girlfriend, “tammy’s here, we can start laughing!” wait a minute does it still count as funny if they are laughing AT you? 🙂
I think my superpower is showing someone how much I care/love about them through cooking/baking.
Possibility seer- i can see possibility in things, people, situations
My superpower is listening well and remembering the details of people’s stories.
I’m a child-whisperer. 🙂
My superpower is that I see the positive side to things!
My superpowers:
I’m a Good Friend
I’m a Fixer
I’m sensitive
I’m kind
I’m giving
I’m crying…..
waking up and at this point grunting: ugh. and then putting one foot in front of the other. and knowing i will have better days.
no , i’m not whining.
My superpower:Helping individuals/community to achieve their dreams and in the process accomplishing my life purpose as well.The uni-verse always pays me back with extreme happiness ,joy and fulfillment.
Many Congrats for a beautiful site Andrea!Its a real piece of art.Has become my homepage!
Superpower: Inner Child Advocate.
My superpower: giving
Choosing happiness is my super power. It encompasses compassion, nurturing, kindness, humour, and delight. It acknowledges frailty and is growing in becoming less and less judgemental.
My superpower would be intuition. I am not saying I always recognise it though! There have been a lot of times when I haven’t trusted my gut instinct and looked back later and thought “a-ha I knew it all along”.
My superpower is to see to bring beauty & order to my happy little home. Thank you.
My superpower is caring and compassion.
My superpower is creating a bubble of calm.
My superpowers are my sense of humor and the way I use color. Thanks for inviting me to look at my gifts as powers 🙂
My superpower is being able to sense when to lighten the mood and laugh.
My superpowers is my open heart and my ability to be fully present for the one I am in front of.
I connect with people on a core, emotional level
Empathizing, caring, wanting to understand different points of view
My superpower is designing mellifluous melodies and harmonies.
Creative idea generation
My super power is connecting dots. Whether at work or through relationship or even observing myself…I make the connections between facts and tidbits that bring the aha moment. Thank you for asking – that is the first time I’ve ever claimed it!!
My SuperPower is Resilience. I’ve made my mess my message, and I help women whose lives have gotten very small from chronic illness how to travel the path of the Hero’s Journey, gather their own superpower and gift, and then bring their purpose and vision into the world.
Loving your message and your website, Andrea! Thank you.
Research, finding answers.
And I am an expert at Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, especially the years before he was in A Few Good Men.
“Divine Priestess.” There. I said it.
My super(s)hero power is PATIENCE.
I partially answered this by mistake in the other post but without all the angst attached that I have around it, I believe my superhero power is PASSION. wow, it took me forever to get around to saying that. maybe because I haven’t felt that my superhero power isn’t good for much. I go very deep into things and I’m sensitive and that has gotten me into trouble…but I’m willing to consider that maybe just maybe it’s a gift that could be useful and powerful..
Superpower: Special Education teacher!
Superpower: Organizer
Encouraging. I get really excited for my friends & family and encourage them to live out their dreams. Now I just need to find a mirror so I can turn my power onto myself:) Thanks again for the cool site!
Superpower: Visionary of Enchantment
Superpower: Able to See in the Dark. They say Dragons live in the Dark Places… but there’s also great treasure there. I’m a Soul Adventurer!
I love the new site! Love love love!
My superpower is that I can bake really delicious things that make people happy.
Superpower? Deep listening.
My superpower is Story- story telling, story hearing seeing the Story in what’s happening.
Superpower: Sensitive
When I close my eyes and listen to my heart, I hear LOVE!
love this. have always loved this invitation, but have yet to name one that feels true. today, thinking my superpower is…weaving ideas (connecting and synthesizing).
I see beauty in the quirky. Especially in people.
I am “harmless”. People see me as harmless and approachable–I get random people who start talking to me and telling me their thoughts and desires.
I can also get babies to smile. They see my squinty Asian eyes and I think they respond to that!
My superpower is my loyalty. I am also well grounded and find myself often being the anchor for people to bring them back to shore so to speak.
I’m good at finding information and synthesizing complex topics!
I am a warrior who knows the tender heart of sadness. My superpowers are gentleness and generosity, holding my heart open to both the beauty and the brutality of life, knowing the broken tenderness of loss and grief and the medicine of love, voice finding, love letter writing, and remembering (and reminding) that we all are basically and fundamentally good, wise, compassionate, and powerful.
Speaking the invisible.
Heart whisperer
What a wonderful challenge.
Thank you again for being here.9
Diplomacy among artistic temperaments.
My superpower is being a peacemaker. I can get along with anyone.
My superpower is discovering someone’s essence. So many great powers listed here. I feel like I’m in good hands if I send up the signal. In an emergency there are so many of us here ready and willing to respond when needed. Thanks Andrea, for being YOU!
My super power is my sense of direction ( can get my bearings in a city very quickly and remember it when I go back, even if years later.) My other super power is being able to open even the most stuck jam jar. I am still looking for a career that might combine these !
My husband says my super power is “Being Super Mommy”!!!!
My superpower? Inner sensitivity that makes me see things in postive way, see the Beauty of the Nature and stay calm when the storm is all arround. I’m also a good organizer and the professionalist in my field, loving mother and a good learner, curious in the world. I’ve learned how to prioritize in life… LOVE to all of YOU – SUPERHEROs!