No one is you and that is your SUPER POWER!

I went to a therapy training recently on the use of media in relationship to super heroes and villains, using innovative ways to help clients find their own unique Super Powers. I have written about Super Powers before. This is just a bit of an additional twist to my original post.

One of the exercises we were asked to do was to choose a super hero or villain that we identified with. I just went with my gut and choose “Super Woman”. The version I know is a woman who is strong and resilient and courageous as she overcomes adversity and grief. She is also a protector. For a variety of reasons, I could identify. The activity, of course, was for us to get in touch with our own unique strengths or those that are there within us that we want to bring to the forefront to aid us in our journey called life.

I found this “no one is you . . . ” poster above recently and had to purchase it, as it really resonated with me. The whole concept that it is our own unique self that is our Super Power is so self empowering. We each have our own unique combination of characteristics and personality and gifts. It is our own special blend of our Super Power.

I hope you too will look within and find your own unique mix that makes you who you are and what is always there for you to use in your daily life or in times of worry or upset.

Here is to all of us and the wonderful gifts we can draw on for ourselves and also as a gift to others and the world around us.

What character or super hero do you identify with?

Fill the “Buckets” of Your Loved Ones and See Happiness Grow

good feelings bucketI ran across the children’s book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud  just recently while at a local bookstore.  I have another book for children on this topic, but really liked how this one was done. For those of you who are not familiar with the “Bucket” concept, this is how it works. Please note that this is for all ages!!!

  •  Everyone has an invisible bucket (this is how this particular author explains it to children). The bucket is to hold your good thoughts and feelings about yourself.
  • You feel happy when it is full and sad when it is empty.
  • We need each other to help fill our buckets.
  • To fill a bucket you simply show love to someone (for example a hug or kiss), say or do something kind, or make someone feel special.
  • You can also be a “bucket dipper” by taking out some good feelings by saying hurtful or mean things, being critical, making fun of someone, etc.
  • You feel good when you fill someone else’s bucket

I might add I feel it is also important to let children know they can help to fill their own buckets by using “positive self talk”. What we say to ourselves is crucial in how we feel about ourselves. Our thoughts can add or take out good feelings from our buckets. 

I also think it is helpful to let children know that it is ok to tell your family that your bucket it low. And that you can help to fill it. This is ditto for couples too!

Family or Couple Bucket Activity:

One fun way to make this concept concrete is to have a bucket for each person in your family. Family members can write each other notes of love and appreciation and put them in the buckets. Everyone might even decorate their own bucket and put their name on it. This could be a fun family activity. Or even for a couple this would be a nice concrete way to show your love for each other.

Good luck in filling those buckets!