This article is written for Evolving Beings by guest author Karl Staib of Work Happy Now.
You are evolving. You can’t stop it.
Since you can’t stop it then you may as well steer your evolution in the direction that makes you happier.
That means you need to be developing your super powers while you are evolving.
A few years ago I was blissfully unaware of my ability to develop my super powers. I thought that my job was useful to help me pay the bills, but not to actually to improve my happiness.
What are super powers you ask?
Super powers are based around three principals:
- Passions
- Focus
- Strengths
If you don’t have all three then you are only applying skill to your actions.
Super powers are activities that people come to for help with, because they know you are great at them. So if you work for yourself it should be the actions that your clients keep asking of you again and again because you do such a great job.
My Depression at Work
So, I was prone to depression at work. I always thought that getting another job would solve my problems. I bounced around various jobs and always ended up hating each one. Little did I realize that I could develop my happiness at work.
When the depression would hit, it was usually because I was neglecting my super powers. I was either trying to copy someone else’s powers or I was just totally lost all together. By failing to separate myself from everyone else I was weakening my happiness.
Reframing
One of my strongest super powers is my ability to reframe.
Reframing used to be a weakness of mine. I tended to steer toward a negative perspective. Ask my wife. I could have received a wonderful present for my birthday and I would have found a reason not to like it. It was easier to hate instead of love.
I put myself on a 30 day no complaining trial at work back in 2008. I wasn’t allowed to complain about a bad project, an annoying co-worker, or the weather.
At first it was tough and there were still times when I would complain, but I was able to reduce my complaining by 90%. I found ways to reframe a difficult situation and feel more positive.
The Job
Your work offers you many challenges. You probably have to deal with emotional highs and lows on a weekly basis.
These situations can teach you so much about yourself and help you discover your super powers.
Let’s discover a little more about you.
What actions at work make you feel most powerful?
How do you use this skill to leverage your happiness?
You can use your super powers to leverage your success. The more success you incur, the more confidence you will build. This state of confidence will allow you to use your super powers at will. When you have complete confidence in all your super powers, you will be able to do your best work.
Your Plan
I recently gave a presentation to 200 students. The ‘me’ from two years ago would have peed his pants. The ‘me’ with super powers of persuasion wasn’t afraid. I just went up and did my thing with confidence.
I could not have developed these super powers on my own. My job pushed me to work on these skills until they were so powerful that they became super powers.
Once you identify your super powers, you can make a plan to use them more often in order to help increase your happiness.
If you aren’t sure what your super powers are then notice what actions energize you and are easy to stay focused on, you can build the skills to create a super power. Believe me, if you apply enough passion and focus to something, you will develop extraordinary skill that people will be begging you to share with them.
About the Author
Karl Staib coaches and writes about superpower development for creative people at Work Happy Now! Karl is also a speaker in the areas of work happiness, living out your passions and living a life that fulfills your needs. If you enjoyed this article, you may want to check him out on Twitter or join his free 10 Part eCourse to a Happier and More Successful You.
*Photograph 1 provided by greggoconnell
*Photograph 2 provided by dumbledad
13 Comments to “Why Your Job is the Best Place to Discover Your Super Powers”
Karl,
Wow 200 students! I would think it would be a touch group to keep attentive. Knowing you and some of your super powers i.e. authenticity, enthusiasm, and seeing in others the power they don’t see in themselves I’m sure it was an exciting and fruitful event. Way to go and I see you empowering so many more in the future.
Hi Tess, At times it was difficult to keep them focused, but whenever they waned I weaved and got them back on track. He he he. My superpowers came to the rescue.
Karl,
Good reminder.
“You are evolving. You can’t stop it.
Since you can’t stop it then you may as well steer your evolution in the direction that makes you happier.”
YES! Exactly.
Karl –
And what happens when your super powers are not needed at your work place? I entered my current job with vast super powers. I loved my job – I had passion and skills and gifts. In the years following, my super powers remain, I am told that they are valued, and yet I am underemployed. I love my job because of the freedom and flexibility it affords. I am able to do things with and for my daughter that I couldn’t do otherwise. I use my super powers for other purposes. I have to wonder though – if my super powers are not needed here… what is next? Everything I am strengthening and learning now will apply… and the adventure will evolve.
You need to find a creative way to use your superpowers. You have superpowers to change lives. If they aren’t being utilized then you aren’t being fully utilized. If you are thwarted in every attempt at work then you have to use them after hours to keep them sharp. That may mean volunteering at a local charity or creating a small business online.
If your superpowers are not needed I would suggest finding a job that will use them. I know it’s tough out there, but you will have more job security when you are doing work that your are passionate about and plays to your strengths.
Karl, this is a beautiful reminder that happiness lies within us and not in external conditions. Sometimes a difficult situation can leverage much more learning and transformation than having an easy one. I have heard the term “super powers” before. Definitely want to reflect on mine! Thanks for the new idea.
Hi Sandra, I take time every day, week, month and year to reflect on my progress. It’s been vital to my success. It all starts in my daily 1 sentence journal. One of the best tools I’ve ever implemented.
Hi Karl,
Thank you for sharing! Awe-some..I also think that how you apply the superpower principle to work may also be applied to life..live your passions with focus and know and use your strengths to embrace each moment fully!
I think in general we are taught to ignore our superpowers to kind of go with the flow of fitting in..yet if everyone embraced thier own truth and used that in the workplace–and beyond– what an amazing, vibrant Energy would radiate throughout each interaction..all helping each other to soar:)
[...] I wrote a guest post over at Evolve Beings called – Why Your Job is the Best Place to Discover Your Super Powers. It’s a must read in my [...]
Hello Karl (and Evita!)
Karl, this is absolutely excellent advice. I have been talking to people about this exact thing. One’s current job is a fantastic place to explore and grow one’s talents/gifts. Even if what you’re currently doing isn’t your passion, you can still use that position as a launching pad to other things. If your advice is followed, a person may even “outgrow” their current situation, and other opportunities will “appear”.
Very good article Karl. I can easily see why you were given the opportunity to speak to those students!
You know, I love this because I do think there is so much emphasis these days on ‘finding your dream job’ and ‘expressing your passion in a new career that aligns with your authentic self’ etc. And all that is wonderful. But it does overlook the very basic point that we are always evolving wherever we are, or at least that we always have that choice. I worked in corporate software development for 15 years, I am so glad I am out, but looking back I can clearly see just how much I grew and evolved because of the challenges…it was so necessary to me. So good work here! – lisa
[...] I wrote a guest post over at Evolve Beings called – Why Your Job is the Best Place to Discover Your Super Powers. It’s a must read in my [...]