Find Your Heroes

Today I want to discuss heroes.  I'm not referring to the 1991 hit song ""Hero" by Enrique Iglesias or the defunct NBC series Heroes. Actually, I never saw that show and I didn't really like that song.  And, no, I'm not discussing Superheroes. I'm sorry if you ended up at my blog looking for a discussion of Peter Parker or The Joker.  What I'm referring to is personal role models.  I'm referring to real people in the real world that have led exemplary lives and acheived great things.  

We all, consciously or unconsciously,  imitate or "model" our behavior after others.  For most of us, our parents are our first teachers. We learn by imitating or mirroring those around us. This is true with speech patterns, mannerisms, modes of thinking, and value systems as we are raised.  Then we encounter other influences like peer groups and teachers/babysitters/child care workers.  We learn from these groups just as we learn from our parents, by observing and imitating.

 Lets not forget the power of technology either.  A University of Michigan study showed that the average 2-5 year old spends 32 hours a week in from of a TV screen.  32 hours a week? Thats a staggering number to me, so lets hope these children are watching Sesame Street, not South Park.  Not to hate on South Park, but Cartman is not exactly a positive role models for a 4 year old.  Another study found that the average American adult watches 4 hours of TV each day. Thats 2 months of non-stop TV per year and, in a 65-year lifespan, 9 consecutive years. Thats not even counting Facebook.

Between family, school, extra-curricular activities, TV and the Web we have so many sources for behavior to imitate.  Some of us never consciously choose our personal heroes.  We adopt cultural heroes or inherit those of our parents or friends.  Personally, I believe choosing your own heroes is one of the most important steps you can make in defining yourself.  Unlike a philosophy, heroes don't exist in abstract form. Heroes are real people, and they walk amongst us. Heroic actions are real, and they happen everyday. The benefits of picking a hero are two fold. First, the existence of your hero proves to you that miraculous and wonderful things can happen and extraordinary people do exist.  This person will serve as a symbol to you in your times of doubt that not only CAN obstacles be overcome, but, also, that they HAVE been overcome. Secondly, our heroes can be a source of insight into HOW they have achieved their success.  After all, the process of succeeding is just as important as the act of executing that process.

Choose your heroes and study them.  If you're lucky enough to be able to spend time with your mentor or hero, even better.   Read autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, blogs, or watch documentaries to discover more about extraordinary individuals.  Reflect on what motivates your heroes and what motivates you.  Are they the same? We all need positive role models to inspire and instruct us to where we CAN go.