We know who you really are
I love stories about heroes with secret powers.
But even a five-year-old wouldn’t be fooled by the plot device that keeps their true identities from being revealed. How can Lois not realise that Clark Kent is Superman? No one looks that different with glasses on.
Sometimes I feel like my job title has become my secret identity. Only unlike Clark Kent’s glasses, this secret identity is so convincing, even I start to believe in it. I think this can be a danger for most of us, for those with great jobs and those with jobs that barely pay the bills, or don’t earn a penny. If you have a fantastic job, you might not mind if the world sees you only as doctor, TV producer, or professional athlete. It’s harder when it seems the world looks past you because all they see is filing clerk, stay-at-home mum, or shelf-stacker.
The truth is that there is so much more to you than your job title. Your job is what you do to earn money; it’s not who you are. More important is your attitude, the way you treat others, and the sacrifices you make for your family or for others in need. If Clark Kent saw himself only as a journalist, who would save the earth from Lex Luthor’s evil schemes? But luckily for the citizens of Metropolis, he knew that he was so much more than a mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet … he was Superman.
In this economy we may not get to choose to do our ideal job, but we can choose to get out from behind our secret identities.
Here are 3 ways you can get started:
1. Look beyond the surface.
It’s easy to get caught up in appearances. Our culture is not the first one in human history to be focussed on the superficial. From the Romans jockeying for the best seats in the amphitheatre, to our parents owning the first colour TV on the street, the obsession with status never ends. Don’t believe the lie that your worth is based on your status in society, and don’t believe it about other people, either.
2. Make your mark outside of work.
If you work 40 hours a week, you spend almost twice as many of your waking hours outside of work than in work. If you make an effort to invest that time in your relationships with the people who are important to you, you won’t regret it. Also, consider volunteering in some way. You have a unique set of skills and abilities, and it could be that if you aren’t getting a chance to use them at work, the world is missing out!
3. Remember, ‘it’s not just what you’re given, it’s what you do with what you've got’.
Okay, so I stole that line from a song from the 70s that my dad still plays on the guitar. It’s either stirring or cheesy depending on your point of view. But it’s true none the less. No matter what your job or your situation is, it’s what you do with it that counts. Believe the job you do makes a difference, and strive to do your best with the opportunities you have been given.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel like the invisible Clark Kent, still waiting for your big opportunity to rush into a phone box, put your pants on over your trousers and save Metropolis. But don’t worry: as I said before, even a five-year-old can see that you’re really Superman.
Struggling to get motivated after the summer? Why not read Beat the 'Back to Work' Blues
Written by Johanna Shepherd. Posted on 28th September.
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