On (Not) Being Superman

Every now and then I come to the new conclusion that I am not A Superman, let alone THE Superman. I came to realize that again last week when I needed to stop and take it easy on myself. From time to time I walk into situations that I think I can handle on my own. That my great and wonderful personality and abilities and just general being will get me through anything.

In short, there is nothing that I can't do.

I can handle whatever it is that comes along and walk through fire, on water, and around the clouds. Can you imagine how tough that is to live like that? Can you feel the responsibility that comes with such amazingness and wonderfulness?

But I am sure that if you stop and think about for the least microsecond, you can realize how stupid and personally harmful it is. Sooner or later things fall apart. Not necessarily where all turns into a disaster, but it sure might be headed that direction. Someone disagrees, someone challenges, someone does it better. Or worse, you realize you can't be the savior to all, the perfect one, the answer to every question.

In other words you realize you truly are human. Just like everyone else. You realize you have shortcomings and failures. Just like everyone else.

Then you want to scream- NO! WAIT! I am unique and special and as perfect as I think I am. You can't lump me together with everyone else. I'm me! Can't you see that?

Of course each of us is unique and individual. But way down at the bottom line when all else is said and done, we all have character defects, shortcomings, even failings. We are all fallible human beings.

It is at that point that we can move toward and into recovery. Recovery is to have an open and honest view of ourselves, neither thinking to highly nor too poorly of ourselves. Being willing to see both extremes of grandiosity- the BEST or the WORST. I have a hunch that in the evolution of the 12-Steps, the 6th and 7th steps where we become willing to ask a Higher Power to help us in our weakness, have to come only after we can give up the Superman (or Wonder Woman) complex.

Now, if I could only learn it for good so I never have to face it again.