The Size of the Dream Is Not What Matters but Its Trueness to You

GREEN LANTERN

Imagination

The Lantern’s ring endows its bearer with the power to materialize anything he can imagine.

The size of the dream is not what matters but its trueness to you.

With time and experience, many of us find ourselves adjusting our dreams and goals to make them more feasible, but better to dream creatively first and compromise later than never to have dreamt creatively at all.

Will

The other condition of the Green Lantern’s ring is that even when Hal Jordan imagines something more creative than a fist, he must have an equal proportion of willpower to bring it to life.

This is also true in reality. A bold idea is not enough. One must have the strength of will to initiate it, to persist in it and not quit despite setbacks and failures. And the bigger the idea, project or conception, the greater the willpower required.

Courage

Obviously, many superhero characters embody this virtue to a certain degree, but with the Green Lantern, it is explicitly symbolized in both the mechanics of his ring and its primary weakness: the color yellow, which represents fear.

The nature of the ring is such that a powerful imagination plus willpower can create just about anything, but if the ring bearer’s mind is clouded by fear or other negative emotions, his ring-powered creations will be unstable.

CYCLOPS

(image: Marvel Comics)

Vision

Within the Marvel universe, Cyclops is one of the characters with the strongest, clearest vision of what he wants to achieve. Instead of backing down, he had the courage to stand up for what he, not what anyone else, believed was right.

Regardless of whether his decisions have been right or wrong, it is because Cyclops is so clear in what he wants to achieve that he can resolutely make difficult choices, even dubious ones, and not sabotage himself afterwards by second-guessing.

Focus/Concentration

One of the most common but least understood causes of failure in anything is lack of focus and concentration.

Discipline and self-control are necessary to focus our attention on the highest priorities if we want any kind of chance at succeeding at anything whether the endeavor is career-oriented, intellectual or spiritual.

AQUAMAN

Thick Skin

When you go after your dreams, you need to grow thick skin because people, both friends and enemies, will sometimes say and do things that might deflate your confidence and motivation.

Equally importantly, he also has the kind of thick skin that deflects a persistent onslaught of mean-spirited jokes and insults.

Though he doesn’t enjoy the treatment he often gets(who would?), he endures it with dignity and grace, ignoring it as best he can, and nobly continues to do what he does best: helping people.

(image: DC Comics)

Intercultural Skills

Aquaman is a man of two worlds and rejected as an outsider by both. Naturally, this is a source of pain for him, but instead of sinking into self-pity he tries to embody the best of both worlds while rejecting their faults and weaknesses.

We live in an increasingly multicultural world in which many, if not most, have multiple identities, affiliations and loyalties, sometimes conflicting ones.

This can be a source of great angst but it can also be a source of power. Like Aquaman, try to learn the best of what your different cultures have to offer and minimize the problematic aspects of them. In effect, you’ll become like a chameleon, far more adaptable, in an ever confusing world, than those who have their entire sense of self invested in a single identity package.

Iron Man

Harnessing Technology

Iron Man’s power comes from technology. It’s what gives him his powers and abilities. He is truly a symbolic hero for our time as we find that ever more and more activities that we used to do with our own labor and muscle – even brushing our teeth – is being done by machinery.

Retaining Humanity

Iron Man’s body will not function without technology, yet his humanity remains intact. And never losing touch with that human core has been one of his primary struggles.

As the world becomes increasingly technologized, the hunger for simple, real human connection and old-fashioned values will only increase.

Those who can continue to find ways to deliver the human touch within a sterile technological world will be able to thrive at the personal, social and commercial levels.

WOLVERINE

Harnessing the Dark Side

No one has ever accused Wolverine of being a nice guy. With his bodily augmentations, training and feral temperament, he’s essentially the perfect killer. Were it not for people like Professor X who mentored and nurtured him, he may very well have ended up as nothing better than a mercenary.

As it is, Wolverine uses his qualities, even the negative ones, for good and is among the greatest of heroes in his own edgy way. He is an archetype for harnessing our demons and using them in ways more beneficial than hurting ourselves and others.

How does this translate to real life? Well, for instance, some people have OCD.Growing up, OCD people torturethemselves (and sometimes others) with all kinds of bizarre habits and rituals and have very little control over it. However, through conscious effort over the years, you can gain control over it. But, when you want to, when you think it might be beneficial, you unchain the beast and let it do its thing. Usually, this is for creative or work-related things in which the OCD helps you be meticulous and detailed in a way second to none.

Resilience

And what else does Wolverine’s famous healing factor really represent but resilience? The ability to get up again after being knocked down, to put ourselves back together after being torn apart – this is what really distinguishes those who succeed (at anything) versus those who don’t, much more than just raw talent or intelligence.

DAREDEVIL

Weakness Compensation

Daredevil, as we know, can’t see. But his senses of hearing, smell, taste and touch are so supernaturally acute that, along with a radar sixth sense, they more than make up for the blindness.

We, too, can learn to use our talents and skills to compensate for our “blindness” or weaknesses. Everybody has weaknesses or blind spots in certain areas that may be due to our personality, our worldview, our limited knowledge or experience or whatever it may be. But we are also gifted with unique talents and abilities that, if used to their potential, can more than make up for those weaknesses.

Lifestyle Integration

Matthew Murdock has accomplished something that we all dream of: he has integrated his passions into his formal occupation. By night, of course, he is still Daredevil, but his battle against crime doesn’t end with daylight when he operates within the law as a respectable lawyer.

The other lesson here is the willingness to compromise a bit. If he could have it his way, Murdock would surely much rather be Daredevil 24-7 and be paid for it. But since he can’t, he has done the next best thing, which is make money by doing something that might not be perfect but is still connected somehow to his passion.

BATMAN

Emotional Alchemy

Batman is among the most tortured of heroes, and we all know the story why. Fortunately for the fictional DC world, he transmutes the powerful negative emotions of grief and anger and uses them for good. He even eliminates the possibility that such emotions will cause him to overstep the line by making “no guns, no killing” an unconditional personal rule.

With Emotional Alchemy, we are learning to channel our negative emotions into positive actions to begin with.

Drive

Batman is also the most driven of all heroes and given the powerful emotions he lives with, it’s not surprising why. Like him, rather than let our demons pull us down and sink us, we can use them to soar and achieve to ever greater heights.

We must be careful, though, that our compulsion to achieve does not drive us to unhealthy extremes, something that Batman himself, both in the comics and in the films, occasionally allows to happen.

External Resourcefulness

To make up for a lack of supernatural powers, Batman relies on his superb intellect, supremely healthy body and immense wealth. But like everything else in comics, these, too, are just symbols. Not exactly a genius? Don’t have immense wealth? Never you mind for there are all kinds of resources that you can tap into with some cleverness and creativity. Figuring out what those might be for you and then accumulating them is, itself, a test of your resourcefulness.

SPIDER-MAN

Kindness & Humility

He’s simply among the nicest and most self-effacing of superheroes.

You may think kindness and humility won’t get you ahead in this world, and sometimes that may appear to be the case. In the short run, it’s often true. But, in the long run, if you are loved and respected by the people around you – and nothing earns love and respect more than sincere kindness and dignified humility– then, at the most critical moments, they will step up to the plate and help you when you need it.

Responsibility

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

First of all, the word “great” here doesn’t indicate the level or size of power. It’s the value of the power, and all powers have great value and importance.

Second, Spider-Man very much represents the average person, so what does that mean? It means we all have unique talents and abilities that give us “power.” It is your duty to find them, hone them and use them.

Third, the responsibility isn’t just towards others; it’s also towards yourself. People wait endlessly for external events to make them happy. Take charge and take action. Fulfillment in life is your own “responsibility” and you have the “power” to make it happen.

Humor

Spidey never loses his sense of humor.Ever. It doesn’t mean he’s frivolous nor does he lack the sense to withhold witty comments during inappropriate moments. His humor is, rather, a kind of courageous defiance against adversity, against the blows, both literal and figurative, that life throws at him endlessly.

CAPTAIN AMERICA

(image: Marvel Comics)

Inner Strength

What makes Captain America a hero is not so much his physical prowess as his virtues of courage and determination, qualities he had even when he was a skinny weakling. He didn’t let his sickliness be an excuse from being of service back then and neither should we when we’re feeling down and out for whatever reason.

There’s always something we can do, no matter how weak and disempowered we feel, literally or figuratively. Start where you can. He did.

Idealistic/Pragmatic Balance

An idealist at heart, the years of serving in the military and leading soldiers in the field has made Cap a clear-headed realist. His idealism and pragmatism both make him who he is. The key, as he shows us, is balance. Whichever direction you lean towards, idealist or realist, try to balance it out a bit with elements of the other. You may find your thinking becoming more holistic and integrative.

Leadership Skills

Cap isn’t the strongest, fastest or even the smartest. What he can do, however, is surround himself with those who are faster, stronger and smarter, earn their respect (even with someone as unruly as the Hulk), unite them to a cause and lead them brilliantly. We all need help with our efforts. We need allies, a team.

If the vision of what you want is clear, then, accumulate a team, however long it takes, that can help you bring it to fruition. Show them, by your integrity, that you are deserving of their help in attaining your dreams. You can then essentially become the leader of your own personal “superhero team” and, in return, help others with their dreams as well.

WONDER WOMAN

Truthfulness

Wonder Woman’s trademark weapon is her Lasso of Truth. It represents both her love of abstract Truth and truthfulness.

Truthfulness, in a philosophical sense, is slightly different from honesty. A dictionary definition of “truthfulness” is: “being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something.” So genuineness is the key word here. If a co-worker asks you how she looks in a dress and you tell her she looks ugly, you might be being honest but are you being true to your own values?

Always act and speak in the way that best represents your truest self.

Love

During a key storyline in the DC universe, Wonder Woman gets chosen by the violet Star Sapphire ring (representing love whereas Green Lantern’s green ring represents will) for having more love for the planet Earth and everyone on it than anyone else.

Given that love is such an omnipresent theme in all of art, pop culture and entertainment, for DC to single out Wonder Woman like this, even over the equally-idealistic Superman, was a significant statement about her. She represents many things but, more than anything, she represents the Christ-like quality of all-encompassing love.

In an already idealistic list, the abstract concept we call love is the most idealistic of ideals. No one can say just exactly what it is for it is many things to many people. But we can all agree that everyone wants it and that it gives life meaning and makes it worth living.

To pursue your dreams, then, with love in your heart not only for what you’re doing but for whom you’re doing it, is the ultimate of accomplishments. It makes the journey itself the reward.