If your kids are asked “Who is your hero?”, their answers may vary. It can be their parents, teachers or coaches, a world leader, a famous person, an athlete, or an everyday person like their own best friends. As kids, many of us looked up to fictional characters who had out of this world powers like x-ray vision or the power to become invisible. But as we grow older, we realize that the real heroes aren’t those in comic books or on TV, but instead those we see every day.
What is a hero? Some dictionaries tell us that: a hero is a mythological or legendary figure of great strength or ability; an outstanding warrior or soldier; a person admired for achievements and qualities; or one that shows great courage.
The unsung heroes phrase is often given to teachers. Teachers provide the key to success, which is education. Quality education offers hope and the promise of a better standard of living. There is no stronger foundation for lasting peace and sustainable development than a quality education, provided by well trained, valued, supported and motivated teachers. A teacher’s purpose isn’t just to teach, but also to inspire. We’ve also come across teachers who change our lives for the better and they also teach us that our dreams aren’t as far off as they seem. They help us to reach our full potential and push us to always do our best.
Ki Hajar Dewantara, the Father of Indonesian education, had three important principles. His principles were Ing Ngarso Sung Tulodo (in front gives examples), Ing Madyo Mangun Karso (in the middle builds up the spirit), and Tut Wuri Handayani (from behind supervises). To this day, these are still guiding principles and an orientation in the world of Indonesian education.
Surely, our mom should be one of our heroes in life because of the fact she teaches us life lessons, and supports us in whatever way she can. Also, when children make mistakes, moms usually talk about the consequences, and what children could have done to make the best decision.
So, are you a hero? What makes an ordinary person extraordinary? Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice? Would you put your life on the line for someone you’ve never met or don’t even like? Most firefighters will answer a resounding, “YES!” But what about you? Could you be a hero?
Take stock of your reinvention progress every year. Some people use their birthday, their summer vacation, or the end of the year to evaluate whether they’re heading in the right direction, or if they need to alter their goal.
“The world is not stagnant, and you are not stagnant,” Robert Steven Kaplan, a Harvard Business School dean, says. “We have to modify our identities as we go through life,” says Ravenna Helson, a professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Even at 60”, Helson says, “People can resolve to make themselves more the people they would like to become.
If you don’t have long term goals, you run the risk of doing lots of little things every day, Art Markman (a professor of psychology at the University of Texas) warns. That can leave you feeling restless and unfulfilled. “It’s the big picture things that give life meaning,“ he says.
Before you can reinvent yourself, you have to know who you currently are. People need to understand their strengths, their weaknesses, their passions, and their own story, says Kaplan. One challenge to self-evaluation: Most of us have a tendency towards illusory superiority-the belief that we are above average in our abilities, even though all of us can’t possibly be. That’s why it’s crucial to be brutally honest as you assess yourself and the effort needed to achieve the reinvention you seek. Discuss your dreams with people who care about you and know you well, and whom you trust to be honest with you about your strengths and weaknesses. They can help you gauge your skills and pinpoint your true passions.
Happy to study and make your resolve in this end of the year.
Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201404/reinvent-yourself
Writer: Aulia Nurdini
Editor: Michael R. Clarke