As a kid, Superman always inspired me. I wanted to be a hero, a man of steel. But although I like to dream big, I’m slowly accepting that being Superman is a goal beyond my reach. I’m pretty sure I was born on this planet and – never say never – but it’s unlikely that I’ll ever fly quite like he does.
In truth, most average Joes won’t even get close to being in Henry Cavill shape. Even as a personal trainer, I don’t have the time, resources or support group to workout like a movie star.
But is that really what being a man of steel is all about?
As I’ve grown, I’ve realised that being a man of steel (or woman) isn’t about superpowers or six-pack abs. It’s about something else. And although I’m still on my journey, I’d like to share some exercises for the real man of steel workout.
Image: www.screenslam.com
1. Find and practice authenticity.
Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it. (Steven Pressfield)
What’s your ideal? There are many different types of steel. And just as steel is an alloy – a mixture of different elements – so are we. Except our mixture is unique. No one is the same as you.
I can’t help but believe that a lifetime of approval seeking will leave us with nothing but a pile of regret when we get to the end. We sold ourselves out.
A man of steel lets go of the opinion of others. Be true to you. It doesn’t matter what they think.
2. Go to courage gym.
On the other side of your greatest fears lives your greatest life. (Robin Sharma)
Being authentic isn’t easy. Letting go of the opinion of the crowd isn’t easy. Taking the risks that could lead to your best life isn’t easy. You’ll probably fail. A lot. But steel is forged in the fire. The toughest moments are our best servants.
In recognising this, a man of steel does the difficult. He knows that fear doesn’t go away, so he does his workout at courage gym. He acts in spite of fear. He embraces the difficult, embraces the unknown. He does this because he knows courage – like muscle – grows stronger when exercised. If not, it shrinks.
3. Be resolute
We don’t have the courage to live up to our values. We give in a little here, a little there, cut some corners, sell ourselves short – and gradually our internal balance of power shifts from strength to weakness. We stop making our own rules and owning our own days. We begin to hide behind victimization, entitlement, rescue, and blame. We say, “Oh, that’s life – you do what you have to.” But that’s not life. It’s death. The death of the soul. (Baker & Stauth, What Happy People Know)
Steel is hard. A man of steel is resolute. He knows what his values are, and he stays true to them. He is unwavering. He is dependable. He is true to his word.
So we might never be Superman or chisel our bodies like Henry Cavill. But being heroic is something else. For me, being heroic is about discovering who we are, and earning the courage that takes us beyond our fears and into our best life. It’s a practice, a workout, a journey. Either that, or we buckle under societal conditioning and get to the end repeating our story of what might have been…
Always Keep Reaching!
Mike
BIG IDEA: Being a man of steel (or woman) isn’t about superpowers or six-pack abs. It’s about something else.
TAKEAWAY: Being heroic is about discovering who we are, and earning the courage that takes us beyond our fears and into our best life. It’s a practice, a workout, a journey.
ACTION STEP: Want to read more? Check out my book, Energy Is Everything: Mindset, Nutrition and Exercise for the best version of you. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
