{"id":2646,"date":"2013-05-11T06:17:58","date_gmt":"2013-05-11T10:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/?p=2646"},"modified":"2015-07-03T22:11:50","modified_gmt":"2015-07-04T02:11:50","slug":"10-ways-you-can-become-a-hero-in-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/2013\/05\/11\/10-ways-you-can-become-a-hero-in-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways You Can Become a Hero"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes we make the mistake of believing that the only heroes out there are the people we watch on television, read about in news reports, or see in the movies.\u00a0 The truth is that each one of us has the ability to become a hero to someone.\u00a0 Opportunities for heroism are everywhere!\u00a0 We hesitate to bring you yet another top-ten list.\u00a0 There are so many of these lists that someone once compiled a top 10 list of top 10 lists<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But because people have frequently asked us what it takes to be a hero, we feel the time is ripe to offer some suggestions.\u00a0 We don\u2019t claim that these are the only things one can do to become a hero.\u00a0 But they\u2019re a good start.\u00a0\u00a0 Keep in mind that this list reflects our own personal view of heroism as exemplary actions directed toward improving the lives of others.\u00a0 If your idea of a hero is someone who scores many touchdowns or who sings great songs, then this list is certainly not for you.<\/p>\n

Here then is our list of 10 ways that you can become a hero.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Study the Greats<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Almost all of us have personal heroes and legends who have inspired us.\u00a0 Read their biographies and strive to discern the qualities that made them great.\u00a0 Look for common patterns.\u00a0 The Nelson Mandelas, Mahatma Gandhis, and Martin Luther Kings of the world had a vision of a better world and were willing to make life-altering sacrifices to achieve that vision.\u00a0 They were smart, strong, courageous, resilient, and selfless.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t let setbacks deter them and showed great leadership.\u00a0 Cultivating these traits and life habits can send you on your own heroic journey.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Be the Change You Want to See in the World<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 This line, a paraphrased version of a quote from Gandhi, is saturated with truth and wisdom.\u00a0 People can easily spot a hypocrite \u2013 the person who cries for energy conservation but drives a Hummer; the person who tells us to give to the poor yet gives little himself; or the person who advocates world peace yet spouts hatred on Facebook or Twitter.\u00a0 True heroes live the words they speak.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Listen for the Call<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 The famed comparative mythologist, Joseph Campbell, noticed that all heroes in world\"\"<\/a> literature are \u201ccalled\u201d on a heroic journey.\u00a0 C. J. Hayden<\/a> refers to a calling as a \u201cstrong intuition, sudden realization, divine transmission, or just a subtle wondering.\u201d\u00a0 Many heroes report having a calling to act on behalf of animal rights, to teach in Africa, to run for President, or to quit their high-paying jobs to serve others at low pay.\u00a0 \u00a0Your own calling may be less dramatic but no less important to those you help in life.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Promote the Good rather than Oppose the Bad<\/span><\/strong> — The most successful, heroic people focus on the positive.\u00a0 They know that negative energy, even when directed against dark forces in the world, is ineffective for promoting positive change.\u00a0 Mother Teresa is famous for saying, \u201cI was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Look for Opportunities<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Psychologist Phil Zimbardo believes that all of us are potential heroes waiting for the right moment to fulfill that potential.\u00a0 Most heroes are everyday people, not the superheroes we see in movies.\u00a0 Zimbardo has \"\"<\/a>begun an ambitious Heroic Imagination Project<\/em><\/a> dedicated to helping all of us become heroes. \u201cBy promoting the heroic imagination, especially in our kids through our educational system, we want kids to think, \u2018I\u2019m a hero in waiting, and I\u2019m waiting for the right situation to come along when I can act heroically.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 Use the Power of Small Gestures<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 A good friend of ours, Paul, tells us that he once hugged a male friend in a grocery store simply because the man looked a bit worn and unhappy.\u00a0 Later, that man thanked Paul profusely for that hug.\u00a0 \u201cHe said it completely changed his outlook, and maybe even his life,\u201d said Paul.\u00a0 \u201cHe said I was his hero.\u00a0 It was such a little thing I almost didn\u2019t do it.\u00a0 I\u2019m so glad I did.\u201d\u00a0 Simple gestures of kindness can mean the world to someone who is fighting a tough personal battle.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 Perform Random Acts of Kindness<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 In 2000 the movie Pay it Forward<\/em> resurrected an idea first proposed by the ancient Greek playwright Menander:\u00a0 If someone has done you a good deed, you can repay the act by performing \"\"<\/a>good deeds to others rather than to the original benefactor.\u00a0 Others call it anonymous giving.\u00a0 You can start a wave of human kindness by helping a student with tuition, raking someone\u2019s leaves, buying someone groceries, paying the highway toll for someone behind you, cooking a meal for a neighbor, etc.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0 Volunteer Your Time<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 These last three suggestions focus on serving others.\u00a0 Your service can take the form of your time.\u00a0 Spending some loving, caring time with others can be far more meaningful than spending money on them.\u00a0 Visit a nursing home.\u00a0 Volunteer to help adults learn how to read.\u00a0 Spend time with children.\u00a0 Make someone feel loved today, especially those who are on the fringes of society.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0 Volunteer Your Talent<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Everyone has a talent they can share to enrich the lives of others.\u00a0 We have a friend who volunteers to play the piano at a retirement home.\u00a0 Another friend with great empathy and listening skills volunteers to help teenagers who are growing up in troubled homes.\u00a0 Another friend with good business instincts holds fundraisers and bake-sales for charities.\u00a0 Make an inventory of your talents and use them to improve the lives of others.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 Volunteer Your Treasure<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Many of us engage in some form of tithing \u2013 \"\"<\/a>the practice of donating a portion of one\u2019s income to help others in need.\u00a0 Don\u2019t feel like you need to contribute vast amounts to make a difference.\u00a0 The aggregation of small amounts from many people can add up and make a significant impact.\u00a0 Make sure the charities you donate to are worthwhile and well-run.\u00a0 Charity Navigator<\/a> can help you make an informed choice.<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to wear a cape or possess a superpower to make the world a better place.\u00a0 To perform heroic acts, all you need is the willingness to make some major sacrifice, or even many small ones that add up over time.\u00a0 Serving others builds relationships, spreads love, and creates a ripple effect. \u00a0The remarkable truth about helping others is that it invariably helps us as much, or more, than the people we are helping. \u00a0It builds our self-esteem.\u00a0 That should not be the primary reason for wanting to improve other people\u2019s lives.\u00a0 But it\u2019s a wonderful side-effect.<\/p>\n

We discuss more about heroes and heroism in our book, Heroes: What They Do & Why We Need Them<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals Sometimes we make the mistake of believing that the only heroes out there are the people we watch on television, read about in news reports, or see in the movies.\u00a0 The truth is that each one of us has the ability to become a hero to someone.\u00a0 … Continue reading 10 Ways You Can Become a Hero<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5444],"tags":[27475,27474],"class_list":["post-2646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary-and-analysis","tag-becoming-a-hero","tag-ways-to-become-a-hero"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phawtM-GG","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1182"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}