How to Get Super Powers: 101 Ways to Become Majestical

You are majestical. You can learn how to get super powers. I will teach you how to become a better version of yourself. 

Around the world people not much different than you are doing majestical acts:

• Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. He is now a famous international speaker. 
• Wim Hof the “Iceman,” ran an Arctic marathon at -20°. Oh, and he did it shirtless. ?
• Or what about Roy Cleveland Sullivan? This guy was struck by lightning seven times – and survived.⚡
• And have you heard of Alain Robert? He scales the world’s tallest buildings with only chalk, climbing shoes, and without fear. 

Nothing is beyond your grasp. Nothing is holding you back. ?

Do you believe you deserve to be happy and live a better life? I do. 

Life is far too short to not live it fully. Get every ounce of enjoyment out of life and maximize your impact on others. Channeling these super powers will help.

My name is Jordan, welcome to my blog, I’m glad you stumbled by. I’m not a natural superhero like Superman. I’m more of a learned, hustle-for-it hero like Batman, except I don’t have a super cool Batcave. 

I’m an average guy who wants to help you live a better life, find work you love, and have more of those perfect days you crave. 

This epic list of 101 real life super powers is your ticket to enjoying life more fully, giving back to others, and enjoying the work you do each day. If you’re ready, put on your cape and lets go. 

via GIPHY

I’ll teach you how to activate the power of the vagus nerve, encourage you to chase your wildest dreams, and give you actionable strategies to form deeper connections with people. 

You won’t be able to fly, but you will soar. ⭐

You won’t breathe underwater, but you’ll discover the importance of listening to your body. ?

I won’t show you how to time travel, but you’ll learn how to set priorities to free up hours each day. ⌛

Many of these super powers are common sense to those who use them. Others will be a welcome surprise as you read through the list. Some will seem beyond your grasp right now. This is okay. I’d be shocked if anyone implements all 101 strategies. If you find nothing new here, shoot me an email and tell me what to put on the list. 

I’ve curated this list with the help of many folks. It’s the collective wisdom that’s powerful if read and applied. 

Choose the five that appeal to you most and get super. 

*Thanks to all of you who contributed to this post. I did my best to give shout outs where appropriate. If I missed you, let me know! 

**Extra special thanks to my friends at Borderless Retreat for being the catalyst for this post. I couldn’t have done it without you and I appreciate your friendship more than you know. 

***Amazon Aff. links given to upgrade super powers. (Disclaimer).

Warning: This post is in depth and the size of a small book. Save it for future reference if needed or skim to find the super powers you need. Grab the condensed version by signing up to get awesome emails (below) and get a copy sent to your inbox. See TOC below for navigation.

101 Ideas for How to Get Super Powers Today 

I break super powers down into six categories to help you embrace your majestical side:

• Health and Wellness (1-15): We will start here. Focusing on our health is important for long-term success and wellbeing.
• Growth (16-71): Personal growth and self-improvement super powers to better ourselves.
• Spiritual/Mind (72-78): Super powers to find a deeper connection with God, control our thoughts, and build a positive and resilient mindset.
• Work/Business (79-88): Discover purpose and enjoy the work you do. 
• Relationships (89-97): Build stronger relationships and discover deeper connections with people.
• Misc (98-101): Four random but awesome super powers. 

Health and Wellness Super Powers

These health and wellness super powers will give you the boost you need to live longer, enjoy life more fully, and be a more healthy person overall. Enjoy. 

*I’m not a doctor. These super powers are anecdotal and based on my research. I don’t offer health advice. 

1) Listen to your body ?

Listening to your body is the first super power for good reason. We don’t do this enough. I don’t do it enough. And it’s so easy a caveman could do it. 

Listen to your body. What’s it telling you right now? Do you need more sleep? Do you need to exercise? Do you need to breathe, think, cry, or talk to someone?

We can be great at doing what we think is good for us, but neglect the signs to slow down before it’s too late. 

Don’t make the excuse of avoiding the gym or a healthy meal because you “don’t feel like it.” If your body is telling you to rest, listen. 

All too often I go on a run solely because I feel like I should. This can be great for developing a strong habit, but sometimes we push ourselves too hard. 

Practice: Take five minutes right now and think about how you are feeling. Do you have any pain? What worries you? What is stressing you out? Don’t make a plan to fix things, just appreciate the signs your body is giving you. 

Discover: How to Listen to Your Body and Give It What It Needs

2) Tap into the healing power of the vagus nerve by gargling ?

Have you heard of the vagus nerve? Count yourself among the vast majority if you haven’t. It’s not well known, but I suspect in the years to come everyone will shout about its power from the rooftops. 

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It’s responsible for regulating our nervous system, our gut, and other major organs. If it’s out of whack, you’re out of luck. 

Understanding it has put me on the path to greater health and wellbeing. It’s a much deeper subject than we can dive into here, but it’s fascinating to look into. 

For me, focusing on it helped to heal my gut and bring my nervous system back in check. It’s amazing to me that one nerve can affect so much, but alas, the proof is real. 

Don’t miss the potential for this super power to change your health and wellbeing. 

Practice: The easiest way to stimulate the vagus nerve is to gargle. Since it’s connected to the muscles in your throat, gargling is akin to pushups for the nerve. Try it. And better yet, stack gargling to a habit like brushing your teeth so you won’t forget. 

Discover: 12 Ways to Unlock the Powers of the Vagus Nerve

3) Take a deep breath with the 5-9 method ?

“Take a deep breath” has been the go to advice for anyone with a temper or a high-strung personality.

It’s what you tell a kid who’s trying not to punch the bully who took his lunch money. It rarely works. 

Unless it’s done right… 

Taking a deep breath is the best way to calm yourself down. It’s a super power closely tied to the vagus nerve and shares the ability to regulate your mood. 

The great part about a deep breath is that anyone can do it wherever they are. It’s 100% accessible to you, right this very second. 

Practice: Use the 5-9 method for the best deep breath. Sit up straight with both feet on the ground. Breathe in for a count of 5, pushing the belly outward. Once you get to 5, breath out slowly for 9 seconds, tucking the chin under and trying to put the top of your head into the ground. Repeat five times. Once you practice this more regularly, you’ll find your own personal cadence that works best for you. 

Discover: Do Not Take a Deep Breath

4) Take cold showers ?

“Ah, heck no.” -Miranda, my wife, every time I suggest this as a super power.

Cold showers are another vagus nerve stimulation exercise, but they also a great way to feel wide awake and activate your brain. Need to wake up? Splash some cold water in your face and you’ll be ready to go. 

It’s not the most pleasant of super powers, but it’s highly effective for increasing alertness and readiness to take on whatever your next task may be. 

Practice: The next time you take a shower, give yourself a cold blast at the end. Do it for as long as you can stand, and then cut the water off. Increase your tolerance by going a few seconds longer the next time. Then decide whether to only take cold showers, or stick with a minute blast at the end to achieve this super power. 

Discover: Cold Showers >> Top 4 Reasons Why They Are Good for You

5) Get a standing desk ?️

I had a standing desk for two years in my home office and LOVED it. It cost $300, and it was worth every penny. 

I’m writing this post from a makeshift standing desk. 

Sitting is not a super power. Standing probably shouldn’t be, but in today’s day and age of sitting for most of our day, it’s one we need to use so we can live long and prosper. ?

Practice: Get a standing desk like this one for your home office. When out at coffee shops and coworking spaces, use a laptop stand like the Nexstand to create your own standing office. 

Discover: Sitting Is Killing You, but Standing Isn’t the Answer (and Neither Is Exercise)

6) Use blue light glasses ?

Migraine sufferer? You NEED this super power. 

Whether it’s the phone, computer, or TV, we all spend too much time absorbing blue light. For that, I’m a huge fan of blue light reducing glasses since I stare at a screen for the better part of most days. 

Our eyes are terrible at blocking blue light. At normal levels it’s not bad for us, but looking at devices for too long can lead to digital eye strain. Not fun. 

Since I get migraines occasionally, I now wear blue light blocking glasses whenever I am in a prolonged hustle session. Besides making me look too cool for school, these glasses play a small part in helping me continue to do what I love. 

Practice: Get a pair of glasses if you spend too much time in front of the screen. Try a pair like these from Amazon. Don’t think you’d look cool with glasses? FORGET about what you look like and what other people might think: do it for your health. Channel a bonus super power of not doing things based on the other’s perceptions. 

Discover: Blue Light: It’s Both Bad and Good for You

7) Check supplement need ?

We don’t get enough of the nutrients we need. Even if we eat a diet rich in fruits and veggies, the nutrient level has been declining in our foods for the past 50+ years. 

It’s anecdotal evidence, but the fruits and veggies we’ve been eating here in Portugal are better than anything we can find in the US. I can taste the difference with every orange I devour. I’ve never said mmhhmmm so often as when I’m eating a fresh-made salad full of local veggies. 

We all could probably benefit from ingesting more nutrients. I take magnesium to prevent migraines. My dad has taken vitamin C for years and rarely gets sick. Miranda takes melatonin every once in a while to sleep. 

Do your own research, but highly consider where you might be lacking. Seek the help of a good holistic doctor and get a checkup. Don’t go years without knowing what’s going on in your body only to have an issue later on which forces you to take prescription drugs that only act as a band aid. 

I’ll hop off my soap box before I go too far (I love modern medicine, but we’ve come too far from natural remedies that are often much more potent and A LOT safer). Again, do your own research and commit to better health. 

Practice: Experiment with natural remedies like magnesium for migraines, ginger root for nausea and motion sickness, and Vitamin C for a stronger immune system. I’m not a doctor and would never suggest going off or completely avoiding prescription medication, but more doctors should realize the benefits of trying a natural route first. 

Discover: 5 Supplements You Really Need

8) Ditch the Advil, take turmeric instead ? 

Did you know that NSAIDs like Advil (Ibuprofen) are terrible for your gut?

My mom had a stroke about 20 years ago. No one knows what caused it. Nowadays she is in a lot of pain because of the difficulties of getting around. 

She used to take 9-12 Advil per day to help with the pain. I told her about this trick a few years back and you know what happened? 

She hasn’t taken an Advil in over 2 years and feels much better than she did. 

If I get a headache or migraine, I’ll take one, but it’s not a way to become super. It might help for a bit, but it’s not a nice thing to do to your system. 

Taking turmeric root instead of Advil is gentler on your system, and can be just as effective in reducing inflammation. 

This is one of those super powers that you need to try for yourself and see how it works. If you suffer from chronic pain and get side effects from Advil, see what this powerful root can do for you. 

Practice: Get a bottle of turmeric with black pepper and keep one on hand as an alternative painkiller. 

Discover: Ginger and Turmeric Vs. NSAIDs: Fighting Arthritis Through Food

9) Remember: ABM. (Always Be Moving) ?

This super power is accessible to anyone. All it takes is a mindset shift to make movement part of your life. 

What does ABM entail?

• Always taking the stairs
• Walking (or squatting if the weather is bad) while taking work calls 
• Walking up escalators
• Avoiding the elevator
• Taking the long way to work
• Setting an alarm on your phone to get up and move
• Using a workout band to keep your legs engaged while sitting 

Do whatever you can to keep moving some part of your body during long stretches of work. 

Practice: Start with something stupidly simple: every time you send an email, do 10 arm circles. Stack a good movement habit on top of something you already do regularly. 

Discover: 6 Ways to Keep Moving All Day Long

10) Sleep 7-8 hours every night ?

Do you get enough sleep every night? I do. I’m pleased as punch to brag about it.

It’s one of the few things I do well (besides make ridiculously accurate Survivor predictions, shooting clay pigeons, and being afraid of actual pigeons). 

Sleep informs our day. It’s the only natural way to recharge our energy stores to get ready to win the day. You can supplement with coffee and green tea (avoid energy drinks at all costs), but nothing can take the place of a good ol’ fashioned good night’s sleep.

Practice: Develop a nightly routine to get ready for bed. The last thing anybody wants is to lie in bed and not be able to fall asleep. I hate that. Instead, stretch, meditate, shut off the devices, take a hot bath. Do whatever you have to do to calm your mind and body and get to sleep. 

Discover: How to Sleep Better: Actionable Advice From 13 Health and Fitness Experts

11) Walk everywhere ?‍♀️

I’m an avid walker. It’s my favorite form of transportation. I’d rather walk than drive, bike, scoot, you name it.

And whodathunkit, writers are walkers. Maybe it’s because we enjoy letting our minds drift as we plan our next blog post or the latest chapter in our novel. 

Walking is the most natural form of movement. It’s easy to throw on a comfy pair of shoes and get out there. 

If you have the ability, try to incorporate even more walking into your life. You don’t have to be like me and walk 5 miles to the nearest Starbucks (Yes; I used to do this at least twice per week…) but walk more to embrace this super power. 

Practice: To get into a walking habit, track steps on your smartphone with an app. Better yet, get a Fitbit or smartwatch to motivate you to keep moving. Your health is only a few steps away. 

Discover: It’s a Super power: How Walking Makes Us Healthier, Happier and Brainier and Fifteen Thousand Steps A Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

12) Stop snacking, let your MMC do its job ?

Have you heard of the migrating motor complex? It’s the natural way our system moves food through our bodies. 

Unfortunately, because of food intolerances, SIBO, eating way too much, and snacking all the time, most folks have an impaired MMC. 

Every time we take in calories in any amount, the MMC resets and has to start from square one. If you’re snacking all the time, it never has time to do its job by completing the cycles.

From VIVO Pathophysiology:

“The migrating motor complex is a distinct pattern of electromechanical activity observed in gastrointestinal smooth muscle during the periods between meals. It is thought to serve a “housekeeping” role and sweep residual undigested material through the digestive tube. As studied in dogs and man, the cycle recurs every 1.5 to 2 hours and consists of 4 phases:

1. A period of smooth muscle quiescence lasting 45 to 60 minutes, during which there are only rare action potentials and contractions.
2. A period of roughly 30 minutes in which peristaltic contractions occur and progressively increase in frequency. Peristalsis originates in the stomach and propagates through the small intestine.
3. The phase lasting 5 to 15 minutes in which rapid, evenly spaced peristaltic contractions occur. In contrast to the digestive period, the pylorus remains open during these peristaltic contractions, allowing many indigestible materials to pass into the small intestine.
4. A short period of transition between the barrage of contractions in phase 3 and the inactivity of phase 1.”

Studies vary in the time believed for the MMC to finish its cycle. Some people suggest waiting up to 4 hours in between meals to get the most benefits. 

Having dealt with digestive issues personally, I’ve spent a lot of time (too much time my doctor would tell me) researching how the body works. 

The idea that always comes back to me repeatedly?

We can heal ourselves by making conscious decisions and getting the right help. 

Practice: The gut holds the key to wellbeing. Stop snacking for a few days, stick to 2 or 3 meals per day (I eat 2 meals per day) and let your body do what it needs to do to clean out all the junk. If you eat more often, more power to you, but don’t do it because that’s what you’ve always done. 

To get used to this and to make it a habit, set a stopwatch on your phone after each meal. Don’t eat again until it hits the four-hour mark. 

Discover: SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth (present in most people with IBS)) is closely related to the MMC. Time to Stop Treating Sibo Like an Infection and More Like an Injury.

13) Intermittent fasting ?

Intermittent fasting is gaining in popularity, and for good reason. 

Fasting has been around since biblical times. It’s a spiritual activity, but it turns out it’s fantastic for our health too.

Fasting, and intermittent fasting specifically, give us time to NOT digest food and do other important activities, you know, like recovering from the daily toll we enact on our bodies. 

It’s worth it if you feel your body needs a break. Instead of popping an Advil (remember super power #8!), take a break from food and inflammation will go down naturally. 

Popular intermittent fasting methods include: 

• OMAD: One meal a day. Eat in a 1-2 hour window and fast the rest of the time. 
• 16:8: Fast for 16 hours and then eat in an 8 hour window. I use this method and frequently will only eat food between 12PM and 8PM. 
• 5:2: Eat normally for five days out of the week and fast for two. 

Longer fasting gives your body a higher chance to go into autophagy (the process where your body literally eats itself, but in a good way) and this is where you will see the most healing benefits. 

Like anything, fast with moderation and don’t forget super power #1, listen to your body, and make sure it’s working for you. 

Practice: Try skipping one meal and see how you feel. Every time I fast I get hungry, but I also get superpowered energy and my mind is lit up. Don’t believe the myth that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s not, especially for those of us who sit all day. If you believe strongly in breakfast (or just love breakfast foods like I do), do your own research and your mind will be blown. And besides, you can always have pancakes for lunch.

Discover: The best post on IF out there from NerdFitness: Intermittent Fasting: Beginner’s Guide & Printable Calendar. Should You Skip Breakfast!?

14) Exercise with a passion ?‍♂️

The best workout is one we look forward to.

If you hate running, you don’t have to run. If you hate waking up early to go to a bootcamp workout, don’t do it. If you hate going to Planet Fitness, forget about it. 

What do you love to do?

Working out doesn’t have to be terrible. Want to know my secret? Good, I was gonna tell you anyway:

I’m not a huge fan of running. I run because I get to listen to sci-fi audiobooks that I love. I look forward to running because I get lost in amazing stories. It also makes me feel good after the fact. 

I love the benefits of running, and working toward big goals (like my first half marathon ever coming up, wish me luck), but what keeps me going is the habit stack of running + doing another enjoyable activity. 

Find something you love doing, even if it means combining activities. Back when we lived in NC we did Camp Gladiator boot camp workouts, and we loved it. We enjoyed the tough workouts, but appreciated the community fitness model most of all. 

Find exercise you love that doesn’t fill you with dread. 

Practice: Unfortunately, you probably need to try new things before you know if you like them. Also, the first time you run after not running will suck. Embrace the suck that comes with starting something new, and then, if you still hate it, try something else. 

Discover: 40 Ways to Exercise Without Realizing It: Fun Exercise!

15) Spend time outside ?

As a final health and wellbeing super power, this one is easy. All you have to do is get outside and you’re well on your way to becoming a superhero and learning how to get super powers. 

Enjoy the fresh air and wide open spaces from time to time. Being out in nature is well, natural. Freeing yourself of the noise and distraction from the world is not only a good way to refresh and think, it’s good for your brain too.  

Practice: Link tasks with being outside. Do yoga, take a phone call, read. Anything you can do outside, do it. 

Discover: 100 Reasons to Spend 1000 Hours Outside

Personal Growth Super Powers

These super powers will make you a better person. You will find better work, ultimately make more money, and enjoy life more fully. 

The best part? 

You’ll appreciate growth for growth’s sake. You’ll love getting better for the sole reason of becoming a better person. 

Seek growth by accessing the power of these common human abilities:

16) The two-minute drill ?

If something takes two minutes, don’t add it to a list, just do it. 

I know, it can be tempting to make a list of everything you need to accomplish, but some things never belong on a to do list:

• Do the dishes right away as soon as you’re done with them
• Text your friend about getting dinner. Either do it right now or don’t do it at all
• Send a gratitude letter
• Make the bed
• Finish writing your to do list

Practice: Start doing things instead of thinking about doing them or planning to do them. Planning is important, but don’t over plan to the point of wasting time you could have spent crushing tasks. 

Discover: The Taking Action Manifesto: How to Become a Fire-Starter 

17) Master the 80/20 principle ?

The 80/20 rule, or the “Pareto Principle,” is something we all need to understand and use. 

It was first coined by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, way back in 1895, says that 20% of people are divided into the “vital few” of society and the other 80% into the “trivial many.”

It works the same way in churches and other organizations. 20% of the members end up doing 80% of the work. 

Pareto purported that this same principle carries over and applies directly to life and business. If you were to make a list of ten items on a to-do list, two of the items will bring about 80% of the results. The other eight items will only bring about 20% of the results. 

Move this into a time-management/productivity realm and you’ll see 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts. Focus is key. 

The battle rages between the 80% and 20%, in life and in business! 

For our purposes, we will break down the 80% and 20% like this: The 20% is what you need to do to move the needle forward and push towards lifelong goals, and the 80% is the work you need to do to keep the lights on and the bills paid. 

Each avenue is important and takes time, but the 80% is the gold-plated dragon of busyness that threatens to eat you. If you get eaten by the 80% dragon, you can’t work on what’s important. So sad, but at least you were a tasty snack… ? 

Don’t get eaten. Use the 80/20 principle to master your time and establish a set of priorities in your daily life. 

Consider the importance of tackling the 80% and crushing that work, but leaving just enough time and energy to work on the important stuff. 

Even if you love what you do, there is a 20% task that will help you maintain the work you are doing. The 20% will give you the energy you need to get through the daily grind, knowing that you have a future-oriented task giving you long-term potential. 

We are moving forward or falling backwards; the 80% exists to keep us moving forward while the 20% work is our path to the next level. 

Practice: Break up your to do list into two rows. Label one 80% and the other 20%. 80% tasks are what you have to get done. 20% tasks are the non-urgent tasks that you want to get done because they will move the needle forward. Do what you have to do, but be sure to schedule time for the important tasks or they won’t ever get done. 

Discover: I talk at length about the 80/20 principle and how to apply it in my book, The Balance Point. Follow that link and pick it up on Amazon. 

18) Self awareness ?

Self-awareness is crucial for getting to the next level. You need to be consciously aware of how you are being perceived by others to grow and get better. 

Becoming more self-aware can feel risky, and is often painful, but practice makes perfect. We can’t grow if we don’t know what we need to improve upon. We don’t know what we need to improve upon if we can’t sum up the courage to take an introspective look at the way we live our lives, how we communicate, and what our appearance says about our attitude. 

Practice: Ask yourself some of these tough questions to grease the wheels of introspective thinking. Knowing more about yourself is one super power you definitely don’t want to miss:

• Was there an interaction today where I was only focused on myself?
• Do I have areas in my life I should improve? Am I taking steps to do so?
• Do I have blind spots that I should correct?
• What do other people not like about me?

Discover: Why Self-awareness Is Your Greatest Asset

19) Ask for feedback ✋

Feedback is the hidden talent and super power for those of us who lack natural talent or ability. We can use feedback to grow and move beyond our limited natural capabilities. We can use critiques to figure out why we can’t hit the ball, why our writing is poor, or even why our marriage might be struggling.

Learning to admit that we don’t know exactly what to do is one of the major rules of personal growth. Instead of staying down and feeling bad about yourself and your progress, you can use feedback to move forward from a place of strength and empowerment. 

But no amount of feedback does any good for us if we cannot move past the initial emotional struggle of self-doubt and shame.

Constructive feedback, no matter how gently given, usually hurts. It never feels good to have someone tell you that what you did was just plain wrong.

We aren’t responsible for how others give us feedback. The only thing that we can directly control is what we do with that feedback. 

Take it we should. It’s the super power of asking for feedback that brings about a greater level of self-awareness and propels us to grow. 

Practice: Ask a loved one for feedback on how you can improve in one area. Ask them to get specific and then brace for impact. It might hurt, but know they’ll appreciate it, and your relationship and personal growth will improve because of it. 

Discover: How to Ask for Feedback That Will Actually Help You

20) Reduce the noise and cut the crap ?

*Credit: @Evelien Jansen

The world is only getting noisier. Every day we fight to minimize distraction and get done the things we need to get done. These distractions include people that just aren’t good for us, social media addiction, small talk, pointless meetings, etc.

Do your part and cut the crap. Stop doing the things that aren’t moving you ahead in life. People who cut the crap and reduce the wild buzz of distraction will become heroes to the rest of us. 

Practice: The best way to cut the crap out of your life is to get super clear on what you really want. super powers #24 and #44 will help here, but start small with taking one more step towards the life you know you deserve. Cut the BS and go get it. 

Discover: Live a Different Way: Reduce Noise & Distraction with These 10 Tips

21) Discover the flow state. ✨

The flow state is a magical state of being. Getting lost in the moment because you love what you do is not something everyone gets to experience, but something we should all be striving for in work and life. 

If you’ve never experienced it before, let me tell you, it’s awesome! For me, it happens when I write. For Miranda, it’s when she is editing videos. For others, it’s when they are doing something they are passionate about. 

It took a long time for us to discover these passions, but the feeling of getting lost in work you love is incredible. When doing these tasks, all else fades away. 

For some people they achieve the flow state amid competition, programming software, or coaching young children to play baseball. In other’s it’s found while composing music, talking with a new friend, or arguing politics. 

What is your flow state? What activity activates this super power? What gives you energy? 

Practice: DON’T stop until you discover what it is you were meant to do. This is a big practice step, but it’s important. If we could all reach our flow state and create meaningful contributions, the world would be a better place. 

Discover: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

22) Schedule personal time ?

Scheduling time for myself? Who has time for that?

Exactly. 

If we don’t schedule time for ourselves to relax, work on our own projects, (get in the flow state) or to have a second to think, we won’t be in it for the long-haul. 

Success doesn’t happen overnight. Scheduling time for yourself with no pressure gives you something to look forward to, and once you get there, a time just to be, think, relax, work, whatever you want. 

Practice: Pick a four-hour chunk of time and add this as an event on your calendar as “my time.” This may not be possible for you, but schedule time, even just a few minutes if that’s all you can spare. Defend this time with your life if need be!

Discover: 20 Amazing ‘Me Time’ Ideas for Inspiration When You Need Some Time to Yourself

23) Say no to the wrong things and yes to the right things ⛔

*Credit: @marieabroad

Saying no to the wrong things opens the door for you to say yes to the best things. 

Is the opportunity before you a shiny distraction or a perfect augmentation of preexisting skills and goals?

I’ve found that building a platform of specific skills and abilities has served me well over the past few years. Instead of chasing every shiny object and new idea that came my way, I’ve been saying no and learning to only say yes to opportunities that augment my current business. 

I don’t take on new responsibilities or pursue new opportunities without extreme consideration of whether it will help me grow or end up hindering my progress.  

I don’t like the feeling of missing out. Nobody likes FOMO. But sometimes we have to miss out on good opportunities so we can be available for great ones. 

If the open door is brand new, and you have the wingspan to take it on, do so. But if you are strapped for time, or just getting by with your current obligations, it might be a more viable option to say no. 

If you can easily take it on, and it makes sense to do so, go ahead. If you are basing every decision on building a base platform of skills, it’s hard to lose. 

If the new direction would make it harder to fulfill previous commitments, it might not make sense to take on.  

Beware of shiny new objects that don’t directly relate to anything you are set up to do. They will drain time and energy better spent working on your current tasks, goals, and dreams. 

Practice: the next time you have a juicy opportunity before you consider saying no. Something better might be just around the corner. It’s much easier to say yes (for most of us) and we need practice turning things down. It’s okay to say no. 

Discover: How to Say No to Your Boss

24) Give yourself credit ?

“Always concentrate on how far you’ve come, rather than how far you have left to go.” ~Unknown

As a futuristic intuitive, looking back isn’t easy for me. I struggle with appreciation when getting great news and experiencing a big win.

My only thought is “Awesome, now what’s next?”

I’ve had to REALLY work to even smile and nod and say a quick thank you when something goes my way. I’m so locked into the future of possibility that I rarely experience the good when it comes!

I’ve come far in my ability to live in the present moment, but it still doesn’t come easy. 

But, even if you’re a context-driven historian, giving yourself the credit you deserve is good practice. 

We are our own worst enemies. 

STOP!

Stop beating yourself up. Stop missing the small wins along the way. Stop thinking you aren’t good enough. 

Practice: Pat yourself on the back. Literally, do it right now. It’s silly, but effective. You are more than enough and are doing great things. Keep getting better one day at a time. 

Discover: How to Give Yourself Credit [and Why It Matters]

25) Give back with money and time ?

Have you seen it’s a Wonderful Life? I’m willing to bet you have (if not, make that super power #102 and GO DO IT NOW).

In the old timey flick George Bailey, a gentle and kind soul who has always put others first, gets to the end of his ropes with the threat of jail time for a mistake he didn’t make, and almost commits suicide. His guardian angel, Clarence, saves him at the last minute. Clarence shows George what life would be like had he not existed. In a word, terrible for most people. Clarence showed him how much of a positive influence he had among all his friends, family, and community. 

At the end of the film (spoiler alert… even though the film came out in 1947…) George is filled with happiness at knowing what he did for others and will accept his fate, no matter what it is. Instead, his COMMUNITY rallies around him and makes him the richest man in town, providing the money he needs to pay his debts. 

I cried the last time I watched, thinking about the power of community and what it means to give back to others. It may not always work out like it did in the film because life isn’t easy, but doing good for others is an act no one can take away from us. It’s powerful and important. 

Giving back to other people is one of the best ways to experience true joy. 

The super power of giving back monetarily and investing time into others is a great way to share love. To give back what others have invested in us is one pathway to living an abundant life. 

Often I’ve found that when I give back, it’s returned tenfold. Not in exact monetary value, (when’s the last time you threw a penny into the fountain only to have it burp out a dime?) but returned in mentorship, friendship, and a loving and supportive community willing to wrap themselves around you. 

Practice: Pick one person and give a gift to them this week. It could be in time spent watching a movie, an Amazon Prime surprise gift basket, or paying for dinner. Do something unexpected with no expectations that the person returns the favor. 

Discover: Our Top 10 Reasons for Giving Back

26) Habit Stack ?

Habit stacking is the best thing since the large stack of pancakes.

I’ve mentioned in previous super powers the suggestion to “habit stack.” But what is habit stacking?

Habit stacking is adding a new habit on the top of a previously existing habit. Here are some ways to habit stack:

• Gargling after brushing your teeth (to activate super power #2!).
• Set a glass of water beside your bed so you drink it first thing after waking up. 
• After you eat a meal journal for the day.
• After you watch an episode of whatever on Netflix, read one chapter in your book. 

The idea is not necessarily to reward yourself for each little action, but to make things easier for you to remember to complete the habit. 

I gargle every time I brush my teeth. I do my daily reading before I go to work on my laptop. It’s a habit I’ve stacked with brushing my teeth.

Habit stacking is a super power because it enables us to add good habits into our lives. 

Practice: What’s a habit you’ve been struggling to adopt? Is there a way you can make that habit easier or more pleasurable to remember? Think about one other habit you could stack it to and try it. Once you get good, you can create a full stack of habit stacking pancakes and change your life.  

Discover: 13 Steps for Building a Habit Stacking Routine

27) Travel, A LOT ?

Travel will change your life. I’m all about it, but i bet you probably knew that?

Traveling and visiting new places is something I would recommend for anyone hungry for Adventure. 

My wife and I have travelled to Thailand, Singapore, up and down the east coast of the US, and now to Portugal. The plan is to spend all of 2020 travelling and seeing new places to challenge ourselves and to experience more of the world. 

With remote jobs growing in popularity and entrepreneurs paving a way for themselves left and right, travel is open to anyone with the gumption to go for it. 

Practice: Where is somewhere you’ve always wanted to go? What’s stopping you from going there? As I share in all of my books and most of the posts on the site, nothing is out of your grasp. Maybe you can’t go now or even a year from now, but commit and then do what it takes to make it happen. 

Discover: 10 Reasons Why You Should Travel The World

28) Learn a second language ?

*Credit: @stefansrv

Link language learning to an everyday activity or a goal and voila, you’ll be speaking a different tongue in no time. 

My goal is to experience various places during our travels and then pick a second language to learn. 

It’s challenging for adults to learn a new way of communicating. Start from scratch, be vulnerable, ask questions, and be okay with struggling and sounding weird. 

I can’t wait to pick one and go for it. Yes, it will be difficult, but that’s the point. 

Practice: Pick a language that would make sense for you to learn. Get an app like Duolingo or Memrise and have fun with it. At the very least, it will make for a good reason to exercise super power #27!

Discover: The Best Way to Learn a Language: What the Science Says

29) Practice daily gratitude ?

Gratitude is a buzzword that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Giving thanks and sharing our appreciation for another person is not only beneficial for the receiver, but makes a profound difference in our lives too. 

Gratitude helps us move beyond just saying “I love you” to showing it. It’s how we actively share how we feel, often without need for words or explanation. 

We can’t get where we want to go without other people. We will never succeed or thrive in isolation. We are all in this together. 

Practice: Show gratitude by:

• Sending a short thank you note to one person who has impacted your life. 
• Smiling voraciously at everyone you meet today, either online or in person (Super power #39). ?
• Acting without possibility of repayment. Pay it forward. Pay for the groceries for the person behind you in line or buy a coffee for a stranger at Starbucks. 
• Listening and being patient. Think about others first before yourself.

Discover: 34 Ways to Show Gratitude & Have a Better Life Instantly

30) Trust intuition ?

Have you ever had a gut feeling? Your gut feeling might be a real thing to listen to. 

Trusting your gut, or your intuition, means NOT thinking with the head or the heart, but with the gut. It involves making your decision based solely on a small bit of information. 

Some people naturally have better intuition than other people. On the MBTI (Myers-Briggs personality type indicator, super power #68) I’m an N which is intuitive. I’m naturally attuned to hear what my gut has to say. 

Miranda is an S which means sensor or observer. She notices the world around her and uses it to understand what’s happening. She might miss the forest for the trees, while I don’t even know how I got lost in the woods.

Regardless of your personality and strengths, we all can learn to hear from our intuition and go with our gut. 

Practice: Be mindful of your decisions today. Why are you doing what you are doing? Are you just going through the motions? Practice listening to the feeling of right and wrong. If something feels off or too good to be true, wonder why. Start deciding based on what you already know to be true without overthinking or over-analyzing. 

Discover: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

31) Break free of your comfort zone ?️

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Comfort is the enemy of growth. I’ve seen it again and again in my life. Whenever I settle in, progress slows. We don’t thrive in an environment built with safety and comfort in mind. 

It’s only by embracing fear and challenging ourselves that we discover the vast depths of what we are capable. We will never truly understand our own awesomeness by sitting on the couch WATCHING others be awesome. 

Practice: Listen to Eleanor Roosevelt. Do one thing today that scares you:

• Ask a stranger for their name so you can pray for them AND then maybe be the answer to prayer if they need help. 
• Ask for a discount on your coffee.
• Don’t eat today (super power #13).
• Shut off the phone (super power #55).
• Read a blog post offering a view counter to what you believe.

Discover: 7 Reasons to Abandon Your Comfort Zone and Why You’ll Never Regret It

*Don’t forget, you can grab this post as a free PDF if you want to save it and read later!

32) Plan a big life change ?

Do not throw yourself on a cactus as the emoji would suggest. Not what I’m talking about here. This is more like a superduperpower. 

Seek a massive life change in order to grow. Go on a travel adventure, adopt triplets, sell everything you own and live the minimalist lifestyle. Plan a big next move to push yourself beyond where you thought you could go. 

Life is way too short to not live it to the fullest. The only way we truly grow and experience life is to push ourselves to the max. Change might be painful to even think about, but the process of change makes us into happier and more resilient people. 

Practice: Pick one area in your life that could use improvement and brainstorm five ideas for making a big change. Always stay true to commitments, and do what you say you‘ll do, but make sure you aren’t stuck in a rut. Determine your next big life step and MAKE plans to reach it today.  

Discover: 12 Reasons Why You Should Seek & Embrace Change

33) Practice outside-the-box brainstorming ⚡

Brainstorming is something everyone should do more of. My wife and I resort to brainstorming if either one of us is feeling down or out of sorts. 

Brainstorming brings to light solutions to problems. 

Thinking and pondering about what you want to do with your day, week, and life should become a regular habit for all individuals and couples. 

Taking it one step further, the super power of outside-the-box brainstorming is for anyone who’s up for a challenge. 

The last time we did this Miranda kept telling me, “No! Stop thinking normally. Stop limiting your thinking.” It’s only by doing this that we came up with a better solution to our roadblock. 

The goal is to come up with ideas to solve your problems. Break free from your own limited thinking and come at things from a different angle to find a previously hidden solution. 

Practice: Go for a walk either alone or with a partner. Remember, walking activates the brain and get’s the blood flowing (Super power #11). Now, think about how an outsider might approach your problem, knowing nothing of the current circumstance. Some ideas won’t work, but the point is to allow room for creative solutions to arise. Write or take notes with your phone of all ideas. 

Discover: 10 Ways to Push Yourself to Think Outside the Box

34) Surround yourself with people better than you ⭕

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” –Jim Rohn:

Being around people who have already achieved what we want pushes us towards success. 

This is why group fitness classes are a breakthrough for many people. Working out with others who have similar goals and care about their wellbeing can make all the difference. 

It works the same way in our personal and professional lives. CHOOSE to surround yourself with people who dream big and are moving forward on their goals to achieve this super power. 

Not all people are in your life forever (super power #90). Leave some people behind SO THAT you have room for the people you need by your side to grow. And better yet, you’ll be more of an influence on others’ lives as well because the fit will be better. Some friendships last forever, and others should disband so both people grow. 

Practice: Join or start a mastermind group of like-minded individuals. Work together to accomplish big things. Make room in your life for mentors, those who have paved the way for you, and people who support your success. 

Discover: How to Start Your Mastermind Group

35) Stay curious about the world by asking great questions of yourself and of others ?

Questions create opportunity for vulnerability. Vulnerability opens the door to meaningful connection.

If there is one thing I learned from the amazing adventure of the borderless retreat, it’s that great questions create deep connections. 

One week on the beautiful island of Madeira, Portugal. 10 Strangers. Hundreds of questions. 10 new friends. 

While trust is important to foster deep connections and must be maintained, how many of us have had meaningful conversations with people we know? 

Avoid sticking to small talk. Instead, ask great questions and listen deeply to the answers (Super power #92). Don’t be afraid of offending. Show you care by asking the right questions to build a lasting relationship. 

Practice: Try out a game like Vertellis to foster deeper connections and meaningful conversations. My family play this game over Christmas and we love it. It prompts us to answer big questions like:

• What are you most looking forward to this year?
• What is something you want to change about yourself?
• What was one of your most exciting experiences over the past year?

We had a great time playing and getting to know each other on a deeper level. We knew many of the answers, but having a forum and a reason to share was fun and enlightening to do together as a family. It quickly became my favorite memory of the holiday season, and I can’t wait to play again. 

Discover: Making Deep Connections

36) Spend time with children to experience joy and play ?

Being around children might be exhausting, but we can learn a lot from them.  

For some people this is akin to super powers #31 and #32 in getting outside of their comfort zones. I’m one of those people…

Kids are amazing, yet they exhaust me. Their zest for life can be infectious until it’s not, and suddenly all my energy fades. I guess that’s a good sign that I need more time with them in my life. 

Still, children know how to play and imagine much better than adults. If you truly want to think outside the box (super power #33), ask a kid what they would do and you’ll be blown away. It probably won’t make sense, but that’s the point. 

Learn to stop thinking and experiencing life with your adult hat and look at the world through the eyes of a child. 

Practice: If you have kids, spend more time with them. If you don’t have kids, volunteer at a YMCA summer camp or babysit the nieces and nephews. Spend more time with kids to experience the simple wonders of life. 

Discover: How to Talk to Children (even If You Don’t Have Any)

37) Finish what you start ?

Finishing what you start clears the way for better opportunities.

In 2018 my word of the year was steadfast. I chose it because I was terrible at finishing things. I was always ready to move on well before due time. 

Don’t take on opportunities that don’t fit (super power #23). When you say yes, honor those commitments.

Learn to finish, even if it’s a personal project with no one holding you accountable. 

Practice: What’s one nagging project you need to finish? Make finishing that project a priority so you can MOVE ON to other endeavors. Next time a similar project comes up, say no instead. 

Discover: How to Build the Habit of Finishing What You Start

38) Live life with an infectious passion ?

“There is no passion to be found playing small–in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” -Nelson Mandela

You only get one life! Live it with an infectious passion. 

Bubble over with so much joy for life that other people notice. Even if they think you’re weird. You’ll attract passionate and happy people. You’ll either turn naysayers away or win them over to your side. 

Joyful people change the world. I’ve known several of these types and appreciate their zest for human interaction, adventure, and love. These people changed my life. 

Channel this super power so the lives of everyone you come into contact with will be infected with your joy and love of life. 

Practice: Try any of the following for a more passion filled life:

• Do something you love today for even five minutes if you can spare the time.
• Go to the mall or a local park and people watch. Interact if the mood strikes and get to know someone new. Smile (#39) the whole time and ask great questions (#35). 
• Exercise with others and feel the surge of endorphins.
• Read joyful books.
• Journal more often (#52).
• Think of that one person in your life that is always joyful: Make plans to hang out with that person and ASK them what makes them so happy.

Discover: Isabel Allende: How to Live Passionately—no Matter Your Age

39) Smile at someone new today ?

Did you know that smiling can change your mood? Dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are chemicals which increase when you flash your pearly whites. 

Smiling is an easy fix to a bad mood AND it’s infectious! Try walking down the street with a big goofy grin, and see what happens. You’ll get some weird looks, BUT the people that smile back are so worth it, right?

Smiling is the easiest super power on this list. It doesn’t take much, yet how often do we sit in silence, staring at our phones or computer screens, not smiling? How often do we walk down the street lost in thought about the email we need to reply to or what to make for dinner? Way too often. 

Smiling more is an easy habit to build. Adopt this super power and go change the world hero. 

Practice: Think about it. Do it. Use those sore-from-under-use facial muscles and… VOILA! Smile!

Discover: 10 Simple Ways to Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today

40) Form a daily routine ?

The biggest gurus out there say to form a “morning routine.”

Well, what if you aren’t a morning person? 

If you’re anything like me, you are about as useful as a cracked egg in the morning. You’ll get there eventually, but don’t rush things or you’ll end up with egg on the floor and your face. 

Or maybe you’re like my wife and (90% of Americans), and could scramble eggs blindfolded in the mornings while reading a book?

Bad egg metaphors aside, forming a daily routine is a key super power in the fight against procrastination and missed opportunities. You can do the routine in the morning, in the afternoon, evening or all of the above. 

The important thing is sticking to a set of habits you go back to every day to keep things moving forward like a well-oiled machine. 

A daily routine will help you to more easily keep the cogs of the 80% machine running (super power #17) so that you have time to work the 20% and do your most important tasks. Routines make it so you don’t have to think about when you’re going to do the dishes or mow the lawn, you just do them when you do them and get back to the important things. 

Having something that grounds you and keeps you moving forward will give you daily wins, these wins create momentum and a good feeling of success, and before you know it, you’ve turned into an eggstra special superhero. 

Practice: Get the repetitive and easy tasks to get done so that you’ll free up time for more important projects. Don’t waste time thinking about when you’re going to do the tasks that will always need to be done. Tidy up every night before bed. Put the dishes in the dishwasher after each meal. Be intentional with your decisions. Plan to crush today and tomorrow. 

Discover: 5 Steps to Create a Personalized Daily Routine. I love how this post breaks up tasks into morning, midday, and evening. Check it out. 

41) Stand on the backs of giants, read books from those greater than you ?

“If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pick the right books and your life will be changed. 

Stand on the backs of giants by reading their stories, pondering their downfalls and failures, and soaking in their best thoughts. Build your life on the collective wisdom by reading some of the best books you can get your hands on. 

Books have changed my life. You’ll hear others say the same. I attribute most of my success to the books I’ve read. 

Have you ever heard of a highly successful person who doesn’t read OR somehow take in great feedback to grow?

Reading is a super power because it:

• Shows you what questions to ask. You don’t know what you don’t know. 
• Increases your vocabulary and understanding of important topics.
• Gives you access to how great people did great things. 
• Grants you access to imaginative worlds, deep thoughts, and fascinating stories at a higher level than any TV show can bring. 

Practice. Read more by getting a Kindle or some kind of eReader. Get a print book or two and have them handy for when you need a break from the screen. Listen to audiobooks on Hoopla or Audible. However you do it, make a pledge to read more. 

Discover: Read These Incredible and Life Changing Books Before You Die

42) Determine your Ikigai (purpose) ?

Finding life purpose is hard. Duh. You knew that. Unless you’re already knee deep in your purpose and know exactly what you need to do, you might not know what the purpose of it all is. 

The Japanese have a powerful concept/exercise called Ikigai (“eye-ka-guy”) which means “reason for being.”

The exercise looks like this: 

The bottom line? Purpose needs to have a cash flow, it needs to be something the world desperately needs, you have to be good at it (or can learn to get good), and to do it for the long haul you need to love it. 

Purpose can come from anything with a mix of the above and is different for each person. It’s also slow to develop and changes over time too.

We need not determine our number-one goal right this second, but we must take steps to figure it out. Seeking purpose gives us meaning and lifts us up.

John Maxwell, one of my favorite authors says:

“The two greatest days of your life are:The day you were born and; The day you find out why.”

If you know what your purpose is, if you work every day on your #1 desire, you’ll build up unstoppable momentum in life. 

Over the past five years, my purpose has become more clear to me. I still feel like I’ve only uncovered about 10% of my complete purpose, but I’m continuing to figure it out day by day. Wish me luck, and I’ll gladly do the same for you. 

Get busy figuring out what your purpose is, or get busy living it out if you know. If you don’t know, what’s stopping you from figuring it out? Read books, try new things, ask others. If you know, what’s impeding the next step? The absolute worst place to be is “Yah, I know what my purpose is, I’ll do it someday…” DON’T get stuck here. Move forward with what you know and take action.

Practice: Create and fill out your very own Ikigai diagram. Copy the above image and make a new entry in your journal. Or just answer the following questions with five answers each:

• What are you good at? 
• What do you love?
• What does the world need?
• What can you get paid for?

Ponder your answers over the next few weeks and keep working towards figuring this out. 

Discover: How To Find Your Ikigai And Transform Your Outlook On Life And Business 

43) Dream big and often ?

“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall, at last, unveil.” – James Allen

A big happy family. Three-car garage with a 70 Inch TV. A house with a pool.

These are nice things to have, but these goals aren’t all that special.  Anyone can have these things if they try hard enough. These things won’t alter the course of your destiny and no one else cares about them either. 

Knowing what you want out of life is important. No one would argue that. Wanting a big family and a nice TV isn’t bad, but it’s NOT your potential. You can do SO much more. 

Thinking about what the future might hold is one of my hobbies. I would much rather plan than go to a baseball game, go out drinking, or attend a pool party. Unlike a lot of things in life, it comes naturally to me. Let me help you embrace this awesome super power too. 

I dare you to try it. 

Practice: Brainstorm a list of ten things you never thought you would do, but secretly want to do. This can work in tandem or contrary to your purpose or Ikigai (super power #42). Think of anything you want, even if it has nothing to do with making money or helping others. Get creative. Here are some fun examples of dreaming big:

• Gary Vaynerchuck (Gary Vee) wants to own the Jets someday. 
• I want to go to the moon. I don’t see why I won’t. 
• Chris Hadfield (Canadian astronaut) wanted to go to space. He did, and wrote an amazing book about it. 
• Anyone who did anything big and worthwhile started with a dream to go for it.

Discover: Why a “Dream BIG” Mindset Can Get You Farther, Faster

44) Define goals, gain clarity and confirm your desire ?

What do you want out of life? What do you want to be, do, see, and experience? What would your future self regret if you never got to do it? 

While the two previous super powers of determining your purpose and dreaming big get your mind pumped up and set the stage, defining how YOU get there is the next step. You need an individual plan full of next step goals. 

Defining your goals is the super power of bringing clarity to what you really want out of life in all its various aspects. 

These goals, ideas, and aspirations become your roadmap to living the life you want. 

Practice: An effective exercise is to build a list of fifty life goals for yourself. Don’t worry, it’s easy and doesn’t take long to finish. 

Break it down this way (as Mark Matteson suggests in his book on mastering productivity It’s About Time):

• What are ten big things I would like to accomplish? (Examples: Write twenty-five books, sell a business for $10 million, compete in a hot-pepper eating challenge and win.)
• What are ten things I would like to see? (Examples: The Pyramids, my daughter’s wedding, the ocean from my screened-in porch.)
• What are ten things I would like to be? (Examples: An international speaker, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a screenwriter for Disney/Pixar.)
• What are ten fun things I want to do? (Examples: Travel to outer space, cliff dive in Bermuda, win a poker tournament and qualify for the World Series of Poker.)
• What are ten things I would like to share with the world? (Examples: I want my children to have a love for reading, I want to become a local legend beekeeper, I want to direct an indie film picked up by Netflix.)

Get to fifty goals and your eyes open up to the possibilities within your life. You’ll see that life has so much more potential than you ever thought possible.

Discover: What am I Doing with My Life? 10 Questions to Upgrade Your Mindset

45) Practice empathy ?

Empathy will change your perspective. Your thoughts and feelings are only part of what makes up reality. Interpreting, analyzing, and understanding others will give you a huge leg up in connecting with them at a deeper level. 

With empathy and increased understanding, we will change the world and ourselves. 

Empathy is the practice of putting yourself into another person’s shoes. Thinking, considering, and feeling what it would be like to experience life as the other person. 

Some people are natural empaths. Some stink at it. Everybody can learn to improve. 

Putting yourself into the shoes of another person is an ability we all should practice and have ready to go at a moment’s notice. Better yet, get so good you don’t even have to think about it. Make it become a natural extension of your everyday interactions. 

Practice: Think about someone you know who is naturally good at reading the room and understanding what people are feeling. Chances are this person is quiet, calm, and passionate. Ask them their thought process of feeling others’ emotions and how they do it. 

Discover: Six Habits of Highly Empathic People

46) Express yourself with haikus ✒️

Strangers at the start
Seeds of friendship quickly grew
Majestical love

I wrote this haiku to express my feelings and thoughts from our trip to Madeira, Portugal. 

Whoda’ thought I’d be so into poetry? ? Not me. 

Maybe it’s something you ought to try?

Practice: Write a haiku about a feeling you have right now. It’s easy to do. Haikus are poems with three lines. The first and last have five syllables each. The middle has seven. As you are creating, count the syllables in your head or on your fingers. Give it a shot right now and see if it helps you express a feeling deep down within. 

Discover: I Wrote a Haiku Every Day for a Week — Here’s What I Learned

47) Embrace and learn from transitional moments ?

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3 New International Version (NIV)

The more I go through life, the more I am convinced that everything has a season to it. We are moving forward in faith and hope or falling backward into despair. The choice is ours. 

What season are you in right now? 

Embrace the incredible power of learning to recognize transitional moments and appreciating them for what they are. 

Friends may not last forever. The job you once loved might not be a great fit anymore. The old you might need to die for the new you to have room to grow. 

Think back to your most memorable moments. I guarantee they came at some kind of transition like your wedding day, graduating school, or experiencing loss. Transitional moments in life are powerful. 

Practice: The only way to prepare for transitional moments and to accept and embrace them is to plan. Live intentionally. Don’t succumb to a lukewarm, meh kind of living. Go get your goals. Live with passion. Bring others along for the ride. 

Discover: How To Overcome A Massive Transition In Life

48) Reflect on values ?

Defining your core values is how you get the most out of life. It’s how you determine what matters to you. It’s the way you measure success or failure. 

Big picture: Core values define who you are, what you believe in, and the type of person you want to be remembered as. 

Day to day: Core values help you make the best decisions based on what matters. 

Getting clear on your values is a great super power to have in your back pocket. 

Practice: Circle your top five values from the list below (Curated from the site linked to in discover below plus my own additions):

• Financial Security
• Compassion 
• Health/Fitness
• Time in Nature
• Accomplishment
• Creativity
• Dependability 
• Loyalty
• Beauty
• Bravery
• Gratitude
• Love
• Connection/Relationships
• Learning
• Leadership
• Survival
• Self-Preservation
• Adventure
• Family
• Work
• Success
• Calm
• Freedom
• Giving Back
• Leaving a Legacy
• Other___
• Other___

Discover: 6 Ways to Discover and Choose Your Core Values

49) Become a curator of wisdom ?

*Credit: Bill Johnson

The more knowledge you have, the more people you can help. 

Also, I hate to break it to you, but age doesn’t bring wisdom along with it. I’ve seen young people with life wisdom fit to burst, and I’ve met older folks without a clue. 

Don’t think wisdom will come naturally with age, pursue it. Then, once you have it, share it with the world. Become someone who shares their knowledge of the world with the world. 

We need more people who get it to share it. No, this doesn’t mean posting thoughts on social media, it means connecting with others and sharing real value with them and helping them through their issues. 

We are all in this together, let’s try to get a bit smarter and then share with the world. 

Practice: What’s one real life issue you could help someone through right now? Do you know anyone going through a tough time? Sometimes all it takes is just reaching out and offering an encouraging word. If it goes beyond that and turns into something more, great!

Discover: 11 Ways Wise People Think, And You Can Too

50) Internalize two virtues: patience and adaptability ?️

*Credit: Victor Gonzalez 

As of this writing, the world is in chaos. The coronavirus has taken us all by storm. If you are reading this at a later date, you no doubt remember it as the time the world shut down.

Patience and adaptability are getting us through right now, and patience and adaptability will continue moving us forward after. 

Have patience with others. Be the light in a dark storm. Let others pass you in line. Wait in quiet expectation of good things to come. 

Adaptability is an ability we can gain. Going with the flow helps us gain resilience to change. Adapt to new situations by putting yourself in new situations often. 

Practice: 

Patience- The next time you boil water, watch it come to a boil. Believe it or not, it will boil. Doing this will train your mind to stop, for just a few minutes, and think. Pray for a friend, brainstorm ways to grow in patience, or meditate on all the good things going on in your life. 

Adaptability–The next time you order food, get the craziest thing on the menu. You may not even know what it is, but get it anyway. This happens quite a lot when we order food in foreign countries and it’s helped us to channel this super power. 

Discover: Patience: Don’t Let Frustration Get the Better of You and Personal Development: How to Increase Your Adaptability

51) Gain momentum and become volcanic ?

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

We are moving forward in life, or we are moving back. There is no middle ground. Our momentum is carrying us forward or we are drifting back. 

Forward momentum is the most important avenue to finishing our goals. It keeps us from spending too long drifting backward and losing progress. Daily progress is the key to getting what we want out of life. 

Practice: Making every day a success is one key to mastering momentum. Each day take one step towards your main goal. Simple, yet wondrously effective. 

Discover: My book: Volcanic Momentum: Get Things Done by Setting Destiny Goals, Mastering the Energy Code, and Never Losing Steam

52) Journal daily ?

Having a pen and paper has made this digital nomad a happy camper. I LOVE having something to write my thoughts on. It’s one of the very few physical things I refuse to leave behind.

We don’t check bags when we travel. We must pick what to take with us in our limited space. A physical notepad always makes the cut. 

The key to journaling? Don’t make it a big thing. Just keep a pen and paper nearby and write thoughts, to do lists, bullet points, notes, ideas, fears, worries, etc. 

You don’t have to do it a certain way to get the most benefit, but journaling your thoughts is like a superpowered view into your own mind. 

Practice: Get in the habit of always having a journal or notebook with you. Always be ready to brainstorm, take notes, or otherwise get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. 

Discover: 8 Reasons Keeping a Journal Can Help You Reach Your Goals

53) Understanding opportunity cost to make better decisions ?

There is always a sacrifice to be made at the juncture of any two decisions. For example, back when I was on the cusp of entrepreneurship, two choices were before me:

1. I could quit my job and head off into entrepreneurship full bore or,
2. I could stay at a low-paying and stressful job.

The opportunity cost of quitting was losing out on a consistent paycheck, and the cost of staying would be my hopes and dreams. 

It’s never as clear as that, until it is. 

Opportunity cost further applies to productivity. If you can write 2000 words per minute, but you take forever to edit (and you aren’t good at it), is it worth your time to try to do both? No, of course not. Your time is much better spent writing and having someone else help with editing. 

The opportunity cost of trying to edit is missing out on writing more vs. the opportunity cost of editing it yourself, which is less time spent mastering the writing craft. 

The above scenarios don’t apply to everybody, but inaction is still an action. Every decision we make moves us forward or backwards. It’s hard to tell which road to choose, but channeling this super power will help you make better decisions by understanding all angles of the problem. 

Practice: On your next big life decision, practice by writing out the opportunity cost for each path. Ask yourself, what potential gains am I missing out on with each option? Then use what you learned, and decide. It’s almost always better just to go for it and pick something vs. getting lost in the no-man’s-land of indecision. 

Discover: What Is Opportunity Cost? (fun video)

54) Avoid conformity ♊

The other day I pulled into a parking lot and noticed something odd. Every car was parked in the same direction! How cool, right? Except I ruined it. I parked in the opposite direction.

And I was so freakin’ happy about it. ?

As I deliberately parked facing the opposite direction, Miranda sighed and gave a slight chuckle at my actions. I proclaimed myself the king of non-conformity as she just got out of the car and grabbed her weights and proceeded to boot camp. I wore a huge goofy grin as I grabbed my own dumbbells and walked to our workout.

Actions like these make me feel great about the world and my place in it. I love those little moments that break up what can be a monotonous life. 

Conformity never did anyone any good. 

Don’t do things just because other people do them. Develop your own system of reasoning.

To me, the simple act of parking differently than all other cars around me served as a reminder of this thought process. It’s good and right to think differently than others, not because we want to be rebellious, but because we strive for growth and change. I realize it literally means nothing to park the other way, but it means much in remembering to think for yourself. 

Practice: There are a myriad of different ways to practice nonconformity:

• Walk backwards on the street (for just a bit, even if you look silly)
• Park the other direction
• Find a job you like (it’s possible!)
• Not going to college right away and instead doing a gap year program
• Skipping breakfast every day (see super power #13)

Discover: The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World (Perigee Book.) By Chris Chris Guillebeau

55) Put your phone out of reach to get more done ?

*Credit: The awe-inspiring @miran.daring

Did you know we spend, on average, 3.25 hours on our phones every day? Yikes. 

If you let your phone interrupt you, it will. I’m terrible with this. I’ve learned from awesome people like my wife who go whole days at a time with her phone shut off. Out of sight, out of power, and out of mind. 

If you aren’t using your phone for work or play, it’s a distraction. Choose to either work on your phone or use it for fun, don’t get stuck with it serving both purposes all the time. 

Practice: Put your phone in the other room for a few hours. If you don’t need it for the task at hand, whether that task is enjoying a meal with your spouse or completing a work project, put it out of reach. Break the habit of taking your phone with you wherever you go. Hint: No, your phone need not be on the table when you’re out to lunch. 

Discover: Screen Time Stats 2019: Here’s How Much You Use Your Phone During the Workday

56) Don’t compete with anyone but yourself ⛷️

*Credit: Cynthia Gould

You will never be the best at anything. 

?

Sorry to have dropped the bomb on you. 

Once you get over the fact that there will always be someone stronger, faster, smarter, and better looking than you, you can move forward.

But there’s good news too, don’t worry. 

You are unique. Your failings, idiosyncrasies, habits, and preferences make you who you are. No one will ever be able to talk like you, write like you, listen like you, or well, be you!

Your uniqueness makes you special. You don’t have to be the expert in something to impact other people. Remember that. Your unique approach to life is what matters most. 

If you relish competition and enjoy challenges that’s great, but don’t base your value on the performance. Find your value in improving one day at a time. 

Be your own best encourager. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself with other people. 

Practice: It’s good and right to wish you were better than you are now. It’s not good to envy other people who are far ahead of you. Instead, make a list of people ahead of you and exactly where you want to be someday. Follow these people, ask for their advice, look to them as the example for the tasks you must do to get there. Once you have this list, get to work, and compete against yourself to build the life you really want. 

Discover: Life’s Enough: Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

57) Channel the actual power of multitasking ?

*Credit: Wendy Cole

Multitasking isn’t as magical as it once appeared. The truth is out; multitasking is killing your brain.

Most tasks don’t pair well with others. Our brains can focus well on one thing at a time, 

However, there is one area where multitasking works great. Pairing learning tasks with muscle memory tasks. 

I’m not a time snob, and I don’t expect anyone to give up every free moment to make it “worthwhile.” Sometimes waiting in line can lead to an amazing conversation, or a peaceful walk to your next brilliant idea. But consider pairing when it makes sense.

Practice: Here are seven ideas to get you started:

• Talk to your significant other over dinner. ? Once in a while, forgo the TV while eating and have a nice conversation while you eat. It turns out, eating and having a conversation go hand in hand. Eat slowly, enjoy your food, and focus and actively on the other person
• Walk and listen to an audiobook. This one is probably my favorite. Sure, sometimes just taking a stroll in nature and enjoying being outside can be good for the brain, but when taking a longer stroll get some reading done.
• Read a Kindle while standing in line. I’ve found that I usually waste a lot of time standing in various lines or waiting for my food to be delivered. Use the time instead to group activities. Even if it’s just a few pages, it will be time well spent.
• Pair lunch with absorbing informational YouTube content or a video course. By now, you get the picture. Instead of staring off into space, put some good stuff in that brain of yours.
• Do the dishes while listening to a podcast. This works perfectly if you do the dishes slowly or don’t have a dishwasher. I always turn it into a race against time and I usually win, so I only get a few minutes of podcasting in. I’ve only broken a few glasses here and there… worth it for the thrill! Right? Pair basic tasks with complementary ones and try not to rush like I do…
• Call your mom (hands free!) while driving. The average commute has climbed to 27 minutes one way. That’s five hours per week! I know quite a few people who do this effectively, but don’t waste this valuable time. Find valuable podcasts that help you move forward on your goals.
• Stretch or roll out while watching your favorite show (I’m becoming a Star Trek Discovery superfan… It’s so good!). I’ve become a huge proponent of rolling out sore muscles using a foam roller. I use this one (Amazon aff. link). My IT band gets crazy tight even from just walking, and I’ve found that instead of just sitting down and lounging while watching TV, pairing this task with rolling out is a great way to unwind and de-stress my entire body.

Discover: In Defense Of Multitasking: How To Do It The Right Way

58) Pick one focus word for the year ?

*Credit: Pastor Mike Ashcraft

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Less is more.

What does the popular phrase mean? 

It turns out having less (less clutter, less distractions, even less goals) can make all the difference in your journey to goal completion. 

If we learn to work less and instead focus on the most important activities, we can get more done by doing the right things. We need to say goodbye to 60 hour workweeks (which studies show don’t increase productivity anyway) and learn to work smarter. 

Working less provides a greater level of results by increasing our focus and our ability to do the task at hand. 

The same need for less work goes for New Year’s resolutions and goal setting. If we want to accomplish A, B, C, and D in a year, we will never get all of it done.

What we need is a focus, a point of origin for all of our thoughts for the upcoming year. Whether it’s the beginning of the year or the middle of summer when you are reading this post, you must pick a singular focus for growth to occur. It’s never too late to imagine a singular upward focus and direction. 

In the book My One Word author and Pastor Mike Ashcraft shares the benefits of picking one word for the year and viewing everything you do that year through that lense.

Here are just a few examples of words you could use:

1. Intentional
2. Surrender
3. Peace
4. Focus
5. Patience
6. Discipline
7. Courage
8. Strength
9. Freedom
10. Contentment

The word you choose is entirely up to you, but through prayer and careful consideration, you will choose the word God puts on your heart. Even if you aren’t spiritual, this exercise can still be highly useful. Pick the word that best represents where you want to grow and what you want to do this year.  

If you want to spend more time with family, your one word might be “family.” It’s simple, but can you imagine the mind blowing results of this focus if we filter every major decision for a year through this lense? You will nurture your closest relationships and spend more time with family, plain and simple. 

If you love superheroes and want to be more heroic in real life, you could choose “heroic,” or even make your one word the name of your favorite superhero.

Pick the word that best describes how you want your year to grow and enjoy the focus and growth that comes from it. 

Practice: To start the thought process about your one word or point of focus for the year, ask yourself:

• What do I want to accomplish in the upcoming year?
• What kind of person do I want to become?
• What do I want my focus to be as I move forward?

Answer these questions and you’ll know what your word should be. 

Get all of your ideas out on paper. Once you have a list of potential words, here is how you narrow the list down:

• A friend or loved one picks the word, which is their favorite for you.
• Pray continually to align your heart with God’s heart for you.
• Cross off words that don’t fit, and circle the best choices that represent one thing you want to change for the year.
• Once you have your list narrowed down to ten words, pick the best option of those ten. 

Discover: For more details on picking a word, go to My One Word Here. 

59) Endurance testing; how far can you go? Farther than you think ?

“When you push yourself beyond limits, you discover inner reserves, which you never thought existed earlier.” –Manoj Arora, Dream On

I recently signed up for a ½ marathon. I’ve only ever run a 5k. I didn’t sign up out of any desire to compete or do well. I signed up because I want to push myself. 

We left home, sold 90% of our belongings, and are now travelling the world. 

I’ve done that, and I’m not that awesome. Chances are you could do even better. You can do more than you ever thought possible. 

You can do more than you are doing right now. 

Practice: Set a big goal for yourself. Make it a stretch. It might be hard, but completing the goal will show you that you can reach even bigger heights. NO MATTER where you are in your life there is something you can improve upon. What will your goal be?

Discover: The Top 5 Remarkable Ways to Push Yourself Harder

60) Schedule tomorrow ? 

If you know what you will do tomorrow, you don’t have to wake up and decide. 

This super power is one of the simplest in this list of 101 ways of how to get super powers. Yet, it’s one of the most effective tools to get things done. 

Planning your day tomorrow means not waking up and wondering what you need to do. Make it easy on yourself tomorrow by taking the time today to plan. 

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today (or right now! (Super power #16)), but look ahead and make a plan. 

Practice: Make a habit stack (#26) out of planning for tomorrow. Add to your nightly routine the task of writing the five things you want/need to accomplish tomorrow. 

Pro Tip: If there are things left undone for the current day and you run out of time, no sweat, cross those items off and add them to the top of your tomorrow list. 

Discover: Plan Ahead And Increase Productivity

61) Look into the future and prep for success ⛹️‍♀️

Move one step further beyond just scheduling tomorrow and set yourself up for success for life. 

Don’t let yourself be lazy tomorrow, prep for a great day of meeting all your goals. Power lies in making the best plan and doing the best you can to get these things done. 

The fact is, most of us are lazy (raises hand). We would rather veg out and not go on runs, work on our most important projects, or eat healthy. It’s easier to do the wrong things than the right things. 

This super power is about making it easier on yourself by giving your future self a leg up. Look into the future, see your lazy self, and give yourself the tools to overcome. 

Practice: Here are some practical ways to channel this super power: 

• Set your gym clothes out the night before.
• Want to go for a run but can’t muster the energy? Put your running clothes on, hydrate with water, and download a new audiobook or get a new Spotify playlist. 
• Ready for a big cleaning day? Pull out all the supplies you’ll need beforehand and have them ready to go. 
• Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I think I first heard that quote from The Office but it applies here. Think forward. 
• Make a plan for tomorrow (#60), the week (#70), and your life (#43).

Discover: How to Prepare Yourself for Success

62) Focus on your three most important projects for insane productivity ?‍?

You can’t do it all. 

I should write that reminder on a card for everyday use. Boy, do I need to remember that. 

I often get caught with my hand in too many cookie jars all at once. As a futuristic idea guy, I love thinking of new projects and new ways to complete my goals. 

The problem?

I lose focus and it ends up taking more time than it should do to complete my most important goals. 

Three seems to be the number I’ve been able to handle. My most important projects change often, but keeping the most important ones in mind helps me to make sure I focus up. All other projects are subservient to the tasks I deem will get me closer to my goals. 

When life gets busy, and it’s hard to do everything, bring the focus back to your top three. 

Practice: List out the 10 things that take up most of your time. This includes the day to day. Make a list of your three most important projects on another paper or underneath. Do your projects line up with the things you do day to day? This journaling task has been especially helpful to me in determining how I spend my time. Use it to assess and then make a plan to dedicate more time to your most important items. 

Discover: How to Achieve Big Goals When You’re Busy

63) Take up a hobby ?‍♀️

Hobbies give our brain a break from the norm to focus on something we truly love. 

For me, it’s writing google reviews and posting on Medium about Survivor. Yes, it’s writing, but I love to write. Don’t hate!

I also love playing video games, going for walks, and watching Marvel movies with Miranda. 

What hobbies could you try out today?

Practice: Schedule time to try out a new activity or dig your old clarinet out of the attic. 

Discover: Why Hobbies Are Important

64) Create room for creativity to happen ?

“How to unlock creativity: slow down, study another field, get into nature, get out of office, music (lots), sketch, cardio before/after, nibble on small ideas, throw stuff away, atomize the work, look for orthogonal inspiration, breathe, learn about circadian rhythm, paint.” –Brian Norgard

You don’t just wake up ready to create. Systems must be in place and ready to go. 

Just like we’ve learned with a lot of these super powers, life doesn’t have to be hard. Let’s make it easier on ourselves and make room for creativity to occur.

Practice: To allow room for creativity:

• Schedule time for it.
• If you are feeling creative, go create! Don’t shirk responsibility, but don’t let creative inspiration die over needing to get eggs or cleaning the car. 
• Create first thing in the morning or before bed. 
• Integrate your creative side into everything you do. Make your email signature super fancy, decorate your desk with personality, or add stickers to your laptop. 
• Recognize when you are most creative and energized during the day and do your most important work then.

Discover: What to Do When There’s No Time for Creativity

65) Answer these two important questions ❓❓

“The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein

What do you most desire from life?  Are you willing to do what it takes to get it?

Answer these two questions now, and once per year for the rest of your life. It will help you make a track, stay on that track, and pivot when necessary. 

Practice: 

• What do I most desire from life? 
• Am I willing to do what it takes to get it?

Discover: The Art of Persistence: Stop Quitting, Ignore Shiny Objects and Climb Your Way to Success

66) Use Trello ?

Trello is the best tool on the internet. 

I’m obsessed with it, but with good reason. 

It’s become my to do list on steroids, my go to team project management tool, and the way I manage all of my ideas (the good and the bad). 

Trello is also how Miranda and I do a lot of our online communication and organization:

Practice: Sign up for Trello here and then learn the ins and outs on how to use it below from yours truly. 

Discover: How to Use Trello: 4 Unique Ways to Get Life Done with Trello

67) Use Teamup ?

One the best ways to upgrade your scheduling super powers? Making a calendar. 

There are a plethora of tools to choose from for planning and organizing your time. One key component to your success is a functional calendar. 

Teamup calendar is great because it has a clean, colorful design and is made to share! Create a calendar with your schedule and easily share it with your colleagues, family & friends.

Teamup can be your one-stop shop with customizable access, custom event fields, unique calendar views, and color-coded sub-calendars. 

Remember, scheduling tomorrow and prepping for future success are two important super powers (#60 and #61). Use this tool to maximize your planning efforts. 

Practice: Create a calendar here for free. The free option is not a trial. It’s a 100% free service to use for as long as you need.  

Discover: There are a million ways to use Teamup

68) Take Myers-Briggs personality test ?

Personality tests give you previously unknown or misunderstood insights about yourself and others. They are highly valuable for better understanding. 

I’m a huge fan of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test. 

Not because it’s the most accurate test out there (personality tests aren’t the most accurate things out there by nature), but because of what you can learn from it. 

Some people avoid these types of tests like the plague because of the fear of being labeled. I get that, I really do, but if you do the right thing with the results, it will be a boon to your personal growth. 

Practice: Take the MBTI test here for free.

Discover: Once you know your type, go here for more info, with links for careers, side hustles, and hobbies (super power #63) for each type. I told you I like this stuff 🙂

69) Take Cliftonstrengths ?

Clifton StrengthFinders is not free, but it’s a wildly impactful tool to determine what you are best suited for. 

Knowing my strengths taught me the value of doubling down on what you’re good at and getting help in my weak areas. It’s also helped me become a better author. 

For a long time I tried to be a certain writer. I didn’t know it, but I wasn’t reaching my target audience. I wasn’t reaching the people that would enjoy reading my words.

I wasn’t having a profound impact on the people that would have enjoyed my writing otherwise.

I realized I can’t reach everybody, nor should I try. I will infuse my writing style with feeling and vulnerability. For those who want research based content filled with data, facts, and impersonal suggestions, they’ve come to the wrong place.

This is okay. I don’t have to write to everybody. I can write to one type of person best suited to be impacted by my words and style.

Instead of overwhelming with data, I’ll write to encourage and uplift. Instead of long discussions on the power of habits for small gains, I’ll dive deeper into purpose. Instead of trying to influence decisions, I’ll share my story and invite you to come along for the ride. 

CliftonStrengths provided insights on how I can infuse my writing with what I’m good at, and it has since become one of my favorite super powers to have in my back pocket.

There are four major domains/themes you’ll fall into: Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking and Execution. (For a deeper dive into these domains and Clifton Strengths see here.)

You can take the test here. It costs around 20 bucks, but you could order this book (aff. link) on Amazon for less than $20 to have a book and an access code. 

You’ll find knowing your strengths useful for getting to know yourself better. The insights it provides are sometimes surprising and sometimes disturbingly accurate.

Practice: Take the test and then brainstorm what areas of your life could see improvement by implementing your strengths. Email me your strengths and let’s chat about how you can use them right now to crush your goals. 

Discover: What Is the CliftonStrengths Assessment and What Can it Do for Me?

70) Weekly meetings ✍️

Weekly Reviews– Wait, what?!

This is one of those super powers you probably didn’t see coming. BUT it’s honestly the best one on the list. For me, at least.

Weekly meetings are simple and explosive for growth. So listen up: schedule weekly check in meetings with an accountability partner. It’s work, but it works. Once you find a partner and schedule weekly check-ins you’ll become super. 

I know it sounds about as fun as mixing tuna salad, but don’t knock it until you try it. Weekly meetings take a little discipline to get right, but any other strategy can not match the gains. 

Every week, Miranda and I meet to discuss our goals. We look forward to this time. The meetings are a great chance for us to reset by discussing what went well and what didn’t over the last week.

It’s just one way to take our dreams and desires to the next level, and it’s working wonders for us so far. We suggest it to anyone reaching for just a bit more.

Practice: Schedule your first weekly check-in meeting with yourself or an accountability partner. Plan to crush the week ahead by going over your budget, setting weekly goals, scheduling social events, and otherwise making sure your week aligns with your mission. 

Discover: Miranda and I no longer do a regular podcast, but this blog and podcast episode is still full of good stuff: Freedom-Cast Episode Five: Weekly Meetings For Stellar Growth

71) Hustle smart and be relentless ?

“There’s nothing I can really do but keep going out there and swinging.”– Freddie Freeman

You can fail, but there’s nothing to stop you from a relentless pursuit of your goal. 

To channel the super power of hustling, never give up. It’s simple, yet brilliant. Determine your goal, and don’t stop until you get there. 

I would never suggest beating your head against the wall to do things the same way and expecting different results. That’s the definition of insanity. 

Pivot when needed, refocus when necessary, but never allow uncertainty to cripple you into inaction. 

Smart hustling means putting feet to the pavement often, but pausing often to make sure you are on the right track. Pick your head up every once in a while, analyze progress, and then get back to it. 

Practice: Is there a project right now you need to just get done? What about a big goal that always seems out of reach? If you’re sure of your goal, you might need to rethink how to get there, BUT more than likely you are on the cusp of reaching it. Hustle and go after it. Don’t make excuses, just go for it. 

Discover: How to Be Relentless & Unstoppable in Your Life

Spiritual/Mind Super Powers

Only seven super powers here, but don’t miss this section. 

The mind has an uncanny ability to influence the body. We are what we think. 

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill

These seven super powers are our pathway to a deeper understanding of ourselves, people, God, and the world. 

These are the super powers that will take us well beyond our self-limiting beliefs to a better place.

72) Meditation and Mindfulness ?

*Credit: Maris with Borderless Retreat

It’s easy to get locked into the details of what’s happening right in front of us. How often do we stop to think about the bigger picture? Not as much as we should. 

Meditation and mindfulness have been wonderful practices I’ve been pleased to adopt into my life. For a guy who has a hard time stopping his overflowing mind, meditation is how I take a step back and see where I’m at. 

It’s a valuable practice used by many successful people to relearn the ability to hear themselves think in this noisy world. 

Practice: The following is a meditation exercise for gaining clarity and taking a foray into a more mindful existence.

Eye gaze into the distance to train your brain to not focus on the details. This technique is best done in the early morning to have lasting benefits throughout the day. Here’s how to do it:

• Get comfortable sitting in the lotus position.
• Pick a point in the distance and focus on it. 
• Breathe deeply and focus on the breath. 
• Spend five to ten minutes here and try not to let your mind wander too much. If it does, think about the bigger obstacles before you and how you’ll overcome them. 
• Move on with your day. 

Discover: Meditation 101: Techniques, Benefits, and a Beginner’s How-to

73) Ask for help and start seeing a therapist if you need it ?‍⚕️

If you need to see a therapist, do it. 

Look, I’m not a doctor. I used to work with kids who suffer from autism but I’m far from capable of telling anyone they should see a therapist. 

But for the people who recognize their own need of professional help, I call them heroes. 

The cultural stigma on those needing therapy needs to die. If you need to talk to a professional about your life, your problems, and your issues, go for it. 

Life is a joyous, complicated mess. Humans are, well, MESSY. We don’t have it all together. We are dealing with a tornado of complex spiritual and physical needs, brain chemicals, and circumstances. 

It’s OKAY if you don’t have it all figured out. I sure don’t. Ask for help and find a therapist to not only get you through life, but to thrive again. You deserve it. 

Practice: Get real with yourself. Do you have people in your life you can tell anything to? Are these people lifting you up, giving you solid non-selfish advice, and encouraging you to be your best you? Consider seeking professional help if no one around you fits this bill. 

Discover: 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should See a Therapist

74) Forgive someone right now ?

“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.” –Maya Angelou

Is there someone you should reach out to and make amends?

I’m not one to dig through past hurts and open wounds, but a recent experience showed me the healing power of this practice.

On prompting from a group of friends, I opened up a dialogue with an old friend who I had wronged. They weren’t the guilty party (I think I did more of the wrongdoing), but opening up the conversation and saying “Hey there, just wanted to reconnect and say I’m sorry for the way I acted way back when,” was helpful in breaking down any existing barriers. 

We put up walls whether we realize it or not. It’s up to us to break them down. Acts of vulnerability, humility, and forgiveness will turn us into superheroes who put others first. 

Practice: Who is the one person you can reach out to? Is it a family member, friend, or maybe just an acquaintance with a bad history? Maybe starting a conversation will lead you toward healing. Again, I’m not one to live in the past, and we need not make friends with those who we’ve hurt or who have hurt us, BUT if we are holding on to negative emotions, we will never become the people we can become. Reach out and connect with someone and start a circle of forgiveness that will bring healing to you both. 

Discover: How to Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt You (including Yourself)

75) Stay positive ?

*Credit @suzanneparr

Keep a POSITIVE view in ALL situations, no matter how dire they seem. Much easier said than done right? 

In early 2020 the world endured a global pandemic. If you’re reading this at a later date, you no doubt remember the coronavirus and the struggles it brought to every one of us. 

I’ve struggled with a ton of anxiety during this time. What are we going to do if… Finish that thought with just about any scenario. Luckily, we never ran out of toilet paper (thank the heavens) but with uncertainty who knows what’s next? 

Most of these fears are irrational, but that doesn’t stop us from feeling the effects all the same! 

The only thing we can do in times like this is to stay positive, keep a smile on our faces, and bring joy to others by putting them first. 

Unfortunately, one thing is certain, life isn’t easy. Every one of us will face trials in our life.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1: 2-4 (ESV Bible)

It’s what we do during these trials that either push us forward in love and joy, or move us backward in fear and negativity. 

Practice: Stand up, smile, and face your challenge head on. Let me know how I can help, get the support of a friend, and always fight to fill your life with positivity and joy. 

Discover: How I Stay Positive by Darius Foroux 

76) Think: I get to do this vs. I have to do this. ?

“They say death and taxes are the only things that are inevitable. The truth is, you can not pay your taxes. I’ve done it, and there’s consequences, but it can be done. Death you’re not going to get out of, and you kind of got to deal with it.” –Steve Earle

You get to wake up in the morning. You get to eat a healthy breakfast. You get to go outside on a run. You get to login to your computer and check your work email so that you can provide for your family. 

Not everyone gets to do these things. Mindset is everything. 

In life there is but one end. Death. Everything else falls within our ability to determine how we look at things.

Practice: During the next bone grinding and teeth gnashing activity you do, change your mindset. The next time you have to do a work call, appreciate the fact that you get to do the call. The next time you are faced with a difficult conversation with a loved one, appreciate their presence in your life. The next time you do a chore, count it as a blessing you can do chores for yourself.  

Discover: Shift Your Mindset by Saying Less of These Four Things

77) Prayer and hearing from God ? 

*Credit: John Wozniak

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Having him in your corner is the only super power you’ll ever need. 

I’m no biblical scholar, but I’ve seen God at work in my life, and the lives of those around me. I don’t preach, because I don’t think anyone will convince you but yourself. I’m also for sure not going to win you over by sake of argument because I’m not an argumentative person. 

Still, I’ve seen and read far too much against the core idea that is Christianity, that Jesus lived, died for our sins, rose to life again, and called us to follow him. This last piece is where Christianity has gotten it wrong for hundreds of years. So let me set a few things straight:

• As a Christian, I love you for you. I have not lived your life; I don’t understand all your hurts, and I don’t place any judgement upon you. 
• The church is a hospital for the sick and broken (you and me and all of us). 
• Truth exists, and we must act according to God’s moral standard, BUT that is not for me to decide for you. 
• I still want to be friends, even if you don’t believe or agree with me. What do I know? My only goal is to push people to question and grow. 

I’m convinced in the truth, because I’ve read some solid supporting evidence looking at all angles of the issue from people way smarter than me like William Lane Craig, Lee Strobel, and Bobby Conway. Confirmation bias or not, it’s REALLY hard to refute their claims. 

And yet, I have something deeper than evidence. As a feeling type, I make my decisions with my gut and my heart way more often than my head. For me, God makes sense as a way of understanding why we even exist. 

I refuse to believe we don’t have a purpose. I refuse to believe everything is meaningless. I refuse to believe in a hopeless existence. The evidence is not there to support it. 

So, consider the value of questioning your own beliefs, and if you are a Christian, dig in and become even better. God created you to connect with him and make others’ lives better. Prayer is our way of reaching that goal, even if it’s a confusing thing we are asked to do. 

God answers prayer, but never in the way we think. He’s answered my prayers, but almost never how I’d expect. Often, it’s because something even better was around the corner that I would have never seen coming. 

Prayer is the way I focus my mind on an aim and do my part and then ask God to do the rest and fit me into his plan. It’s far more complicated than that, but yet just that simple. 

Practice: Pray to God at this moment. Even if you don’t believe in God, you have serious doubts, or you have another belief system that trumps God, send up a little prayer. Ask Him to show up in your life and guide you in the right direction. Pray that His truth would reach you in a unique and powerful way. 

Discover: “Is There Evidence for God?” and Why Do We Pray? And Why I don’t believe in God

78) Be thankful for each day ??

*Credit: Peter Searle author of Kokoda to the Coast

“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” –Bil Keane

Today will be the last day for many people on earth. No one eats their oatmeal or Frosted Flakes thinking it will be the last meal they eat, but it’s the sad reality…

Just like you get to vs. you have to (super power #76), each day you get to experience is a gift. 

The reverse is true too. For many of you reading this, you have oodles of days to come. That means you have time to make a change, adopt some of these super powers, and make the most out of your life. 

I read the other day that men don’t make their most meaningful contributions to society and the world until they reach age 40. As of this writing, I just turned 31. Do you know what this means!?

I have nine years to go until I even get started. I’m thrilled that I’m jumping into things now and doing what I can to be ready when the time comes. 

There’s no guarantee I make it to 40, but I’m living my life in anticipation of existing for today AND the future. 

It’s a hard balance to strike, but start with making the most out of each day. Remembering what to be thankful for each day is a practice you’ll soon cherish. 

Practice: Start a gratitude habit. Write the five things you are most thankful for that happened today. For example, so far on my list for today:

• I’m thankful for getting to wake up in a comfy bed
• I’m happy I’m in Covid-19 isolation with my wife
• The sun was shining today on our walk
• I have plenty of espresso to keep me going

Discover: Gratitude Exercise: 100 Things To Be Thankful For Today

Work and Business Super Super Powers

To succeed in life, we need not only to get healthier, grow personally, and connect spiritually, we need to get better at getting stuff done. 

These super powers will give you the extra boost you need to crush it at work:

79) Create your best work environment ?

The space around you will make or break your productivity. 

Messy desks = wasted time, uneasiness, and a decrease in desire to work. 

An organized space = focus, efficiency, and increased productivity.

Whether you are working from home, from a cubicle, or out of your car, creating an ideal work environment is work super power numero uno. 

Spend the time, money, and attention to detail necessary to create a space you can work from. Get a standing desk (super power #5) or a laptop stand, decorate your desk with plants or other calming items, and keep things organized (super power #83). 

Plan out how you work best and make your environment comfortable to achieve maximum productivity. 

Practice: What’s one way you can create a better space right now? For me it’s cleaning the junk piled up in the back corner of my desk and making better use of the space. Put to use some examples in the video below. 

Discover: Rob Archangel (Owner and founder of Archangel Ink) and I did a live video on this topic. You can watch it below. 

80) Find a job you love, it IS possible ?

“You have walked through fire, survived floods and have triumphed over demons- remember this the next time you doubt your own power.”  –Jung Pueblo

We all can, and should, find work we love. 

Work does not have to suck. Unfortunately, 85% of the working world is not engaged at work. If you aren’t engaged, you’re unhappy now or you will be soon. 

Let me make a bold statement. If we all loved what we did for work, 99% of the world’s problems would fade away. 

There are people destined to solve world hunger, but are instead logging data into forms. There are people who have an untapped ability to speak in public, but are instead taking the “easier” road of picking up garbage. There are people who have the gifts of mercy and compassion who instead work at call centers. 

Practice: Find out if you love what you do with this Personal Destiny Guide.

Discover: Skip the 9-5: Eight Options When “I Hate Working” is Your Life Mantra

81) Protect your Data ?️

VPNs (Virtual private networks) are where it’s at. VPNs not only give you access to your favorite streaming programs outside of the US, they secure your data. 

Protect your data from Google, Amazon, Facebook and big brother by securing and locking down your information. 

I used to be of the camp who said there’s no reason to try to secure data. “Just let the big dogs have it” was my motto. And while I still hold to that philosophy, I’ve never had my identity stolen, nor have I had any other issues with my data. 

Yet, people smarter than me recommended this as a super power, so it’s here on the list. Now I’ve implemented a few of these strategies and I’m happier knowing my data is just a little more secure.

Practice: Here are several practical methods of securing your data:

• Get a VPN like ExpressVPN. And bonus hint, if you’re in the US you can’t watch shows like Big Bang Theory and Brooklyn 99 on Netflix. Why? Because they block US IPs from streaming these shows. You can set up your VPN to an IP outside of the US to watch these shows and others just like them. You’re welcome 😀
• Use Google Fi for cell service instead of Verizon, US Cellular or AT&T. With a data service you can use anywhere in the world (It’s worked fantastic for us so far!), it’s MUCH better than going through grabbing a sim card when you travel. It’s also way cheaper than Verizon. AND the best part is it automatically sets up a VPN too. Sign up using our refer a friend program here. 
• Backup your data (saved files, pictures, documents, etc.) I save Most of my stuff in the cloud. I don’t rely on any hard disks to save my information. In some ways this might be more or less secure, but consider the importance of not losing your important information if your computer suffers any issues. Use a dependable service like Dropbox or Google drive to save all your files instead. 
• Use a free virus prevention program like AVG, and a free spyware scanner like Glary Utilities. If you’re on a Mac, maybe you need not worry about this. Sorry, I’m not a Mac guy, but PC users need to take extra steps to secure their info. 
• Protect your mobile device with a lock screen or a password and make sure you have it set up to be erasable if lost.

Discover: 101 Data Protection Tips: How to Keep Your Passwords, Financial & Personal Information Safe in 2020. 

82) Diversify Income ?

Income from one source is not the best plan. 

What if something drastic happens? What if the world shuts down, and the government deems your line of work “unessential?”

The best way to guarantee an income for the long-haul is to diversify your portfolio. Don’t settle for getting all your income in one place, even if you have an amazing job you love. 

This super power won’t make sense to most of the people who read this post. I hope you are different. Still, we’ve been taught all our lives to go to school, get one good job, and then maybe invest later on. 

No.

Invest in yourself by using what skills you have to build side hustles and eventually generate passive income. It’s not only possible for most of us, it’s not even that hard to get started. 

The added benefit of working on something other than your main line of work is that it increases your skill sets. This will make you an even more desirable job candidate, and when it comes time to lay off either you or Bob the tech they’ll stick with you. 

Practice: Start a side hustle today. Invest in stocks or bonds. Learn a new skill or a new language (super power #28). Do something that will make you invaluable to your current employer, but give you options, 

Discover: Diversify Your Income: All My Ideas for Making Money Online

83) Stay organized, online and in the real world ?️

“A place for everything, everything in its place.” Benjamin Franklin

Staying organized online is hard. Staying organized in the real world is even harder. 

It will take more than manila folders and filing cabinets to get the job done, but I can’t tell you strongly enough how freeing it is to know where everything is. 

Living minimally made it easy to travel. Staying organized online means I can find any file I want in a few minutes, no matter where I am. 

The fact of the matter is we waste too much time looking for stuff. Channel this super power and get organized. 

Practice: Look around. Are things neat and orderly? A pig sty? What’s something you could improve upon? Here are a few quick win ideas:

• Do you always lose your key? Make a spot for them. 
• Make your bed.
• Clean up your workstation.
• Go through your computer files and organize by importance.
• Make your computer’s desktop minimal (IE: don’t have shortcuts covering every inch of the screen… shudder). 
• Habit stack (superpower #26) any regular cleaning tasks.

Discover: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport. 

Miranda made an awesome Udemy course on physical minimalism here: 30 Days to Decluttered Bliss: How to Declutter Your World

84) Be ruthless in eliminating commitments ?️

Busyness doesn’t behoove anyone. In fact, it’s keeping us away from joy and true contentment.

Busyness isn’t a bad thing. But why are we so busy? It’s often not for the right reasons. 

If you are busy doing good things like volunteer work, more power to you. But how often is your “busy” just an excuse to avoid stopping and thinking. 

Busyness is a crutch. We fill our lives with stuff so that we can be happy when happiness was right there with us all along. 

Practice: Say no more often than you say yes. Only take on commitments you want to do AND fit your strengths (super power #69 really helps here). Analyze your schedule for the next month. Cut one thing. Give yourself room to breathe. Take time for yourself and don’t feel guilt about it. 

Discover: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer

85) Stop second guessing every email sent ?

INFJs like me sometimes (more often than we should…) read an email twenty times before we send it. Then we read it again in our sent folder, as if we could somehow take it back. 

This applies not to every email, but to the most important. I’ve become much better in the last few years about sending emails quickly and efficiently without agonizing over every word and how the reader will interpret my meaning. 

This does NOT apply to those of you who send emails without punctuation or any thought at all. (Seriously, don’t, just don’t…). 

This super power applies to those of us who waste too much time second guessing ourselves, and it applies not only to emails, but in real life. 

Stop overthinking. Stop worrying about everything you said. Care, but not so much that you cripple yourself. Discover the balance point of putting in just the right amount of effort that doesn’t leave you drained for no reason. 

Practice: Start sending emails without reading over them several times. I’ve recently begun this practice. I know my emails are not perfect, but they never were. I’ve saved so much time and energy by not second guessing. 

Pro tip: If you’ve got some splainin’ to do try sending a video instead. This app hooks up to Gmail and makes sending short videos a breeze. I tested it (and now use it!) but you have to sign up for CloudHQ (free and simple). 

Discover: How to Stop Second Guessing Yourself Immediately

86) Don’t respond to every email ??

Not every email needs a response. 

This super power will feel like the most selfish and most difficult one on the list. It’s also a super power I’ve used unintentionally. 

Unless someone asks you a direct question, or they need your direct feedback, don’t reply. 

This will take getting used to, but it directly ties into the 80/20 principle we discussed way back in the beginning of this post (super power #17). 

80% of the emails you get don’t need a response. Instead, spend more time responding to the 20% of emails you need to respond to. 

I first heard of this specific approach to email in a book called 80/20 Your Life! How To Get More Done With Less Effort And Change Your Life In The Process! by Damon Zahariades. In the book, Damon shares ways we implement the 80/20 Principle into our daily lives to get more done. 

While there are emails we can’t ignore, skipping those not requiring our attention can be a lifesaver. 

Practice: The next time you open your email inbox, be conscious of the emails in need of a reply vs. the emails that don’t. Err on the side of not responding, if you’re not sure, at least at first. What’s the worst that can happen? The answer? It’s an email, not much. 

Discover: Stop Responding to Every Email—Here’s Why

87) Use your vacation days… ?

In 2018 Americans let an astonishing number of vacation days go unused, never to be heard from again… 

768 million days gone. Poof. Vanished. Disappeared. Left for dead.  

And it’s not just a few people, over 50% of U.S. workers give up at least a few days per year. 

Use your vacation days. Period. There is no way around it. No job is worth sacrificing PAID time off for. None. 

I almost hate even adding it to the list as a super power because it’s such a no-brainer. 

You must pass this on as I’m sure you would never do this. Channel this super power and let others know it’s okay to take a day off every once in a while to recharge and recoup.

Practice: Plan your next vacation right now. If you have any time off that’s expiring anytime soon, make a plan to use it before it’s gone. Taking a rest is almost always worth it. 

Discover: The Sad Reason Half of Americans Don’t Take all Their Paid Vacation And The Infuriating Truths behind France’s “Work to Live” Mentality

88) In any proposal or portfolio: Put your best project first and your second best last ?

*Credit: @lolosan_

This is like a bonus super power. It’s not one you’d think about, but consider its widespread use. 

We can use this super power in any kind of online portfolio, proposal, branding, marketing, project sample, etc. to stand out. 

Why put your top two projects in these positions? Because of the Primacy and Recency Effects. In short, we remember the first thing we see and the last. 

If a potential buyer or employer is browsing through your resume, projects, or website, they’ll remember their first impression and the last thing they saw before moving on. 

I chose the first and last super powers with care. I hope you remember to always listen to your body (#1) and… Well you must keep reading for the 101st. ?

Practice: Update your resume, your blog, or your work portfolio with this super power. 

Discover: 8 Steps to Building a Killer Personal Brand

Relationship Super Powers

This isn’t a relationship blog, but connecting with people is intimately tied to everything we do. If it’s sales, finding a better job, or exploring the world, we can all get better at interacting and communicating with people. 

These 9 super powers should stay locked and loaded in your bag of tricks.

89) Always tell the truth ?

*Credit: @_schnetzi_

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” –Buddha

Three types of lies to avoid:

1. Lie of commission: “You look lovely in that new dress!” But you think she’d look better in just about anything else. 
2. Lie of omission: “Sure, I’d be happy to pick you up at the airport.” But you actually just got your license suspended. 
3. Character lie: “I’m not the type of person who would steal from my parents.” You didn’t say you didn’t steal, you just said you weren’t the type of person to do so. 

All of us lie. Whether it’s lying to ourselves from time to time, sugar coating truths because we are afraid of being mean, or just plain telling people what they want to hear. 

Forget this approach. Get real instead. 

None of these lies are helpful in moving relationships forward in a positive way. Be honest with people and you’ll be much better off. A relationship built on mutual trust is key to long-term success. 

As a bonus, there’ll be less to remember and a shorter nose to boot. 😉 ?

Practice: Do you lie outright? Do you tell people what they want to hear? Do you avoid giving the whole truth to avoid consequences? Make today the day you embrace honesty. It probably won’t be easy, but the short-term pain of telling the truth is ALWAYS worth it. Rip the bandaid off and let your wounds heal. Don’t let small problems fester to become angry beasts that threaten to upend your relationships. 

Discover: The Ways We Lie

90) Recognize that some people are in your life for only a short time ?

Not everyone you meet will become a lifelong friend. 

For some people reading this that thought is depressing, for others, it’s freeing. 

There are some people in your life you may never see again. This is okay. 

Yes, some friends will stay and others will find their way back to you like a bird flying south for winter, but this isn’t the case for everyone. 

The true super power here rests in recognizing and appreciating the here and now. Cherish and appreciate the friends you have now. Nurture those friendships. Be there for them and be a good friend. 

Don’t believe that the way things are now is the way things will always be. Life is always moving forward, so we might as well hop aboard and enjoy the ride. 

Practice: Send a text to a good friend right now and tell them you love them (or if that’s weird, just say “Hey, you’re awesome bro!”). We never know how long we have. We also never know for sure how long someone will be in our lives. All we can do is to do the best we can to be a friend while we can. 

Discover: Letting Go of Friends and How to Do it Without Hating Yourself

91) Invest in people ?‍♂️

“If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction.” –Melinda Gates

If you are blessed, give back. Invest in other people. Help them grow. 

There comes a time in all of our lives when we need to make the shift from protagonist to wise old wizard, and help others along in their journey instead of needing help ourselves. 

At 31, it’s hard to believe people are asking for advice and feedback from me, because what do I know? Yet, I’ve grown a lot the past few years, and while I definitely don’t know everything and still fail often, I’ve seen a measure of success. 

What are you skilled at that you can pass on to others? Consider the value of imparting wisdom and investing in other people. Who knows? You could be just the spark that person needed to propel themselves toward massive success. 

Practice: Here are some ideas to invest in other people:

• Start a mastermind group and form a tight-knit group who help each other accomplish their most important goals. 
• Pick one person in your life you think you can help along and invest TIME into the relationship. Even if you get nothing out of it (unlikely) the satisfaction alone of helping someone else will be worth it. 
• Teach an online course on one of your skills. If you’re good at tennis, juggling, whistling, have a new way of doing chores, or know how to make a boat out of recycled plastic, share your skills with the world. Invest in the collective good. 
• Get to know yourself better with super powers #68 and #69 so you can be better prepared to help how and where you are best suited.

Discover: The Importance of Investing in Others

92) Practice deep listening ?️‍♀️

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” –Stephen R. Covey

Are you part of the vast majority of people who don’t listen well?

If you think you’re fantastic at listening, think again. I used to think I was the world’s best listener. Nope. Not even close. Until you listen intending to understand and put yourself into the other person’s shoes, you haven’t really listened at all. 

Deep listening means hearing what the other person is saying beyond what they’re saying. What does their body language tell you? Their tone? The speed at which they are talking? These are all hints to what is really being said. 

If we can understand at a deeper level and practice deep and active listening, we will be better able to connect with people at all levels. 

Practice: The next time you are in a conversation with someone, do these five things:

• Stop talking so much. Catch yourself when you talk too much about yourself and your own situation. 
• Ask good questions of the other person. 
• Mirror them by repeating back at least some of what they said to prove you are listening. 
• Smile and look at them as they talk. 
• Take one important note away from the conversation and then FOLLOW UP with the person later and ask them about it. You have no idea how much they’ll appreciate it.

Discover: How to Practice Active Listening

93) Say I love you often ?

“I love you.”

You can say this to your spouse, mom, dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, and YES even your friends. 

Guys, it’s not weird to tell your friends you love them. Friends are family after all, right?

Telling people how much you care is important. Showing them is even better, but it starts with verbalizing it. 

We have no idea how much longer we have. I promise I’m not a morbid guy, but we should probably think about these things more than we do. Going through life on autopilot has but one destination: A quick and sudden crash when things go poorly.

Don’t shift to autopilot and go through the motions. Appreciate every second you have and share that appreciation with those who matter most. 

Practice: Text one person “I Love You” right now. It’s easy to do, and you KNOW it will be received well. Just don’t text it to your high school crush who’s married… I will not bail you out of that one. 

Discover: Why We Should Tell People “I Love You” More Often

94) Eat meals with others once per day ?

Make family meals a priority, no matter how big or small your family is. 

It’s natural that I eat dinner with my wife. We usually spend it watching a show we enjoy, just talking, or brainstorming our next adventure. 

If you live alone, you’ll have to get a little creative to channel this super power, but let’s hope someone with a big family takes the initiative and invites you over. 

Avoid the temptation to always eat alone. As an introvert, I’d much rather eat alone while watching a show. While I think this is fine sometimes, it’s important to socialize with others too.

Practice: Could you eat with other people once per day? Is this workable for you? Does your family not take part in family meals? Make an intentional commitment to make mealtimes a time to get to know each other on a deeper level and foster deeper connections. Bon appétit!

Discover: The Rules for Having Lunch Over Zoom

95) Give meaningful compliments ?

*Credit: Kristen Mihalko

You can change the trajectory of someone’s life with but a word. 

Affirming an area of personal growth, commenting on a new style you appreciate, or recognizing when someone is living out their core values is a great way to show you care. 

Moving beyond flattery and giving sincere, well-thought-out compliments is how relationships grow. 

When I’ve had people in my life affirm things in me I didn’t see in myself, it changed my life.  

Compliments aren’t always life changing, but if you practice deep listening (super power #92), your compliments and affirmations will be filled with the power to have a positive influence.

Practice: Giving a meaningful compliment isn’t rocket science, just do these two things:

• Practice deep listening and year to understand what the other person cares about most. What does their #1 passion, core value, or current state of mind tell you about what is meaningful to them? 
• Carefully consider your words before you talk. Yes, extraverts, I’m asking you to think before you speak. Be direct, truthful, and sincere and GIVE the compliment. Don’t hold back and think it’s not worth being said. Again, you could change someone’s life for the better by affirming a passion, value, or skill in them. 

Discover: 13 Meaningful Compliments You Should Give People More Often (Just follow the above steps before saying any of these.) 

96) Remember names ?

*Credit: The one and only Jboss

“A person’s name is to that person, the sweetest, most important sound in any language.” –Dale Carnegie

“I’m not good at remembering names…”

How often have you heard this line of garbage from yourself and/or others?

It’s just not true. What we should say is that we haven’t made it a priority or come up with a system to more easily remember. We haven’t yet embraced remembering names as a super power we have access to!

I don’t easily remember people’s names. I’m usually much more invested in what I will say and how I will say it I’ve already forgotten the person’s name. Whoops. 

A person’s name is their identity. Remember it and you are immediately lifted higher in their mind. 

Practice: Here are some actionable tips to remembering names:

• Say a person’s name three times in your head after you meet. You’ve heard this suggestion, but put it to use. 
• After you meet someone for the first time, always say “Goodbye X.” And if you don’t remember their name, the goodbye is the time to ask! 
• Just ask. If you don’t remember, ask. It’s not as good as remembering in the first place, but it’s miles ahead of moving forward or calling the person dude, bro, chap, or friend for the rest of your time together. 
• To remember names my wife and I text each other so it’s written. We’ll say, “I met Bill at lunch. Nice guy, he’s from X and likes X.” It might seem like a weird practice, but it’s much harder to forget something once it’s written. 
• It’s never too late. We all have those awkward acquaintances where it’s been too long without ever asking their name, or you’ve already asked several times and forgot every time. It’s never too late. Own up to your forgetful ways, and just ask. Sure, it might be embarrassing, but it’s always worth it to salvage a relationship. 

Discover: How To Win Friends and Influence People and 11 Memory Hacks to Remember the Names of Everyone You Meet

97) Make someone’s day ?

Have you thought about yourself more often than others today?

Tough question, I know. We mostly think about our own wants and needs. It’s human nature and normal, but let’s break the trend today. 

This will come easier to mothers and people who are nurturing. We could all learn from the people who give give give expecting nothing in return. 

To the people who gave their lives for American freedom, I salute you. 

To the front line nurses, doctors, and volunteers who gave their time (and sometimes, their lives) to slow the spread of Covid-19 and help those who were sick, I applaud you. 

To every person fighting illness, disease, heartbreak, and/or depression, I want to know you are not alone. There are people waiting to help you.

Let everyone reading this be motivated to be the one person someone else needs. 

Practice: Brainstorm one way you can make someone’s day and do that thing, even if it’s just a short text message saying “I love you,” “you’re awesome” or “what do you need?” 

Discover: 10 Ways to Be There for Someone

Awesome Super Powers that Don’t Fit Anywhere Else

These final four super powers deserve to be remembered. Internalize these, practice them often, and never forget. 

98) Navy blue is a good neutral ?

This super power makes the cut because of people just like me, who need ALL the help they can get for matching and wearing clothes that not only fit, but look good together. 

So, despite what you may think, navy blue is a great neutral to balance out your wardrobe. 

Practice: Get more navy blue in your life. While you’re at it, get a better looking haircut, a new outfit, and upgrade your style. Beyond making you look better and feel more confident, you’ll attract better clients, better jobs, and better relationships. 

Discover: Research Shows That the Clothes You Wear Actually Change the Way You Perform

99) Watch Ricky Baker ?

*Credit: Dario Villirilli

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a movie everyone needs to see. Directed by Taika Waititi and starring three actors from Thor Ragnarok, this movie delights from the beginning.

It’s rare I watch a new movie and it’s immediately catapulted into my top five of all time, but that’s what happened when I watched this one. I immediately felt stronger in my soul for having watched. It’s a weird super power to have, but you’ll understand once you watch it. 

It’s endearing, heart-felt, hilarious, and is a must-see-movie.

Practice: Watch it today. It’s available to rent on Amazon for only $3.99. 

Discover: Trailer below:

100) Pick a totem object to ground you ?

The world is an ever-changing place. Grounding is how you avoid floating away and losing yourself. 

Yes, I got the idea for this super power from Inception, but it’s helpful in reality too. 

In early 2020 my wife and I sold most of our “stuff” and set about to travel the world. We had a chance to work online, travel the world, see new places, and experience new things. We took that chance and haven’t looked back. 

But to tell you the truth, homesickness is a real thing. Going from place to place has given us a feeling of untethered-ness. It’s been hard to stay grounded when our scenery changes frequently. 

For me, this super power has made a load of difference in my ability to stay grounded and make each place feel like home. My totem object is a massage lacrosse ball I use to roll out my back, shoulders, and my feet. It’s awesome, and it keeps me grounded. 

Practice: What’s a small item or piece of memorabilia you could keep with you at all times to keep you grounded? In this digital age, try not to add another electronic item to your list, but choose something like a small notebook, a ball, or your favorite scarf. 

Discover: 9 Powerful Grounding Techniques to Achieve Instant Calm and Regain Your Center

101) Call your mother ?

Before you go, I have one more super power for you to learn on your quest to become amazing.

Call your mother, father, or grandparents. It’s one of the best ways to give back. They need and want to hear from you. 

I will try to tackle this win/win super power more often, who’s with me?

Practice: Call your mom right now. Setup a time to call more regularly, or set it as a weekly or monthly goal to do it at regular intervals. It’s often been too long since the last time you did, so make today the day to start fresh. 

Discover: Go Call Your Mom. Science Says It’ll Make You Feel Better.

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