Do you know the origin story of Superman, the DC Comics super-hero character? The real origin story…
In his 1883 book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche composed the concept of Übermensch (German for “Overman”), which eventually gave way to Superman. But what was he trying to tell in this work?
All of us have moments where our ambitions rise high, desires of noble actions to change our existing ways. In these brief sparks, usually faced in the darkest moments of life, we realize that we have two choices: to live in a superior way or to continue on the path of misery and passivity.
But soon after the spark is gone, most of us resort back to the habitual ways of living under the spell of our desires and apathy. Somewhere it feels wrong but the price to pay seems bearable compared to the suffering we would have otherwise faced on the road of our dreams. As Nietzsche said, “they fear their higher self because, when it speaks, it speaks demandingly.”
Master of Deception
The biggest roadblock on our way to answer the higher self’s call arises as internal resistance. Resistance is the set of psycho-behavioral patterns which keep us from taking action. It is our tendency to self-sabotage, to be the reason for our own downfall.
In The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield writes:
Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance…
Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet… To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be… As powerful as is our soul’s call to realization, so potent are the forces of Resistance arrayed against it.
Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. Resistance is the enemy within.
The power of Resistance lies in the fact that it can take a multitude of subtle forms like excuses, fears, depression, anxiety, procrastination, and drug use. Another big trait of Resistance is its universality. If you look around yourself, you will see everyone living in a similar manner of passivity and apathy, reluctant to answer the call of the higher self.
The Over-Possessive Partner
Part of Resistance has its roots in the Self Worth Theory of Procrastination, discussed in Fountain of Freedom – Level 2. It is a natural response, a force that seeks to preserve our being against harm from the unknown, but this also holds us back from exploring the new possibilities, the higher good.
As Abraham Maslow put it: “We fear our highest possibilities…We are generally afraid to become that which we glimpse in our most perfect moments, under the most perfect conditions, under the conditions of the greatest courage.”
It is as if our Resistance is an over-possessive partner who wants us to stay the way we are forever, inhibiting us from changing the existing ways and trying anything new.
And since our Resistance is a master of deception, it is almost impossible to answer it logically. In fact, the smarter a person is, the stronger is their rationalization to not answer a demanding call to change. The bigger the ambition, the bigger the fear!
The Antidote to Resistance
A primal force like inner Resistance cannot be overcome by logic alone. Overthinking will only lead to paralysis by analysis. What can be done then?
To answer our calling is the ultimate heroic act of existence, and this requires the ultimate antidote: AWARE = Awareness X Why? X Action X Reflection X Empathy.
1. Awareness:
It is foolish to ignore or deny the Resistance. To overcome it, you must first know your inner enemy
Grow awareness of the forms that your Resistance can take. See how it uses fear to cripple you, or blames others to justify inaction
2. Why?
Nietzsche famously said, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how”
Know why you are doing what you are doing. Make sure you never forget it, especially when Resistance clouds your vision
3. Action:
Greeks attributed “pure act” as a trait of God for a reason
Do not overthink or overvalue outcomes. Once you are aware of Resistance and your “Why?” just get into action
Action puts you into a flow state, where all the externals cease to exist. You step outside your own head and become one with your calling
4. Reflection:
Journal your daily experiences and lessons. Even though this is just another method to grow awareness, it is still mentioned separately to emphasize its importance
Reflection has been a core habit of the greats like Aurelius and Vinci because of how it helps one understand themselves
To stay consistent in reflection, secure some “me time” at the end of your day, where no one can disturb you and it’s just you and your journal
5. Empathy:
You will be defeated by Resistance multiple times in this journey, but you shouldn’t start denigrating yourself for that. Instead, empathize with yourself for choosing the better path
Be grateful that at least you can recognize your Resistance and its strength only implies that your desire for safety is still stronger than that for growth, nothing else
The path of your true calling is also the path of self-mastery. You will see that over time it is not that the Resistance ceases to exist, but you become its master. This is what separates the “pros” from “amateurs.” A pro acts even in the face of all the fears, then be it Elon Musk venturing from one tough field to another, or Rosa Parks standing up against racism at a time when most wouldn’t even think about it.
In the end, it’s a choice, whether you rise to the level of Superman or continue to live in mediocrity. If your cause is just, and you really care, there is no reason to give up. Life is too short to run from your potential anyway.