How I Became a Superhero

How you can unleash your superpower too

With great power comes great responsibility

~ Stan Lee

I recently discovered my superpower.

In the moment, it was liberating to realize and declare proudly to more than 170 like-minded super-people from around the world at a Rich Litvin 21-day Intensive.

A few days later, my primary identity kicked back in and said silently, “Uh, hold on a second there. If you let the world know who you really are, your family and friends may be in danger. You need to stay hidden.”

That’s been a standard trope in comics for decades. Superman embraced his identity as Clark Kent so that those whom he loves will not be endangered by attacks by his foes.

He hid behind a pair of glasses. (Great disguise…it served him for over 80 years.)

Thankfully, that age has passed, as Superman recently announced his secret identity to the world.

He’s still Clark…and now everyone knows his secret. Instead of living two lives, he can now be a whole person.

When you have a deep calling, an inner voice or instinct that keeps pulling you toward a big mission, your superpower has something to do with that desire.

I’ve been working toward clarity on that purpose for years.

A few weeks ago, I received it.

My Origin Story

At the end of the Intensive, Rich mentioned his love of the X-Men, and specifically Charles Xavier.

He asked the assembled group, “If you were one of the X-Men, what would your superhero name be? What would your superpower be?”

It took me less than 5 seconds to realize it.

After 21 days of emotional journey through the Intensive, I had been brought face-to-face with many of my limiting beliefs, fears, and judgements about myself.

My old identity was ready for a reboot.

Meet Fresnel (pronounced Fray-nel). He is my alter ego, my super-heroic identity. (Beautifully drawn by artist-extraordinaire Richard Bonk, by the way!)

The superhero known as Fresnel. Copyright Daniel Olexa. Illustration by Richard Bonk.

Fresnel’s power?

To intensify light, particularly the soul-light of individuals, so that they may shine confidently and be seen. (His name comes from the properties of Fresnel lenses on lighthouses.)

Do you see the irony?

My superpower is to help others to unleash their light and be seen, but my learned ego identity reacts by telling me to stay hidden.

It’s like Clark Kent saying to his Kryptonian self, “Look, I know you’re invulnerable and have all these great powers, but seriously, life will be a whole lot safer if you just wear a blue suit, white shirt, red tie, and glasses every day. Go to work and shut up about this flying crap.”

No. No. No.

The obstacle of your ego (and mine), those learned limitations, are exactly the thing that cages your inner hero.

You learned them from where you came from (parents, town, country, culture, etc) …they are familiar, and they sound safe and true…

Just like the remnants of Superman’s home planet, Krypton, (that fell to earth as Kryptonite), are deadly to him, your memories of where you came from may be toxic to where you are meant to go.

And that realization is the place for my biggest breakthrough. And yours too.

For Superman to soar, Clark has to take a backseat. (He still has an appropriate place and time, but he’s not running the show.)

What is the ego’s purpose, the benefit, of playing small?  A: A sense of safety in being hidden.

What is the ego’s downside of being seen? A: Being attacked by people who disagree with you.

But what if you stopped listening to the small you, and started listening to the superpower of your soul? How do the questions above, and the answers to them, change?

What is the downside of playing small? A: You express and experience yourself as less than you are.  You live as less than your full potential, and as less than your Creator made you to be. You will not complete your mission.

What is the benefit of being seen? A: Safety in your brilliance and expression of your power, engaging your tribe, and standing confidently in your unique strength. Those whom you are here to help, who are searching for YOU, will find you so you may complete your mission.

Join me on my mission.

It’s our job to save the world.

Are you going to hide, or will you answer the call?

Let me help you unleash your superpower.

My secret headquarters is currently being built. It will be a place for our league, our society, our team, to hang out.

Send me a message here and begin your transformation.