Find the Hero in You

Given the world’s present situation, we must decide more than usual how to strengthen our own foundations.

Who are you right now? Who do you want to be? What strengths can you share to help your family, community and country right now?

The time is right to pause now. Reflect and choose a path to do your best each day. We can also cut everyone some slack, including ourselves.

I know for myself that there are times I look back and wish I had acted more like the self I aim to be. There have been times when I have acted abruptly when I was under pressure, and the wrong person did the wrong thing at just the wrong time. The pin on the grenade was pulled. I look back on those times with regret when I was not who I wanted to be.

We all do it, and now we all have to be more kind to others, especially ourselves. We are not perfect, we all have faults and failings.

So, this week I stopped myself and I paused. My valuable hours, minutes and seconds were actively spent trying to avoid the negative and focusing my concentration on the positive. I sharpened my focus on supporting my family, my community and looking for solutions.

In my initial stage of reflection, a friend pointed out a new point of view. He told me to concentrate on doing good in tough times and by doing so, I could not be doing harm or making the situation worse.

Neurologically this stacks up.

Studies now show that our brains build neuro pathways and actually physically change as we reinforce emotions and express great passion about different things.

The brain doesn’t understand a negative order. It just gravitates towards the dominant thought regardless of our desires. This is a time and opportunity in the world to build community and to reach out to touch the lives of those who we have not touched before.

‘Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him (to himself).’
James Allen

                                                                  

As this present challenge terrorises the world, let us all work to terrorise ignorance, selfishness and self-importance. This could be an amazing opportunity to build bridges, restore relationships and build the communities we hope for.

This tells us to start helping where we are—today! We have several newborns in our street, and each of us living in Australia knows the restrictions to getting to the stores at this time. With this in mind, I have picked up one packet of baby wipes each time I visit the supermarket. My family and I drop them off at the doors, just let them know we are here for them, and ‘notice’ them.

We see heroes daily in our emergency services, health workers, cleaners, teachers, and public services. These are people who have shown that this is not just a job for them but a calling on their lives to serve those in need.

There is a prayer attributed to Francis of Assisi, and it is a great reference point to give to ourselves and others as we keep getting back up, regardless of our spiritual leanings.

It is my hope that as we pull together we will one day remember the great things, some of them just small things, that we did for each other in this time, that meant so much.

This week, do something radical, push out and reach out. Don’t just do what is expected. Do a random act of kindness that will leave someone reeling with surprise.

Let’s be heroes in our neighbourhoods, to our friends and loved ones, and most of all, to those who need our help.

Remember that being different is our biggest asset and we don’t have to be like everyone else. If you need a keynote speaker or presenter on neurodiversity, private message me today to book your next presentation.

Thanks for reading! I’d love you to share your thoughts in the comment space below!

Dave Brebner.
www.davebrebner.com

As a neurodiverse public speaker and presenter, Dave Brebner specialises in using educational neuroscience to explore pathways for professionals and engage in inclusive discussions for diverse audiences. Living with Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and Anxiety Disorders since an early age, he is married with six children and one grandchild. He recently added a Master of Educational Neuroscience to his qualifications to further deepen his understanding of the neurodiverse mind, including his qualifications in Trades & Training, Adult Education, Vocational and Workplace Training, and a Master of Education degree in Career Development. Dave is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia, and you can learn more about Dave’s work at www.davebrebner.com.