25 Oct 2015

Growing up, most kids have a role model or someone who they idolise. Whether it’s Superman, David Beckham, Chris Lilley, or Kim Possible, these heroes impact you more than you may realise. Not only did they influence what you valued as a child, but they shape your approach to life as you grow up.

The heroes we choose as children can act as a projection of our future. They represented who we wanted to be and how we wanted to be viewed when we grew up. As you finish high school and start to consider your options for the future, it can be very easy to get caught up in all the hype and lose sense of what you really want to do or achieve. Life is no longer as simple and straight-forward as the grade school routine that you’ve been used to for the past 13 years. But it doesn’t have to be seen in such a negative or stressful way. This is a chance for you to have a clean slate and embrace the ways of your childhood hero.

Be inspired by Superman’s strength and approach new situations and experiences with confidence. Maintain the mindset that the world is your oyster and you now have the opportunity to feel super doing whatever it is you enjoy most, be it studying, working, travelling or anything in between. Embrace Chris Lilley’s sense of humour and stop taking life so seriously. All of these attributes are instilled in you from a tender age as a child, but it is up to you to put them into action as you tackle the adventure of life as a young adult.

If you had a plan and have recently realised that it is no longer the future you want for yourself, then ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and take another path. Follow in the footsteps of your childhood hero. That doesn’t mean that if your hero was David Beckham that you must now become the face of football, unless you want to do that, then go right ahead! It is more a guideline as to what attributes you admired in the individual and what you saw as inspiration for how you wanted people to view you when you got older. Adopt their approach to life by focusing on your strengths and directing them to something you can make a lifestyle out of.

It is important not to forget who you wanted to be as a child before life got in the way. Obviously opinions change and dreams can get bigger, but what you were passionate about as a child shaped the interests you have now and childhood heroes are at the pinnacle of that. When you were younger, there were minimal distractions and responsibilities that are now giving you tunnel vision when searching for future careers or lifestyle options.

Even if your childhood hero is a parent or teacher, they are just as influential, potentially more so, than popular public figures. It is their ability to positively influence and encourage you as a child that you will remember and attempt to embrace as you grow up. Our childhood heroes guide us on what we knowingly, or inadvertently, choose to focus on today. Whether it is the desire to be powerful, influential, an athlete, or forever the class clown, your childhood will always be a key influencer of that.

So think about who you idolised growing up. Have they noticeably influenced the way you approach life? While they may not tell you exactly what to do or who to be in life, they are a dominant influence on your persona that will help you determine a path for you future. Embrace your inner childhood hero and lead the life they inspired you to live as a care-free kid.