I might as well warn you straight away, I am a big fan of superhero movies, especially from the Marvel universe. If you don't know Marvel movies, basically these are films in which big villains want to blow up the earth or the universe every time, but are always stopped by big "good guys" who are super strong, super tough, super intelligent and super everything.
What I love about these films is mainly the artistic aspect. The special effects are incredible, the music is absolutely brilliant, and the dialogues are both serious and very funny, creating a universe in which everyone does things seriously, without taking themselves seriously. And I love that.
Of course, in real life, we don't have super visual superpowers that would blow up the number of views on YouTube or TikTok. No Harry Potter type magic either, no magic wand to change things with a latin formula. Unless... Wingardium Leviosa! If you are levitating while reading these words, then my levitation spell has just worked!!! Otherwise, you can continue your reading comfortably settled in your favourite armchair, which isn't bad either.
Why am I talking about superheroes and magic today?
Because from my very pragmatic and logical point of view, changing the world is simple. You just have to change yourself. Change being inspiring and contagious, if it is positive, then the world changes positively.
One day, while I was coaching a young girl who worked in a very large company, she told me while crying, "I am nothing in this company, even if I change, it won't change anything." Of course, she was kinda right. If she changes, the company does not automatically change. But by changing, provided she goes in a direction that makes her happy, she will inspire other people close to her, who in turn will inspire others, and maybe the company in question will be impacted, or not.
We are not necessarily here to change the lives of the people around us.
We are here to live our own. And believe me, I have been a coach so for me, to say that "I am not here to change people's lives" is almost painful. It was the very heart of my job. Today, I prefer to create things that have a positive energy and spread them rather than coach. The essence is always the same, I dream of a better world. The form is different and much less energy-consuming and destructive for me. Because if I destroy myself emotionally, who will save me? Someone who will emotionally destroy themselves to come to my rescue? And that’s how the world goes mad.
Anyway, let's return to the story of this young girl.
This young girl, by prioritising her happiness, ultimately realised that the problem was not the company she worked for. Her real problem is that she was clinging to a life that did not resemble her, and blamed it on the company that employed her. They had nothing in common. One needed an employee, the other needed money... It felt like a forced love story. An arranged marriage without love but with financial compensation. Not really the dream when you're looking to be happy.
So how is creation a superpower?
If I had to define creation simply, I would say that it is the power to create around us a world that resembles us, visually and especially emotionally.
I went through a phase in my life where I lost everything, materially and financially speaking. All I had left was my will, my energy, to rebuild everything, a bit like Lego, patiently, brick by brick, and, of course, without a manual.
While I had spent most of my life in music, sports, intensity (I used to be a fitness & life coach), the first thing I did to rebuild myself was to paint. I wasn't used to it. I wasn't born with a paintbrush in my hands. But I needed to be surrounded by pretty things, smiles, positive and joyful energies. So I learned and repainted my universe so that, no matter the difficulties I had to face, I would always have a refuge and a kind of safe zone, a zone where problems do not enter.
It takes very little and few means to change one's environment. I started from scratch, with nothing in my pocket. I was given paper and watercolour pencils. A few tubes of entry-level paint bought on sale and small canvases and brushes bought at a super low budget storea. Nothing more. 10€ at most. That's how my life began again. There was no villa, no limousine, just a corner of the table in my brother's dining room and my desire to recreate a positive world.
Over time, many people have tried to convince me to stop, for reasons that are their own. None have succeeded so far. Because I've made my happiness my priority and life, after distancing me from what harmed me, gently showed me a more peaceful, more colourful, almost childlike path, which ultimately, is probably the one I should have always taken.
When I doubt, I remember the past and the difficulties that arose from a life that did not resemble me, the forced smiles, the efforts to be appreciated for my work, for it to be recognised at its true value.
Today I create what I like. I paint what I want to paint, I write what I want to write.. I do not create for social media, I do not create for others. I create for myself first, because I tell myself that surely, among the 8 billion human beings on this planet, there are people who resemble me and that sooner or later, I will find them. And that, if once again I put on a mask and become a character that I am not to please the greatest number, then I will never meet those people who resemble me. Those with whom everything will be simple, those who will not ask me to justify myself, those with whom I will be happy.
As it turns out, it is never too late to save the your world. Ultimately, I am the superhero of my own universe. And that is already quite enough.
Avengers... Assemble!
Joanna 🦋
Did you know? Buying me a coffee helps save the world... You don't believe me? Just try and see the magic happen... 😋