Your Hidden Superpower Is Waiting To Be Unleashed

Lisa Loree - The Rebel Ballerina. (Image Credit:  Dena Meeder)

 

Imagine feeling suspended in mid-air, sick to your very soul. That's how I felt when I realized I'd been living my life through someone else's eyes, with someone else's intent. As a professional ballerina, I was used to following choreography. But this was different. This was my life, and I wasn't the one calling the shots.

If you're nodding along, thinking, "That sounds familiar," you might be what's known as a "fawn." No, not the cute baby deer. In the world of psychology, a fawn is someone who's mastered the art of people-pleasing to survive. We're the ones who always say yes, who smooth over conflicts, who put everyone else's needs before our own.

The Hidden Cost of Always Being "Nice"

Being a fawn isn't all bad. We're often seen as kind, empathetic, and great team players. But there's a dark side to this constant agreeability. We lose ourselves. We forget our own dreams. We become exhausted from the endless emotional labor of keeping everyone else happy.

I remember the moment it hit me. My ex-husband had lied about supporting my career. In that instant, my heart sank. I felt physically ill. It wasn't just disappointment - it was a bone-deep realization that I had given away my power. I betrayed my own soul. 

But here's the thing about hitting rock bottom: there's nowhere to go but up.

The Unexpected Gift of Anger

As a fawn, anger was foreign to me. Scary, even. We're the peacekeepers, after all. But anger, I've learned, can be a gift. It's often the first sign that we're ready to fight for ourselves.

The first time I truly fought was as a teenager. My mom was critically ill with cancer, and my separated father kept showing up uninvited. One day, I snapped. I yelled at him. I even threw bricks. It felt incredible - like I finally had some power.

But here's the kicker: I could fight for my mom, but not for myself. Sound familiar?

The Million-Dollar Question: Why Don't We Fight for Ourselves?

The answer is heartbreakingly simple: we don't believe we're worth fighting for.

Fawns have internalized years of messages telling us we're not enough. That our dreams are silly. That we're wrong. We're not worthy. We've been trying so hard to do everything right, to please everyone, that we've lost sight of our own value.

Think about it: if you don't believe you have value, what's there to fight for?

Rediscovering Your Hidden Superpower

Here's a truth bomb for you: those childhood dreams you've pushed aside? They're not just fantasies. They're your superpower. Your unique contribution to the world.

I believe we come into this world with dreams infused into our souls. When we follow these dreams, we bring a wealth of richness to each other. The world doesn't work as well when we're not being our true selves.

For me, it was dance, specifically ballet. Even in my darkest moments, when I was "marine crawling" away from my unhappy marriage, I knew dance was part of who I was meant to be. Reconnecting with that dream was the first step in rediscovering myself.

From Marine Crawl to Magnificent Flight

Now, I won't sugarcoat it. Transforming from a fawn to a... well, let's call it a "rebel fawn," isn't easy. It doesn't happen overnight. But it does happen, one small change at a time.

I went from being deeply depressed, feeling like I had nothing to lose, to experiencing joy, excitement, and anticipation again. I'm back on stage, dancing and sharing my story. Life isn't just good - it's exhilarating.

And the best part? This transformation is possible for every fawn out there.

Your Rebellion Starts Here

Ready to start your own rebellion? Here's your first mission, should you choose to accept it: become an observer of your own thoughts.

Grab a notebook or your phone. Throughout the day, tally every negative thought you have about yourself. "I'm not good enough." "I'm stupid." "Why would anyone listen to me?" You might be shocked at how often these thoughts pop up.

This simple act of observing can be revolutionary. It helps you see how you've been devaluing yourself and the abusive talk you use toward yourself, all under the radar. And once you see it, you can start to change it.

Rebelling Against the Lie

Remember: these negative thoughts? They're lies. Lies that have been playing on repeat in your mind, getting stronger with each replay.

My go-to lie was "You're not worthy." It started early - being given up for adoption, then emotionally cast aside by my adoptive father, watching my mom fight cancer when I was just a child. But these experiences, painful as they were, don't define my worth.

And your experiences don't define your worth either.

The Power to Create Your Life

Here's a truth that might make you want to punch me (trust me, I wanted to punch the guy who told me this): You create your life. The good stuff? Yes.  But the misery you're living too? Yep, you created that.

I know, I know. Why would anyone create a life of misery? But hear me out. It's not on purpose but for survival and this pattern started when you were just a kid. Our thoughts, especially those sneaky negative ones, shape our reality. By changing our thoughts, we can change our lives.

It's not easy. It's not instant. But it is possible. And it is entirely worth it!

Your Invitation to Rebel

So, fellow fawn, I have a question for you: Are you ready to rebel?

Are you ready to challenge those negative thoughts? To reconnect with your childhood dreams? To start fighting for yourself with the same fierce energy you use to fight for others?

It won't be comfortable. Change never is. But on the other side of that discomfort is a life that's truly yours. A life where you're not just surviving, but thriving.

Remember, you have a superpower waiting to be unleashed. It's time to stop living through someone else's eyes and start seeing the world - and yourself - through your own.

Your rebellion starts now. Are you in?

Embracing Your Inner Rebel

Rebellion, for a fawn, isn't about causing chaos or hurting others. It's about honoring yourself. It's about recognizing that your needs, your dreams, your very essence, are just as important as anyone else's.

This rebellion might look like saying "no" to a request that doesn't align with your values. It might mean speaking up in a meeting, even if your voice shakes. It could be pursuing that passion project you've been putting off, or having that difficult conversation you've been avoiding.

For me, it meant returning to ballet. Not just as a hobby, but as a central part of my identity and my work. It meant combining my love for dancing with my newfound mission to help other fawns break free from their people-pleasing patterns.

The Ripple Effect of Your Rebellion

Here's something fascinating I've observed in my work mentoring other fawns: When you start to value yourself, it doesn't just change your life. It changes the lives of those around you.

You see, by standing up for yourself, by pursuing your dreams, by setting healthy boundaries, you give others permission to do the same. You become a living, breathing example of what's possible. And you're contibuting to the whole the way that only you can.

And those people you were so afraid of disappointing? Many of them will surprise you. They'll respect you more. They'll be inspired by your courage. Some might even follow your lead.

The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Remember, this journey from fawn to rebel isn't a straight line. It's more like a dance - two steps forward, one step back, a twirl, maybe a stumble, but always moving.

There will be days when you fall back into old patterns. Days when the negative thoughts seem louder than ever. That's okay. It's part of the process.

What matters is that you keep going. That you keep challenging those thoughts, keep reconnecting with your dreams, keep choosing yourself.

Your Superpower Awaits

So, my fellow fawn, are you ready to unleash your hidden superpower?

Are you ready to transform your people-pleasing tendencies into a force for good - not just for others, but for yourself?

Are you ready to stop living your life through someone else's eyes and start seeing the world - and yourself - through your own unique, beautiful perspective?

Your superpower - your authentic self, your dreams, your voice - has been waiting patiently. It's time to let it shine.

The world needs your light. We need your unique gifts, your passion, your rebel spirit.

Your rebellion isn't just about you. It's about making the world a little brighter, a little more authentic, a little more alive.

So take that first step. Observe your thoughts. Challenge the lies. Reconnect with your dreams. Fight for yourself with the same passion you fight for others.

Your hidden superpower is waiting. It's time to unleash it.

Are you ready? Your rebellion starts now.