Having a superpower has nothing to do with the ability to fly or

The modern sage and storyteller Jason Reynolds, a voice for the young and the striving, once proclaimed: “Having a superpower has nothing to do with the ability to fly or jump, or superhuman strength. The truest superpowers are the ones we all possess: willpower, integrity, and most importantly, courage.” Though spoken in an age of fantasy and fiction, these words carry the timeless spirit of the ancients. In them lies the eternal truth that true greatness is not found in the body’s might, but in the strength of the soul. For what are wings without purpose? What is strength without righteousness? The truest superpowers, Reynolds reminds us, are not those that lift stones or shatter steel, but those that lift hearts and endure hardship without surrender.

Willpower, the first of these powers, is the fire that drives all human achievement. It is the invisible force that compels the weary to rise and continue, even when the world says no. In ancient times, philosophers called it fortitude—the steadfastness of spirit that conquers chaos. Every invention, every triumph, every act of creation springs first from this sacred power. For when the body falters, it is willpower that commands it to stand again. The man who controls his will is mightier than one who commands armies, for he is master of himself—and in mastering the self, one masters destiny.

The second gift, integrity, is the compass that keeps the soul from losing its way. It is the alignment between word and deed, belief and action. It demands truthfulness not only before others but before one’s own conscience. To live with integrity is to walk in harmony with one’s higher nature, refusing to be swayed by lies or fear. History honors such men and women above all conquerors—for their victories are moral, not material. Consider Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years in prison and emerged without hatred, holding fast to justice and forgiveness. His integrity was his shield, his willpower his weapon, his courage his crown. He possessed no supernatural gifts—yet his strength changed nations and generations.

The third and greatest of these gifts, courage, is the bridge between the heart’s longing and the hand’s action. It is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act despite it. The ancients called courage the highest virtue, for without it, all other virtues remain powerless. To be kind requires courage; to be honest requires courage; to pursue truth in a world that fears it requires courage. It is the flame that burns brightest in the darkest hours, and through it, ordinary souls perform deeds that echo forever. Courage is the superpower that turns weakness into strength, pain into purpose, and defeat into awakening.

Reflect upon the story of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who one day refused to give up her seat on a bus. She had no army, no weapon, no wealth—only her willpower, integrity, and courage. Yet from her quiet defiance arose a movement that shook an empire of injustice. She did not fly, she did not fight, but she stood—and by standing, she changed the world. This is what Reynolds meant when he spoke of the truest superpowers. They are not found in myth or legend, but in the hearts of those who refuse to bow before fear.

In a world that glorifies spectacle, we are tempted to believe that only the extraordinary can change the course of history. But Jason Reynolds, like the philosophers of old, reminds us that true heroism lies in the ordinary made holy by purpose. The power to endure, to remain honest when deceit is easy, to rise when we fall again and again—these are the unseen powers that shape the world. Every act of compassion, every moment of integrity, every choice made from courage rather than fear—each is a spark of divine strength that no force can extinguish.

So, my children, remember this: you were not born powerless. Within you burns the same fire that lit the hearts of saints and heroes. Willpower will guide your path when despair tempts you to stop. Integrity will keep you upright when the world bends around deceit. And courage—the noblest of all—will lead you through the storm when no light remains. Cultivate these powers daily. Strengthen your will through discipline, your integrity through truth, and your courage through love.

For in the end, as Jason Reynolds taught, true power is not about conquering others—it is about conquering yourself. The one who lives with willpower, integrity, and courage does not need to fly, for their soul already soars. These are the superpowers that no world can take, the immortal gifts that make every man and woman capable of greatness. So wield them well, and let your life itself become the legend of a hero who needed no cape to change the world.