So, lately in my life there have been some extra challenges.

They’re not the life and death kind, thank goodness. I and the people I love are healthy and (mostly) secure.

But the challenges that crop up can be disheartening and distressing, especially when they come in quick succession and kind of knock the wind out of me (you know what I mean?)

Sometimes they’re tied to people I love, and other times they’re connected to my teaching or writing career(s), where despite my best efforts and diligent work, I end up spinning my wheels in a way I never wanted, planned, or intended to. The giant road block (whether tangible, emotional, or mental) rises up in front of me and forces me – usually at great effort – to find a way around it.

Each of these instances sets me back on my heels for a bit. I have to process and come to terms with the hurt or angry feelings and then find a way to move through them to something better.

But that’s like taking a big, scary leap of faith, because I don’t know that what’s on the other side really IS better than what I’d planned, but I have to trust in it anyway, because I don’t have much other choice (unless I just want to sit and wallow in misery, which I don’t LOL).

Basically, it boils down to this: I’ve come to understand over the last few years that real CONTROL is an illusion.

It’s a very valuable lesson.

We can prepare. We can work. We can plan and we can hope. But ultimately that is truly all we can do, because there are no guarantees in life. And when something doesn’t go our way, we can keep beating our heads against the brick wall of it and throw our hands in the air…or we can pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and navigate around it, letting that disappointment stoke the fire in our bellies toward something better.

I recently discovered a song by The Script (I often enjoy the band’s work anyway, not only for their music, but also because I have a soft spot for Irish lads like their lanky 6′ 3′ lead singer, Danny O’Donoghue). Their song, “Superheroes” is about the superhero in all of us that we can tap into when we’re challenged by the difficulties, disappointments, or frustrations of life.

Here are the lyrics, followed by a link to the official video for the song (which was filmed in Johannesburg).

How about you – do you have any “go-to” songs or poems or quotes that inspire you when life has gotten you down?

“Superheroes”