Superman is the best kind of fictional role model

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“The basic ingredient of Superman is that he is a friend.”

This quote by the late Christopher Reeve illustrates why Superman is one of the most compelling characters in fiction who has resonated with people across generations. Despite being an alien, he represents some of the best qualities of humanity.

The character’s endurance results not from his godlike powers, but from his capacity to hope. In most adaptations involving the Man of Steel, the ideal of hoping for a better tomorrow remains constant.

Ever since I became a fan of the character and started viewing him as a role model, I have felt my life go on a positive trajectory.

Here are a few teachings of Superman that I think anyone can resonate with and apply to improve their lives.

Finding hope in the darkest times 
Superman inspires people to not give up in the face of adversity. He helps people find their inner strength. This is best exemplified in the comic All-Star Superman, where he stops a girl from inflicting serious pain on herself by reassuring her that she is stronger than she believes. He shows us that hope is never lost. We might not be able to save the world like Superman, but we can always save ourselves from getting lost in the darkness.

Understanding and accepting oneself
When you look into the stories that portray his early years, it shows how Clark struggled to fit in and accept both his Kryptonian heritage and his human ideals, and the dilemma of revealing himself to the world. At some point in our lives, a lot of us feel alienated and struggle to accept our strengths and weaknesses. Only by truly embracing all aspects of our personalities, can we fully utilise them to the best of our abilities.