Finding My Powers (Again)

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I am not the biggest fan of Marvel movies. The explosions, the superpowers, the endless battles—it’s just not really my thing. But my sons and husband love them, so there I was, curled up on the movie chair next to them, watching Fantastic Four.

Somewhere between the portal malfunction and the formation of yet another superhero team, I found myself surprisingly drawn in. Not by the action, but by the metaphor. Because each character doesn’t just gain a power—they struggle with it. They don’t wake up thrilled about their new selves. They are confused, isolated, scared. Sound familiar?

It does to me. I have been going through a phase lately. A quiet one. One where I don’t quite believe in myself. I know the checklist of what I have done, what I am doing, who I am. But somehow, self-belief slips through the cracks when I am tired, when I feel like I am not doing enough, or when I compare myself to some version of what I should be by now.

And that’s when Fantastic Four hit differently. Each of them—Ben, Reed, Sue, Johnny—they don’t want what’s happened to them at first. They don't feel in control. They push people away. They question who they are now that things have changed. But eventually, they begin to own it. To grow into it. They don’t erase the pain or confusion—they build with it. Together.

It made me think: maybe these low phases are part of the story too. Maybe they are not evidence that I have lost my way, but just a quiet chapter—one where my “superpowers” (the ones I usually rely on: clarity, energy, motivation) feel out of reach. Maybe, like them, I just need to find new ways to use what I have got.

There is something strangely comforting about that. I don’t need to feel powerful every day. I just need to keep showing up, even when I don’t. And I need to remember that my powers—whatever they are—haven’t left me. They are just quiet right now. Resting, maybe. Recharging.

So, thanks Marvel. I came for family movie night, but left with a reminder: transformation doesn’t happen all at once, and power doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it’s just sitting with yourself long enough to remember who you are.

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