We All Have Our Flaws (How to Turn Them Into Our Superpowers)

When Hansel was only six, he was crushed by a wall of cinder blocks. It fell on him when he was playing on top of it. His left arm was deemed unrepairable by doctors and his only option? Amputation of his entire arm under his shoulder.

His father was devastated. Salvadore would tear up whenever he thought about his son’s situation. “Daddy, when will my arm grow back?” “Daddy, why do they have both arms and I don’t?” Hansel would ask questions like that, but when he sees his father crying, he would turn around and cheer Salvadore up instead “Don’t worry Daddy, everything’s going to be okay.”

Ever since Hansel was a kid, he watched his father play basketball as a professional player in the Dominican Republic. After his operation, he needed help to do everything, from tying his shoelaces to getting dressed. It wasn’t easy. But soon after, he too, picked up basketball.

Hansel’s “flaw” of having only one arm became his strength.

In 2021 after seeing the 6’ 6” kid handling and dunking the basketball on social media, the Head Coach of Life Christian Academy, Moises Micael brought him over to the United States to play at the high-school.

In Hansel’s first practice, he missed a layup during a drill and it was customary that if you missed it, you’d have to do twenty push-ups. The gym went quiet as the players looked at coach Micael. Hansel dropped to the floor and started to do one-handed push-ups.

The entire team, including the coaches were inspired. They vowed to work hard that season, and it paid off - they became the CFCA (Central Florida Christian Academy) State Champions.

Hansel’s willingness to not only embrace his flaw, but use it as a superpower to charm and motivate others is inspirational.

Hansel Enmanuel now plays for Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. He is also one of the most followed college athletes on Instagram, and can be seen working with big brands like Adidas and celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

(Watch a 7 min ESPN special on Hansel Enmanuel.)

BASE PRINCIPLE

The other side of your flaw can be your superpower.

WHAT IF?

What if whatever you were ashamed about became your superpower? What if the thing you most want to hide became the thing that gave you strength? What if you lifted that burden of shame off your shoulders?

Flaws can be beautiful.

It’s what makes us, us. Unique individuals who is one of a kind. It’s the literal, scientific truth! No one with the exact same genetic makeup and environmental influence.

Have you ever heard of Kintsugi?

Instead of hiding the scar, Kintsugi brings attention to it, bringing value to the flaw rather than being ashamed of it. It’s such a beautiful way to think about our relationship with our flaws (check out some great pictures of this art)

Feature it, don’t fix it.

If it’s a flaw that doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s just your self-consciousness at work, turn it into a superpower. Yep, that’s the mindset. It’s a really scary one, and in order to flip the flaw, we have to first embrace it. Here are some tips:

1/ Mindset: Understand that everyone has flaws and make mistakes

↳ Something I’ve been self-conscious about for years and years? My horrible sense of direction. It’s something I’ve been shameful about and tried to hide for a long time. The narrative in my head was that leaders have a sense of direction and if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t lead.

2/ Decide: Choose to stop comparing yourself to others

↳ What you see on social media is NOT real. Those are artificial standards that no one can meet. Plus, everyone has their own flaws and battles, and it’s unfair to just compare yourself with their “perfection”. If you choose their perfection, you will also have to choose all their crazy. No thanks.

3/ Decide: Choose to connect through your flaw

↳ Ultimately, when you embrace your flaw and show your vulnerability, other people will see that as courage and connect with you. (Remember how Hansel connected with his coaches and teammates?)

Once you’ve accepted and embraced your flaw, rewrite its story.

1/ First question the belief and narrative that lets the flaw have all the power

For me: can leaders lead without a sense of direction? Sure! Leaders are resourceful, who or what can I get help from to navigate? GPS!

2/ Next, use the flaw in a story that uses it as a superpower

For me: To break the ice, I share a vulnerable truth - I talk about my terrible sense of direction. And when I do that, people let down their guard, they feel a sense of connection with me and they are more ready to receive the key message of my presentation.

3/ Then reflect on the importance of the flip

From: The flaw having power over my life, making me hide it and feel shameful about it.

To: I have power over my flaw because I accept it and its become my unique and special ability.

4/ Practice using your new superpower

Whether it’s telling a story about your flaw, or do it Hansel style by inspiring others despite your flaw, use it and start with the people who support you the most. Practice, experience, reflect, repeat.

5/ Start collecting “receipts”

Everytime you use your flaw as a superpower, you are putting a vote in for the person you are becoming. By collecting these “receipts” of success, you start to form a new belief and it starts to become part of your identity.

You are flawsome.

I hope this inspired you to embrace and flip your flaws.

You are beautiful, you are enough, you are a legend.

See you next Sunday!

Live your legend 🤘🏽,

Howie Chan

Creator of Legend Letters

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Sources:

1. Martin, Sharon, Embrace Your Imperfections, Psychology Today, February 5, 2021 - LINK​

2. Chunilall, René, A Stoic Lesson to Change Your Flaws Into Strengths, Medium, October 22, 2022 - LINK​

3. Carnazzi, Stefano, Kintsugi: The Art of Precious Scars, Lifegate Daily, January 30, 2016 - LINK​

4. ESPN Sports Center, Kikimita: The Hansel Enmanuel Donato Story, ESPN, 2022 - LINK

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