Elizabeth Svoboda - The Life Heroic: How to Unleash Your Most Amazing Self

It was a cold Tuesday in January 2012, and seventeen-year-old high school senior Graceanne Rumer (now Andreessen) was fighting an afternoon slump after a full day of classes at Philadelphias Calvary Christian Academy. She hoped to steal a couple minutes of peace and quiet on her bus ride home. It was a few days before midterms, and I was really worn out, Graceanne says. I got on the bus and talked to one of my friendsIm so tired, I just want to go to sleep.

But as soon as the bus got going, thoughts of sleep fled from Graceannes mind. She watched in horror as the bus driver suddenly went limp at the wheel. He was having a heart attack, and as he slumped over, the bus drifted into an intersection, veering directly into the opposing lane of traffic. Amid the rising panic, one girl said to Graceanne, You have your license. Drive the bus!

Graceanne knew that at any moment the bus could smash into another vehicle. Though afraid, she sprinted to the front of the bus and took the wheel. She pulled the bus through the opposing lane of traffic in the intersection, and then she guided the vehicle to the side of the road and stopped. Despite the terror and confusion swirling around her, she says, something inside just took over. I didnt think. I just kind of did it.

After Graceanne put the bus in park, her heart still hammering, things happened quicklysomeone called the police, who soon appeared on the scene. Shaking and disoriented, the young riders got out of the bus and rushed to their relieved families as they arrived. Moms and dads swarmed Graceanne when they learned what shed done, thanking her for saving their kids. She says, They were hugging me, like, Im so happy you were there.

What would you have done in Graceanne Andreessens situation? Would you have stepped forward and taken the wheel? Before it happened, even Graceanne couldnt have imagined doing something so heroic. Most of us have no idea how wed respond in a genuine life-or-death emergency, and our impulse might be to think, That could never be me.

But it could be you. One day, it might have to be you. Self-doubt is understandable, though. Our culture puts heroes on a very high pedestal. In fact, movies today are full of larger-than-life superheroesBatman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Ms. Marvel, and so onwho fearlessly put themselves on the line to help others. These fictional characters embody a long list of admirable, even superhuman qualities: selflessness, invulnerability, incredible strength, wisdom. Sometimes, even real-life heroes can seem superhuman. Who could possibly match the feats of Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln?

In our society, heroes are often presented as almost a different breed of person, as if their accomplishments are beyond what normal people could do. But the truth is, the people that we praise as heroeswhether theyre firefighters, community leaders, or social justice advocatesare everyday human beings, just like Graceanne. They are regular people just trying to succeed at life, and at times they feel confused, vulnerable, and afraid. They second-guess themselves and make mistakes and have days when they wonder whether its worth it to get up and get dressed. They dont consider themselves superhuman in the least.

Being a real-life hero doesnt mean possessing superhuman strength, having perfect self-control, or never being wrong. Heroism is not some inborn quality that some have more of than others. Anyone can act heroically to help someone in need, and everyones life is a journey that contains many opportunities to be heroic. Acting heroically is also something we can get better at, just like improving our ability to draw or our jump shot. Psychologist and heroism expert Philip Zimbardo likes to say that most heroes are ordinary. Its the act of heroism thats extraordinary.

As youll see, this book is filled with real stories of ordinary people who acted heroically, and what these stories show is that heroes are defined by their actions, not their abilities. Heroism is about recognizing a need and then acting to help others. Being able to leap a tall building in one big bound is impressive, but its not heroic unless its done to save someone. Without that, its just gymnastics.

The people we praise as heroes feel connected to others, and they care about what happens to them. In fact, they care so much that they are willing to put the needs of others first. Heroes overcome their own wants, desires, doubts, fears, and flaws in order to make someone elses life betteror sometimes they literally risk their own life to save someone. Graceanne Andreessen was terrified, just like everyone on her bus that January day, but she realized that if she didnt overcome her fear, everyone could be hurtor worse. Her compassion helped her find the heroic courage to take charge in a dangerous situation.

Graceannes story highlights another defining quality of heroism: Heroes act when they see a need, not necessarily when its easiest or most convenient. You know how, when a teacher asks a hard question, everyone shrinks back and glances at one another, hoping someone else will raise a hand? One way or another, heroes resist this impulse. They take action even when its difficult, risky, and no one else is willing. That might mean speaking out against bullying, feeding someone whos hungry, or grabbing the wheel of an out-of-control bus. We call people heroes when they get off the sidelines even when thats where everyone else is sitting.

Of course, its important to emphasize that real-life heroism isnt always about making split-second, life-or-death decisions. In fact, it rarely is. Most of the time, heroism involves all the less dramatic but still important ways we choose to improve the lives of others. This is what psychologist Philip Zimbardo calls everyday heroism and these ordinary selfless deeds, when repeated enough times, can be just as life-changing, or even life-saving. They can also add up to a heroic and satisfying life.