What's your superpower? Five answers to help you learn about yourself and your needs

Do you remember that question you were always asked as a child or during those corny orientations for work or school?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

At first glance, this question seems to reflect more on what superhero was your childhood favorite or the Marvel-movie craze of the late 21st century than anything constructive about you as a person. However, if you look under the cape and neoprene tights, your answer to this question can reveal important insights about your identity. Kayla (KM) and Kari (KE) Lutes, fellow students, writers, and self-taught personality experts, have graciously joined me this week to explore this super-charged question.

1. Invisibility 

H: This has been my go-to answer for most of my life. As a near-100 percent introvert and incredibly shy person, invisibility is something I wish for on a daily basis. It would prevent strangers from talking to me, professors from calling on me in class, and my hall mates from trying to hold a conversation with me while I've got a mouthful of toothpaste. 

KM: Invisibility is definitely my go-to, as well. As an INTJ, the desire to disappear from the view of others occurs just about every day. With this power, I could create my own solitude anywhere in the world. The practicality of this power also draws me. With invisibility, it doesn’t matter if Hamilton is sold out or not. I could climb aboard a bus to New York City and slide into the theatre without ever being noticed (the perfect day, if you ask me).

KE: Like Kayla and Hannah, I’ve always seen this answer as placing a high priority on people avoidance. Invisibility would be bliss in the day-to-day life of any introvert. This super power would also come in handy if you needed to gain some valuable information through eavesdropping.

If your answer is invisibility, you might be an introvert who draws energy from having no one observing your actions. Make sure you're giving yourself enough "invisibility" every day, or you might find yourself feeling drained and grumpy.

2. Super strength

H: This answer surfaces when I am angry at someone or trying to convince another person that my perspective is correct, to no avail. Super strength has been my desire when frustrated to the extent that physically shaking sense into someone felt like a smart option. Pro-tip: Whenever my younger brother hit his growth spurt, I learned that fist-fighting is never a good option. Ever.

KM: I would only choose super strength when experiencing a certain mood that I always think of as fragile. This power would come in handy on those days when getting out of bed feels hard, or when my to-do list threatens to crush me. Like a good workout, super strength would empower me to get “ish” done.

KE: When I think super strength, I can’t help but think how useful this power would be in my weightlifting class. Gone would be the days of my embarrassment as I struggle to bench-press 15lbs (yes, it’s that sad). The appeal of super strength is being untouchable—a master of the bench-press and your own embarrassment. 

If your answer is super strength, you might have a toxic relationship or unresolved argument in your life. The only way your frustration will go away is if you address the problem, though not through physical force. This answer could also indicate a heavy list of responsibilities. Remember, rest is important to recharge so you have the power to tackle that to-do list.

3. Telekinesis

H: When big changes happen in my life—changes that I have no control over—this answer appears. Like Eleven in Stranger Things, I could shove people away or blow people's brains out when things got too real for me. During my parents' divorce or moments of unexpected rejection, telekinesis would have given me some semblance of control over a life that is largely out of my control.

KM: Telekinesis has never been attractive to me. Something about controlling people's bodies creeps me out. Maybe I don’t trust myself with that kind of power, or maybe it’s that I want genuine choice in my interactions. Though, in extreme circumstances, I can see this coming in handy in stopping someone from hurting themselves or others.

KE: I don’t typically see myself as a controlling person and usually just walk away from someone if we can’t see eye to eye. I can think of a few times, however, when I could have used this to my advantage: when my parents wouldn’t let me do something as a kid, when my advisor wasn’t making the adjustments to my schedule that I preferred, or when I’m in a class full of one year olds who don’t want to take “no-no” for an answer.

If your answer is telekinesis, you might feel like some aspect of your life is spiraling out of your control. Ask yourself what that situation is and whether you have the power to change its outcome. If not, try your best to go with the flow and focus on what you can control instead.

4. Flying or Teleportation 

H: Throughout my adolescence, this answer reflected the pull I felt between hanging out with my friends and traveling to see my dad, who lives two and a half hours away. Now, when I find myself with this answer, I know it reflects my desire not to be separated from loved ones during graduate school; to be able to travel back to Europe, which I miss dearly, on a whim; and to be able to sleep in later before I teleport to class.

KM: This is probably my second choice when it comes to super powers. For me, it provides the next best thing to invisibility. If you don’t want to talk to someone or deal with something, you can disappear to another destination. Plus, with this power, you can save on gas money and airfare.

KE: Teleportation or flying is probably the most practical of super powers. Anytime I have this answer, I find that I’m stressed about something. Running away is my go-to when it comes to dealing with problems, and when it comes to stressful times at home or in school, I’d give anything to teleport to some island and spend some me-time away from all my stress.

If your answer is flying or teleportation, you might have a loved one or a beloved destination you wish you could see more often—or you might crave a stress-free break from a current situation. Try to make time or save money so that trip can be a reality without the superpowers. If you're missing someone, telling them how you feel can also help.

5. Mind Reading 

H: When I had anxiety that my first romantic relationship wasn't going as well as I wanted it to, I wished I could read my boyfriend's mind more than anything. I thought that if I knew his thoughts, I could change myself to fit what he wanted and fix the relationship. I've sometimes even had this desire in my friendships due to anxiety.

KM: As an introverted, day-dreaming prone individual, I’d prefer to limit the thoughts I have to work through just to be my own. Seriously, I think mind reading would stress me out. Every time someone had a depressing or ridiculous thought, I would either feel like I had to help or judge them. Still, since I was small, my mother has accused me of being nosy, so I must admit, even though I would get overwhelmed by this power, I would still probably want to know.

KE: I’m a very independent person, so I don’t have much interest in controlling someone or knowing their thoughts. But even I have to admit this super power would come in handy in situations where you just want to know the answer: What is your future employer thinking during your job interview? What is your crush thinking when you make eye contact? 

If your answer is mind reading, you might have anxiety about a relationship. Whether a friendship or romantic relationship, the anxiety won't go away unless you address the problem and talk to the person about it. On the other hand, you could be naturally nosy. While curiosity is not a bad thing, it’s important to foster relationships of trust for people to share their minds on their own terms.

Next time you ask yourself what superpower you would have, take a minute to think about your answer and what it means about you, your life, and your needs. 

Comment below and share what superpower you would have!

Editor's note: Kayla, Kari, and I are not psychologists, nor do we pretend to be. These are all hypotheses we've made from observing our own life experiences in connection to these answers. If you want expert advice on something that's troubling you, go see a professional medical physician, not a writer.