Clark vs. Superman: The Power of Knowing Who You Are

Lisa Anugwom Narh
Jan 6, 2025
5 min read

Have you ever wondered why Clark Kent didn’t immediately step into his role as Superman?

He was born with unimaginable power. Strength beyond measure. The ability to fly, save lives, and impact the world in ways no one else could. Yet, for a long time, he lived as just… Clark. A quiet, unassuming guy. A journalist who blended into the crowd, never drawing too much attention to himself.

Why?

Because Clark didn’t know he was Superman.

He didn’t know he had superpowers. And when you don’t know you have superpowers, you live like the people around you — ordinary, average, blending in.

Let’s break that down.

The Clark Mentality: Living Without Awareness of Your Power

Clark Kent came into this world with no knowledge of his origins or abilities. Raised by human parents in Smallville, he learned to fit in. He learned how to act like everyone else. He went to school like everyone else. He made friends, got a job, and lived a relatively quiet, modest life.

But Clark always felt like something was missing. There was a nagging feeling deep inside — an ache to be more, to do more. A sense that he was different, even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

Does that sound familiar?

Most of us, at some point in our lives, walk through the world with a Clark Mentality. We live unaware of our unique gifts and talents. We settle into routines, follow the crowd, and conform to what society expects of us. We try to fit in, even when deep down, we feel like we were meant to stand out.

But when you live like Clark, you’re living in a shell of your true potential. You’re suppressing your greatness. You’re dimming your own light to make others comfortable.

And the world doesn’t need another Clark.

The world needs Superman.

The Superman Mentality: Awakening to Your Power

The turning point for Clark Kent came when he discovered the truth about who he was. He learned that he wasn’t just an ordinary guy from Smallville — he was an alien from the planet Krypton. He wasn’t like everyone else, and he wasn’t meant to be like everyone else.

The moment he realized his true identity, everything changed.

Clark Kent became Superman.

He no longer hid behind a desk. He no longer blended into the background. He stepped into his power, embraced his purpose, and became the hero the world needed.

Here’s the thing: You have a Superman inside of you, too.

You have gifts that no one else in the world has. You have unique talents, experiences, and perspectives that can make an impact in ways no one else can. But until you become aware of those gifts, you’ll keep living like Clark — blending in, holding yourself back, and playing small.

So, why do we stay stuck in the Clark Mentality? Why do we avoid stepping into our power?

Here are a few reasons:

1️⃣ Fear of Standing Out

It’s easier to blend in. It’s safer to follow the crowd and avoid attention. But standing out means stepping into the unknown. It means being seen, and for many of us, that can feel uncomfortable or even scary.

2️⃣ Self-Doubt

Clark didn’t believe he was capable of being a hero right away. He doubted his own abilities. We do the same thing — we downplay our strengths, minimize our achievements, and convince ourselves we’re not “ready” or “good enough” to step into our greatness.

3️⃣ Cultural and Social Conditioning

Many of us are raised to prioritize humility over self-expression. We’re taught to avoid being “too much” or “too different.” But when we suppress our uniqueness, we suppress our power.

How to Shift from Clark to Superman

So, how do you step into your Superman mentality? How do you shed the layers of self-doubt and fear to embrace your true power?

Here are a few steps to get you started:

💡 1. Recognize Your Superpowers

What makes you unique? What skills, talents, or qualities do you have that others admire? Your superpowers might not look like Superman’s — you won’t be flying or lifting cars — but they’re just as impactful. Maybe your superpower is empathy. Maybe it’s creativity, leadership, or resilience.

Take time to identify your strengths and OWN them.

💡 2. Stop Trying to Fit In

Superman doesn’t try to blend in — he stands out because the world needs him to. Stop hiding your talents, your voice, and your unique perspective to fit into spaces that weren’t meant for you. The world doesn’t need another copy. It needs YOU.

💡 3. Embrace Discomfort

Stepping into your power isn’t always easy. It requires shedding old beliefs, stepping outside your comfort zone, and being willing to be seen in ways you never have before. But that’s where growth happens.

Oprah’s Superman Moment

Oprah Winfrey is a great example of someone who shifted from Clark to Superman.

Early in her career, Oprah was told she wasn’t fit for television. She was told to change her appearance, her personality, her style. She was told to blend in with the crowd and follow the traditional rules of broadcasting.

But Oprah refused to play small.

She embraced her true self — her compassion, her authenticity, her unique storytelling style — and that’s exactly what made her one of the most influential figures in the world. Oprah stepped into her Superman mentality, and the world is better for it.

There’s also an emotional toll to staying in Clark mode for too long.

When you deny your gifts, you feel unfulfilled. You feel restless, stuck, like something is missing. It’s draining to keep pretending you’re “ordinary” when deep down, you know you’re not.

The truth is, playing small doesn’t serve anyone. It doesn’t help you, and it doesn’t help the people who need your unique gifts.

The world needs you to step into your power. The world needs you to stop hiding. The world needs Superman.

What’s Holding You Back?

Take a moment to reflect:

Are you living as Clark or Superman?

Are you blending in with the crowd, or are you ready to step into your power and embrace your purpose?

The shift starts with awareness.

The moment you recognize that you have superpowers — unique talents, strengths, and abilities — you can no longer settle for average. You can no longer hide behind fear or self-doubt.