As we navigate life's challenges, we can find ourselves focused on the obstacles ahead. Whether it’s the stress of parenting, the struggles of managing daily responsibilities, or the ups and downs of our teenage girls’ journeys, it’s easy to feel weighed down by the difficulties we face. But what if we started looking for the heroes around us instead of focusing solely on the challenges?

Hero spotting—a concept I explore in Meant For More—is about recognizing the everyday heroes who show up in our lives in big and small ways. It’s about seeing the people, moments, and qualities that inspire us to rise above adversity and move forward with strength and courage. Hero spotting doesn’t just apply to others; it’s about spotting the hero within ourselves and our daughters, too.

What is Hero Spotting?

At its core, hero spotting involves looking for helpers who make a positive impact, even amid life’s struggles. It’s about recognizing that heroism doesn’t always involve grand, sweeping acts of bravery. Sometimes, heroism is found in the quiet moments of resilience, kindness, and perseverance.

As moms, hero-spotting can help us shift our focus from our difficulties to the sources of strength around us. These might be a close friend who always lends a listening ear, a mentor who helps guide us through tough decisions, or even our own ability to keep going when life gets hard. By hero-spotting, we learn to recognize the strength in others—and in ourselves—that often goes unnoticed.

Why Hero Spotting is Important for Moms and Teens

As moms, we are often our daughters’ primary role models. How we handle challenges directly influences how they approach their own struggles. When we practice hero spotting, we teach our teens to do the same—to seek out the sources of inspiration in their lives and recognize the heroes around them.

For our teenage girls, adolescence can be an overwhelming time. They are navigating their identities, relationships, and emotions while figuring out where they fit in the world. By hero spotting, they learn to look beyond their challenges and see the strength and bravery in both their internal and external worlds.

This is especially important in today’s culture, where social media often emphasizes comparison, perfection, and unattainable standards. By teaching our daughters to spot the heroes around them—whether it’s their friends, family members, or even public figures who inspire them—we help them build a mindset focused on growth, resilience, and the belief that they, too, can be heroes in their own right.

Hero Spotting in Action

One of the most empowering aspects of hero spotting is how it helps us recognize the heroes in our lives and the heroic qualities we already possess. It’s easy to get caught up in a self-doubt cycle or feel overwhelmed by challenges. But when we take the time to spot the heroes around us, we remind ourselves that we are part of something much bigger than our struggles.

So, what does hero spotting look like in practice? Here are a few ways to incorporate it into your daily life:

• Recognize Everyday Heroes: Take time to acknowledge the people in your life who show up for you, who make a difference in your life, or who simply provide a source of encouragement. These could be family members, friends, coworkers, or even strangers who inspire you through their actions. Acknowledge their impact, and let them know you see their heroism.

• Spot the Hero Within: It’s easy to overlook our own strengths, but when we take a moment to reflect, we can spot the hero within ourselves. Whether it’s our ability to stay calm in a crisis, our dedication to our families, or our willingness to learn from our mistakes, we all have heroic qualities. Recognizing these within ourselves empowers us to face future challenges with confidence.

• Encourage Your Teen to Spot Heroes: Help your daughter recognize the strength in others and within herself. When she faces difficulties, ask her to think about the heroes in her life—who she can turn to for support, who inspires her, and what qualities she admires in others. This practice not only builds her resilience but also helps her develop a sense of gratitude for the people who help her along the way.

• Celebrate Heroic Moments: Take time to celebrate the small, heroic moments. These might be moments where you or your teen faced a challenge head-on or when a friend or loved one showed up in a big way. Whether it’s a text of support, a kind gesture, or the courage to speak up, celebrate these moments to reinforce the idea that heroism isn’t always about grand gestures—it’s about showing up with strength, compassion, and courage.

The Ripple Effect of Hero Spotting

When we practice hero spotting, it has a ripple effect. The more we recognize and celebrate the heroes around us, the more we encourage those heroic qualities in ourselves and others. Hero spotting doesn’t just help us find strength in challenging times—it helps us build a culture of support, resilience, and growth.

This practice can be life-changing for our daughters. As they begin to see the heroes in their own lives, they start to internalize the belief that they, too, can be heroes. This mindset empowers them to face challenges with a sense of hope and possibility, knowing that they have the strength to overcome obstacles and make a positive impact on the world around them.

In Conclusion

Hero spotting is a simple yet powerful practice that can transform the way we approach challenges, relationships, and even ourselves. By recognizing the heroes in our lives, we learn to see strength and resilience where we may have once seen only difficulty. We become more aware of the support systems around us, and we learn to celebrate the quiet heroism that exists in everyday moments.

As we teach our daughters to spot the heroes around them—and the hero within—they begin to build a mindset of growth, confidence, and empowerment. And by doing so, we create a world where heroism isn’t a rare or extraordinary thing; it’s a part of who we are, and it’s something we all can embrace.