With great power comes great responsibility.

That’s what a superhero movie once said. Many people think that when we talk about superpowers, we mean having immense strength, X‑ray vision, flying through the sky, or opening multidimensional portals. The truth is that, outside of movies, superpowers do exist. And if we don’t use them to make people’s lives better, we are failing as human beings.

Some people have the superpower of empathy, charity, generosity, and compassion. Others have the superpower of creating, teaching, motivating, or inspiring. Many are supermoms or superdads. Others are supersons taking care of their old folks. Others simply have a lot of money, which is the most common superpower—and one that can be used to do great things. Some superpowers are innate; others are the result of years of practice and experience.

What’s certain is that with great power comes great responsibility, and if we already have some kind of superpower like the ones I mentioned, it’s time to use them to improve people’s lives—starting with our own family and our community.

In my case, the superpower I would like to have is patience, tolerance, and the wisdom to stay silent when it’s necessary. Emotional control is a superpower that few possess. A superpower that is learned with age.