Before the Blue Beetle became a hero, he was a college graduate feeling a little lost.
Jaime Reyes was exasperated by his demeaning job of scraping gum off furniture. “Everything right now feels so out of reach,” said Jaime.
Jaime finally gets his big break when he chances upon a mysterious blue insect called the Scarab. The alien immediately picks him as a host, gives him powers and a full suit, catapults him into the world of superheroism, and swears to protect him.
Yet when given the chance of a life time, Jaime finds himself reluctant, if not outright fearful!
So what is exactly holding us back when the best opportunities knock on our doors?
Jaime confiding in his sister Milagro Reyes
Photo via Blue Beetle and DCOfficial Instagram
Jaime had no idea how to control its powers. And did not want to find out.
“You got the wrong guy. I’m a nobody,” Jaime insists.
When we’ve been so used to doing what we do, a new environment, new people and new ways of doing things can be as scary as flying to the stratosphere in a beetle suite. When we’ve been the top of your class, coming into a new place where everyone else seems smarter than you can really takes a wack at our confidence.
Uncle Rudy Reyes
Photo via Blue Beetle Trailer
When life gives you an opportunity, it is sometimes difficult to overcome self-condemnation and rise to the challenge. The negative thoughts take over. What if it’s too risky. What if I’m not good enough? What if it is too hard?
But for every fear and apprehension we have, there is always another way of seeing it. We need to choose to reframe the situation.
“The universe has sent you a gift and you have to figure out what you’re gonna do with it,” said Uncle Rudy Reyes.
Jenny Kord with Jaime’s family
Photo via Blue Beetle Trailer
Learning to operate in a new setting, be it a different school, a new job or even a new way of behaving, will have it’s moments of good and bad.
“Sometimes it does what you want and sometimes it doesn’t,” explained Jenny Kord, the person who gave Jaime the Scarab.
Regardless of how it pans out, take it one step at a time. Celebrate the small wins and let go of the blunders. You may just find that the risks is worth taking if it’s something you were destined to do.
Zolo Maridueña believes that the preparation of playing Jaime Reyes, started when he was a kid. Years of trying different things from football, stop-motion animation, writing and chemistry, Maridueña learnt not only the skills and knowledge but also to believe in himself.
“I truly feel like it has taken 22 years of self-actualization to be ready for this moment.”
Here’s some tips on overcoming negative thoughts and self-talk:
