Why You Should Never Meet Your Heroes
Heroes are important to us. They give us someone to look up to, to aspire to be like. We feel a connection to them as if they understand us in a way that nobody else does. And so it’s only natural that we would want to meet them, to thank them for everything they’ve done for us.
But the truth is, meeting your heroes could be the worst thing you ever do. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why.
8 reasons why you shouldn’t meet your heroes
1. You might be disappointed
There’s a big possibility that they’ll disappoint you. Your heroes are human too and they will let you down. You build them up in your head to be perfect, but when you meet them they’re just like everyone else. Flawed and imperfect.
2. They’re not who you think they are
No matter how much you think you know them, your heroes almost always present one face to the public and another, very different one, in private. The person you idolize is probably not the person they really are.
This is to be expected. They have a persona to maintain and it might not be prudent to let their true selves show. But it can be a huge shock when you realize that the person you looked up to is not who you thought they were.
3. You might catch them on an “off” day
Remember that your heroes are human beings. They have good days and bad days, just like the rest of us. So if you happen to meet them on a day when they’re not at their best, it can be a major letdown, not just for you but for them, too.
4. You might not like them in person
Even if they’re great people, they might not be your kind of people. It happens. Maybe you don’t have the same sense of humor or maybe you rub each other the wrong way. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad person, it just means that you’re not compatible.
5. They can never live up to your expectations
This is probably the biggest reason of all. No matter how great they are, they can never live up to the expectations you have for them. It’s impossible. You’ve put them on a pedestal and they can never reach the heights you’ve placed them at.
It’s not fair to them and it’s not fair to you. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment and they’re setting themselves up for failure.
6. You might do or say something stupid
We’ve all been there. We meet someone we admire and we get tongue-tied or we say something stupid. It’s embarrassing and it will make you feel like an idiot. You could end up ruining your day, week, month, or year.
You could also become a cautionary tale they tell to their friends or the public… No one wants that.
7. The mystery will be lost forever
When you meet your heroes, the mystery is gone. They’re no longer this larger-than-life figure that you look up to. They’re just a person, like everyone else.
And that can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. If they’re more relatable, this could mean that you feel closer to them. But if they’re less impressive in person, it could take away from the admiration you have for them.
Also, if they once inspired you to do great things, that inspiration might be gone once the mystery is lost.
8. You might want more
Even if meeting your heroes is a positive experience, you might find yourself wanting more. More time with them, more attention from them. And that can be tough to deal with if you don’t get it, which you likely won’t, seeing as they’re usually extremely busy and have a plethora of other fans vying for their attention.
Conclusion
Meeting the people we admire is always an exhilarating risk. On one hand, the prospect is exciting, while on the other, there’s the very real possibility of being disappointed.
Should you take the risk? That’s for you to decide. But if you do, just remember to go in with your eyes wide open and your expectations in check. Otherwise, you might find yourself regretting it.