Tip#134: You Can Bounce Back - Resiliency - Pixar's Boundin'

There is something inspiring from hearing stories of individuals who have bounced back from debilitating life experiences. Whether it is from a real-life story or even in the movies we can be motivated to see our own hidden strengths.

Resiliency

There was a recent article in The National Post called Leaps & Rebounds that looked at resiliency. It pointed out how different each of us copes with low points in our lives. Psychologist and author Beth Millertalks about the genes that we inherit that can determine how susceptible we are to hard times.

Both Miller and Dr. Myriam Mongrain, of York University's psychology department, agree that there are also ways of cultivating resiliency. I found this article deeply encouraging because I've learned the hard way of discovering personal methods that helped me move forward during dark times.

And it's true that people can be taught to cope more constructively. It's been my calling in life to document my methods for overcoming challenges in my life and I've witnessed how the participants in my seminars are hungry to learn what has worked for me.

Boundin' (2003)

Movies have been a powerful tool for motivating my inner drive to keep moving forward. One inspiring example came as an animated short that showed before the main feature of the animated film, The Incredibles. It was called Boundin'and was a whimsical story about a lamb who is having a happy life and then is suddenly depressed because his fur had been sheered off.

With the help of a wise passerby he learns to bounce back on his feet, literally! With colourful animal characters, an uplifting song and lyrical dialogue this short film is one resource guaranteed to lift you up when you're feeling down.

Watch it now: Boundin'

So in a life full of ups and downs always remember that you can learn to be more optimistic and stay energized. Remember that resilience is a strength within you and sometimes needs attention to be developed just like a muscle. Take time to look inside yourself and see how powerful you truly are.

“Now sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down, When you find that you’re down well just look around: You still got a body, good legs and fine feet, Get your head in the right place and hey, you’re complete!” 
Pixar’s Boundin’ (2003)

Related Tips on Resilience:
Tip#47: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 1 - 18 Movie Tips
Tip#689: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 2 – Riddick
Tip#741: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 3 – Film Critic Richard Crouse - Amazing Grace
Tip#742: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 4 – The Pianist 
Tip#801: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 5 - Whiplash
Tip#134: You Can Bounce Back - Resiliency - Pixar's Boundin'
Tip#260: Be Resilient & Absolutely Confident - You’ve Got Mail
Tip#725: Focus & Resilience – Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 42

To read the Leaps & Rebounds article:
Click here

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#133: This is Your Wake Up Call - Deep Impact

Unexpected disasters around us can shake us up. They can force us out of our normal routines and refocus on the priorities in our lives.

Last Wednesday there was a devastating fire in my downtown neighbourhood of Toronto. The fire destroyed buildings just around the corner from me along Queen Street West sending a huge plume of smoke into the sky. It reminded me of 9/11.

The news reported that the people who lived in these buildings were able to escape with only the clothes on their backs. They lost everything they had in the fire.

Duke's Cycles

I was in shock as I watched the disaster continue on the TV coverage. The building that was home to Duke's Cycles was completely burned to the ground. I had bought my mountain bike from there years ago. It had been a part of the community since 1914 and suddenly it was gone.

These recent events reminded me of the Southern California fires of 2007 and other community disasters like Hurricane Katrina.When you are witnessing these situations your perception of life somehow shifts deep inside you.

Deep Impact

The movie, Deep Impactstars Tea Leoni and Robert Duvall and is about a global disaster that forces everyone in the film to see what is most important in their lives. It asks you the question: What would you do if you knew an enormous comet would collide with the Earth?

The Day After Tomorrow

The movie, The Day After Tomorrowstars Dennis Quaid who plays the father to Jake Gyllenhaal's character. It's another disaster story about global warming triggering a new ice age. The scenes of a devastated Los Angeles and downtown Manhattan are chilling scenes. Again this thought-provoking film gets you to re-examine what is most important in your life.

So let these movies as well as real-life events shake up your thoughts. Allow yourself to feel for what is happening whether the disasters are happening in your own backyard or on the other side of our planet. Then look at what you value most in your life.

Ask yourself: What would you take with you in case of an emergency? Would it be family, pets, photo albums or something else you can't live without? Start planning now. This is your wake up call.

To see photos of Queen Street West fire:
Click here

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#132: Keep Your Mind Wide Open - Bridge To Terabithia - The Last Mimzy

Most challenges we come across usually starts in our minds. It is mostly ourselves that makes things difficult by thinking negative thoughts like "I can't". Keeping an open mind is the first step to overcoming your obstacles in life.

Bridge To Terabithia

The idea of keeping an open mind is the theme in the family movie Bridge To Terabithia.It's a magical story of an artistic boy named Jesse who opens his imagination with the help of a new classmate named Leslie. Their secret place in a nearby forest then begins to fill with fantastic creatures that help them face their fears.

By opening up his imagination, Jesse is able to deal with challenges in his real life. He was now open to new possibilities and options for facing his troubles with family members and bullies at school.

The Last Mimzy

The Last Mimzyis another fantasy movie for the family that explores keeping your mind wide open. In fact it puts out the idea of how far we can use the power of our minds. It's the story of 2 siblings named Noah and Emma that find a mysterious box filled with unusual items and a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy.

With the help of these powerful items Noah and Emma begin to use dormant areas of their brain to develop special mind powers. They were able to do this because they were kids and were still open and playful with new concepts.

For other movies that explore power of our minds click here:
Tip#57: Movies To Inspire The Power of Your Mind

So whenever you are faced with a challenge in life do your best to keep your mind wide open. Keep a state of play in your attitude and then you will see new options. Fear in your mind can paralyze new possibilities. To prevent this just remember the unlimited imagination of children and new doors will magically appear to lead you out of your troubles!

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#131: Share Your Favourite Romantic Movies - 10 More Movie Tips

It's amazing what happens when you share your personal interests with the world. You end up connecting with like-minded people and realizing you are not alone in your interests.

In my last tip I shared my top 10 romantic movies list and it generated a number of responses via email and in my blog comments section. Some people had the same favourites on their own lists while I learned about more movies I hadn't seen before like Besiegedand The Notebook.

What I also learned from seeing other people's movie lists was that they reminded me I had more favourites that meant a lot to me. So I must share them here!

Top 20 Favourite Romantic Movies:
See first 10: Click here

You've Got Mail:Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks
Meet Joe Black:Claire Forlani & Brad Pitt
Titanic:Kate Winslet & Leonardo DiCaprio
The American President: Annette Bening & Michael Douglas
Kate and Leopold:Meg Ryan & Hugh Jackman
The Lake House:Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves
Laws of Attraction:Julianne Moore & Pierce Brosnan
The Family Man:Tea Leoni & Nicolas Cage
It's A Wonderful Life:Donna Reed & James Stewart
Music and Lyrics:Drew Barrymore & Hugh Grant

Even with this list I am still leaving out a few meaningful favourites. What matters is that I've once again put out to the world movies that mean something to me. And by doing so will connect with even more people around the world reading this.

So take action and share with others your personal interests that you care about. Don't be afraid of being laughed at or criticized for what you like or love. See this as an exercise in building your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Always remember that what you love has value. Your personal interests have value. No matter how many people tell you differently hold strong to those things in your life that you feel a strong personal connection with. This is what knowing your self-worth is all about. Realize all that you value HAS value.

Related Tips:
Tip#130: Be A Hopeful Romantic - 10 Movie Tips 

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#130: Be A Hopeful Romantic - 10 Movie Tips

Believing in something you want can be a challenge when it takes much longer then you expected. That's why we get motivated to keep moving forward when we see or hear examples of what we want. Especially when it comes to love.

Valentine's Day is back and once again I don't have a special sweetie to celebrate with. I'm not feeling down because I still believe she is out there and that we will find each other. What keeps me optimistic are my favourite romantic movies.

My Top 10 Romantic Movies:
Notting Hill:Julia Roberts & Hugh Grant
Groundhog Day:Andie MacDowell & Bill Murray
50 First Dates:Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler
Serendipity:Kate Keckinsale & John Cusack
Stranger Than Fiction:Maggie Gyllenhaal & Will Ferrell
Enchanted:Amy Adams & Patrick Dempsey
Spider-Man 2:Kirsten Dunst & Tobey Maguire
Thomas Crown Affair:Renee Russo & Pierce Brosnan
Jerry Maguire:Renee Zellweger & Tom Cruise
Love Actually:A star studded cast!

So be a hopeful romantic not a hopeless romantic! If you are still looking for love keep believing it will happen for you. Celebrate love when you see a loving couple walking by you. Be happy for anyone around you who you know are in love. That gracious act will generate a positive energy within you that radiates out. It's magnetic and others will feel it too.

And be inspired by your favourite romantic movie couples. They could be mirrors for what will happen to you. Let their love fill you with optimism and the energy to keep moving forward towards your soul mate. Who knows? Maybe your soul mate is doing the exact same thing right now!

What are some of your favourite romantic movies?
Let me know, I'd love to hear your list!

Related Tips:
Tip#131: Share Your Favourite Romantic Movies - 10 More Movie Tips 


Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#129: I Believe In You, Pt.2 - Contact

The four powerful words I wrote about in my previous blog tip generated an unexpected, powerful buzz! The words "I believe in you" had an amazing viral affect via the internet with my readers.

Having written about positive viral actions in tip#126: The Good In A Virus, I started to see a pattern of learning here for me. After I posted the previous tip#128 on believing I quickly received several comments. One of them was from a woman in the UK thanking me for how my tips were making a difference in her life.

"I came into work this morning feeling a bit down and then I went to your blog, and just the title 'I believe in you' completely lifted my spirits and gave me the energy to carry on following my dreams. Those words are incredibly powerful - thank you so much for using them Emmanuel and for giving me my Monday and Thursday morning boost of hope!"
Vicki, UK

Her comment touched me deeply. I could almost see a ping pong effect of positive energy re-energizing each of us across the continents just by sharing our heartfelt thoughts. I imagined how amazing it would be if people did this all over the world lighting each other up via the internet and social media!

Contact (1997)

I am reminded of what is one of my all time favourite movies called Contact.This science fiction drama film stars Jodie Foster as a scientist named Dr. Ellie Arroway searching for extraterrestrial life and Matthew McConaughey as Palmer Joss who challenges her consuming need for scientific proof.

After Arroway has a profound extraterrestrial encounter without bringing back any solid evidence (that she is aware of) she is put on public trial by the US government. She is able to endure this persecution and perseveres with the help of just one person. It is Joss who publicly declares that he believes in Arroway. From there you see that more and more people believe in her.

Inspiring Themes:
• Passion
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Leadership
• Faith & Belief
• Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem
• Supportive Relationships
• Indestructible Optimism

“I've always believed that the world is what we make of it.” 
Contact (1997)

Facebook Group

All of this has inspired me to spread the words "I believe in you" on social media and start a new group on Facebook. It was created to connect people across our planet who recognizes the power of these words. If you are currently on Facebook I invite you to join this here: I Believe in You

Make contact with others you believe in. Connect with them in person or on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. and send encouraging supportive messages. You'll be creating a ping pong effect of uplifting energy and you'll start connecting with like-minded people all over the world. Help share the power of those four words "I believe in you" and make it go viral!

RELATED TIPS:
Tip#128: I Believe In You, Pt.1 - The Matrix
Tip#129: I Believe In You, Pt.2 - Contact
Tip#637: I Believe in You, Pt.3 - Oz the Great and Powerful
Tip#793: I Believe in You, Pt.4 - Begin Again
Tip#609: Believe in Yourself – ParaNorman
Tip#696: Find People Who Believe What You Believe – The Way Way Back

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#128: I Believe In You, Pt.1 - The Matrix

There are 4 words that can transform your heavy state of mind when you are feeling stuck. Those words are "I believe in you".

There are times when even motivators need motivators and recently I felt stuck and not sure how to deal with certain financial challenges. So I kept reminding myself that people can be your greatest resource, as Tony Robbins says, and have been meeting with business contacts who've always supported me.

One day when my self-esteem was feeling low and the weather was dark and slushy from melting snow I met with my writing guru (see tip#83: Fantastic Chain Reactions). Within an hour she helped me focus on some of my new income generating ideas and truly reminded me that I have great options that just needed to be implemented.

What truly touched me deeply was her parting words, "I believe in you". It sent a shot of light into me. I felt this unlimited strength. My self-esteem had been injected with this optimistic energy.

The Matrix (1999)

I was reminded about a core message from The Matrixmovie starring Keannu Reeves. There are specific moments where the main characters are going through challenging times and persevere when they express their belief in Reeves's character Neo. And when they say they believe in him you can feel their unshakeable faith. Click here for more: Tip#39: More About Believing

So remember those 4 powerful words, "I believe in you". Feel the energy that fills your soul when someone says this to you. Feel the positive energy that gets injected into you that becomes a deep reminder that you are not alone.

And share that energy by saying it to someone you truly believe in as well. Remember how it made you feel and pass on that positive energy. None of us are truly alone when we know that someone out there believes in us.

RELATED TIPS:
Tip#128: I Believe In You, Pt.1 - The Matrix
Tip#129: I Believe In You, Pt.2 - Contact
Tip#637: I Believe in You, Pt.3 - Oz the Great and Powerful
Tip#793: I Believe in You, Pt.4 - Begin Again
Tip#609: Believe in Yourself – ParaNorman
Tip#696: Find People Who Believe What You Believe – The Way Way Back

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008

Tip#127: More Groundhog Day Movie Lessons

It would be great to have Groundhog Day as a national holiday to celebrate the lessons of the Groundhog Daymovie. This way we could realize the loops we are stuck in within our lives and careers. And then we can learn to break free of them.

Groundhog Daystars Bill Murray as a self-centred weatherman who finds himself trapped living Feb 2nd over and over again. The film becomes a powerful mirror for anyone to identify where they have been stuck in a loop within their relationships, work problems or destructive behavioural patterns.

After a recent seminar I gave at a career transition agency I was asked what my favourite movie was. And though I have some top favourites I immediately said Groundhog Day. Some of these attendees were surprised because they only saw the film as a comedy. I simply explained that it was a powerful story for helping stuck individuals to see the bright side of a trapped situation.

The movie can also empower someone to see that the loop they are in is a sign that it's time to train yourself with a new skill necessary to achieve your goals. Groundhog Dayhas got to be the most enjoyable training tool for jump starting an optimistic attitude for whatever life is throwing at you!

Click on following tips for more Groundhog Daymovie tips:
Tip#24: See Groundhog Day over and over and over...
Tip#54: Recognize Your Secret Training
Tip#77: The Power In Repetition
Tip#81: Synchronicities With Street Kids
Tip#96: Favourite Stories Energize

So celebrate Groundhog Dayin a new light and see yourself breaking out of your loops in life. See the silver lining of your trapped feelings and see what you are learning about your programmed behaviours and what got you there in the first place.

Identify the new training you are being offered. Ultimately you'll learn to energize your optimism attitude. With this positive energy percolating within your soul you will feel unstoppable!

Emmanuel Lopez
Silverlining Specialist & Motivational Wingman
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008