Tip#198: Accept Unexpected Change & Crisis - Take The Lead

Unexpected change and crisis can shake up your world. It can push your comfort zone and fill you with unwanted stress. That's why it is so important to focus on the positives even though all you see is negative.

I have a friend who called me up recently who's been getting more and more worried about the economic situation in the US and Europe. He was surprised at how calm I was about the whole crisis and asked how am I able to stay positive and confident.

I said that my mid-life crisis that hit me in early 2000 has trained me to have a resilient and optimistic mindset. I have learned how to focus on the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives.

Take the Lead

Right after our talk a synchronicity occurred when I was drawn to seeing the movie Take the Lead right away. This film had a powerful message about transforming mindsets and was exactly what I discussed with my friend.

The film stars Antonio Banderas as dance instructor Pierre Dulaine. He was compelled to help troubled high school youths in New York and offers to teach them ballroom dancing. At first the school principle and the group of teens laugh at this seemingly impossible and unthinkable concept but over time they slowly warm to this new idea.

What happened was the world of these youths were shaken up by this unexpected situation thrust upon them. Their old paradigms of thinking were being threatened. But after several days of being introduced to classic forms of dance and music they began to transform their old ways of thinking.

In one powerful scene Dulaine explains what ballroom dancing was teaching the kids. It was teaching them how to be respectful to others, teamwork and dignity. In the end it was inspiring to see how each and every person Dulaine came across experienced a positive change and growth from an idea they all despised at first.

What made the movie even more powerful was that the end credits showed that this was based on a true story and that Dulaine's program has grown to involve 42 instructors and more than 12,000 students in 120 New York City public schools.

Accept Change

So do your best to accept the unexpected change and crisis that come into your life or career. Face these stressful times by focusing on a positive outcome for yourself. Identify what you can learn from these situations and unearth the hidden opportunities that come from a crisis.

Dwelling on the problem will only clutter up your mind. Make it your priority to train your thoughts and build an optimistic mindset a little bit every day. It's never too late to learn a new way of thinking.

And find cinematic role models that will keep you motivated. Movies have the power to teach you about yourself while filling you with positive emotional energy to keep moving forward!

Emmanuel Lopez
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2008