Tip#334: Power of Persistence – Billy Elliot

Persistence: To hold firmly and steadfastly to a purpose in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics has had many powerful and inspiring stories about persistence. One standout is that of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette whose mother suddenly passed away just as she arrived in Vancouver to watch her daughter perform. Despite the pain and heartbreak Joanne persevered and won a bronze medal.

And then there's Petra Majdic, a Solvenian cross country skier who tumbled down a 3 metre gully during a warm-up. She broke 4 ribs and punctured a lung and yet persisted beyond her pain and won a bronze medal. Petra said, "This is like a gold medal, with little diamonds in it."

Billy Elliot 2000

The movie Billy Elliot represents the power of persistence in an 11 year old boy named Billy (Jamie Bell). He discovers a passion for ballet dancing which shocks his coal miner father and brother living in a northern England mining town.

Billy strives to overcome his inner conflict as well as his family's set ways forbidding him to pursue his passion. With the help of an encouraging class mate and a ballet teacher Billy persists and, in a pivotal scene, defiantly demonstrates his skills in front of his father.

It is this one display of pure passion and his gifted skills that transforms his father and brother's attitude as well as the entire town. It is Billy's persistence that helps him attain his dream and desire to be the person he was born to be.

So if you are experiencing adversities and challenges on your road towards your goals be inspired by movie heroes and real-life athletes who have traveled similar paths. Be encouraged to push forward despite overwhelming pain or lack of support you encounter. Keep believing in yourself and you'll magnetize others to believe in you too.

Your success starts with your ability to maintain your faith, passion and persistence. Enrich your mindset with the KNOWING you are doing what you were born to do!

INCREASE POSITIVITY & PRODUCTIVITY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION NOW!
SEE DETAILS FOR MOTIVATORMAN KEYNOTES & SEMINARS HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

Tip#333: Follow Your Calling – 4 Movie Tips

Ten years ago I experienced a mental breakdown and depression that lasted for years. And how I learned to overcome my adversities and build an optimistic mindset has been the value I bring to the audiences I speak to and to the articles of this movie blog.

In past year I've deeply questioned why I continue to be faced with financial challenges that aggravate my optimistic mindset. And the answer that keeps coming back is that it is my CALLING to build indestructible optimism no matter what.

So I've surrendered to being as transparent as I can be with my audiences about my own real-time challenges. And with much gratitude I've received many supportive comments for this movie blog and from people around the world via Facebook and LinkedIn messages.

One recent comment came from a colleague in the career transitions and outplacement service industry. He's been following this blog and said my articles were unique because I am sharing my struggles as well as tips on how to move forward. I stood out from other motivators.

There are many movies that showcase a person's long journey to follow their calling. Here are 4 of my favourites:

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 2001 - 2003

Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) finds his calling and sets out on an epic journey to destroy an evil ring. Despite the overwhelming physical, mental and emotional challenges he perseveres with the unwavering help of powerful allies and loyal friendships.

Conversations With God 2006

Based on the best selling book of the same name, Neale Donald Walsch (Henry Czerny) becomes homeless for a year and later begins to have profound conversations with God. He realizes his hardships are part of his calling as is to write down his conversations for a book that would help inspire people around the world.

Bicentennial Man 1999

Despite being an android, Andrew (Robin Williams) experiences a calling to evolve himself as a sentient being. This unique take on self-development leads Andrew on a 200 year journey to improve the quality of human lives with his creative clock designs and artificial organ inventions.

The Ten Commandments 1956

This classic story shows how Moses (Charlton Heston) takes action to follow his calling by walking away from a luxurious, royal lifestyle. He finds himself learning how to maintain his faith and knowing that it is his life purpose to free his people in the face of intense adversities.

So if you are compelled to follow a calling that shakes up your career, relationships or lifestyle than have no fear. There will be others that will be there to support you. Whether they are in the physical or in spirit you will never, ever be alone on your journey.

Ultimately you'll learn powerful skill sets for maintaining FAITH, BELIEF and the KNOWING that everything will be okay no matter what. You already have indestructible optimism within you. You just have to accept the unexpected opportunities to build it.

INCREASE POSITIVITY & PRODUCTIVITY
IN YOUR ORGANIZATION NOW!
SEE DETAILS FOR MOTIVATORMAN
KEYNOTES & SEMINARS HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

Tip#332: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

These past few weeks have been filled with forward momentum for taking my motivational business to the next level. So it was a surprise when I suddenly woke up one morning feeling stuck and sluggish. My focus and optimism dropped despite my wishes to stay productive. I felt helpless.

Looking back now from a different perspective I recognized I needed to take time out to learn more about Positive Psychology from an email I received that same morning. It was a daily motivational tip from Dr. Robert Anthony on optimism and pessimism and it reminded me that we can all overcome adversities by transforming our mindsets.

Reading this tip increased my positive emotional energy enough to research more about the book Learned Optimism by Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology. Seligman's 2 key studies that helped transform the negative mindset I was experiencing were "learned helplessness" and "explanatory style". He says...

"Learned helplessness is the giving up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn’t matter. Explanatory style is the manner in which you habitually explain to yourself why events happen. It is the great modulator of learned helplessness. An optimistic explanatory style stops helplessness, whereas a pessimistic explanatory style spreads helplessness."

So the insight from my "feeling stuck" experience was the important reminder that we can all increase the positive thoughts we think and say to ourselves. You can save yourself with the thoughts you choose.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2004

There is a powerful scene from the movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanthat demonstrates the saving of our selves. In a key scene where Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is losing a battle with a swarm of creatures called Dementors, he is saved by a magical, luminous spell from what he believes to be his long dead father.

Through the opportunity to time-travel back and see the battle from a different perspective Harry has a revelation. He realizes that it was not his father that saved him but himself. It was his future self that saved Harry. The revelation came when his father eventually did not appear and Harry instead stepped in to cast the spell he had originally witnessed that saved him.

Turn Your Heaviness Around

So when you are feeling stuck and helpless remember that you have the ability to save yourself. You just need to believe and choose that you can increase your optimism with your own thoughts. You can turn your heaviness around by focusing on positive thoughts and feelings. Remember Napolean Hill's quote: "What you focus on expands."

Your thoughts have so much power. Start embracing that concept and you'll discover you already have the magic you need to face your challenges with confidence and unlimited optimism.

RESOURCES:
See a great overview of Seligman’s Learned Optimism and a free 20 minute audio summary go to Brian Johnson's Philosophers Notes site:
www.philosophersnotes.com

See Dr. Martin Seligman’s main site:
www.authentichappiness.com

Related Tips:
Tip#179: Important Messages From The Kid - Disney's The Kid
Tip#332: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Tip#1002: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power, Part 2 – Doctor Strange
Tip#1027: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power, Part 3 – Catastrophic Thinking - Split
Tip#1036: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power, Part 4 – Anxiety - The Space Between Us
Tip#445: Everything is Going To Be Okay - Source Code 
Tip#499: Choose A Future - Mr. Nobody
Tip#506: Time Travel & Alternate Reality Movies – 4 Hidden Gems
Tip#549: Yes, You Can Alter Your Reality - Men in Black 3
Tip#587: If You Could Talk To Your Younger Self What Would You Say? – Looper
Tip#590: Expand Your Mind with Time Travel Movies, Pt.1 - The Time Traveler’s Wife
Tip#759: Expand Your Mind with Time Travel Movies, Pt 2 - X-Men: Days of Future Past
Tip#682: What if You Could Go Back in Time? - Back to the Future Trilogy
Tip#551: Activate Your Imagination Through Movies, Part 1 – Prometheus
Tip#777: Activate Your Imagination Through Movies, Part 2 - Lucy
Tip#748: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 1 - After the Dark 
Tip#772: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 2 – The Congress - Under the Skin
Tip#778: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 3 – I Origins
Tip#789: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 4 – Coherence
Tip#790: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 5 - Frequencies
Tip#803: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 6 – Interstellar

INCREASE POSITIVITY & PRODUCTIVITY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION NOW!
SEE DETAILS FOR MOTIVATORMAN KEYNOTES & SEMINARS HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

Tip#331: Remember Your Self-Worth - Seabiscuit

When unexpected change or crisis hits it can wipe out your self-confidence and self-worth. That's why it is key to develop an indestructible mindset of optimism and resilience.

I've been watching some of the Vancouver Winter Olympics and was surprised to see someone fall in almost every performance in the pairs figure skating finals. What amazed me most was how they always picked themselves up and continued with full confidence intact. And despite the falls China went on to win both Gold and Silver.

This reminded me of a favourite quote by Winston Churchhill, "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." For those going through career transitions this mindset can mean the difference between sinking into a depression and finding the strength to move forward.

Seabiscuit 2003

The movie Seabiscuit is based on the life and racing career of Seabiscuit, an undersized racehorse whose unexpected successes inspired a nation near the end of the Great Depression. It is an uplifting, empowering story for anyone questioning their self-confidence and self-worth.

Seabiscuit is actually one of three characters that have had challenging lives. They include Red Pollard (Toby Maguire) a struggling jockey almost blind in one eye, Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) pushing through the depression of losing his young son to an automobile accident and Tom Smith (Chris Cooper) a homeless but gifted horse trainer.

All four characters have gifts that could have been submerged or ignored because of the negative situations they found themselves in. But somehow they all find each other and nurture those skill sets in one another. Together they achieve great successes.

So when you find your self-confidence slip into self-doubt do your best to remind yourself of your value. Remember your past successes and times you made a difference for others. If you are in a career transition take a look at your resume and acknowledge your track record of achievements.

Recognize your self-worth. Celebrate your past successes today because it is your fuel to take you to a positive future. Build that indestructible mindset of optimism and resilience now.

"You don't throw away a whole life just 'cause it's banged up a little."
Seabiscuit

SEE NEW CAREER TRANSITION TIPS
BY EMMANUEL-MOTIVATORMAN AT:
EXAMINER.COM

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

Tip#330: Passion Overcomes Adversity – The Time Traveler’s Wife

This is a new long weekend in Canada and it's already filled with memorable events. Today is Valentine's Day that overlaps Chinese New Year and tomorrow it will be Family Day. And in Vancouver the 2010 Winter Olympics opened to the world on Friday with, unfortunately, tragic news.

Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, died in a training accident sending shockwaves throughout the world news. And despite this difficult time the remaining Georgian team chose to stay in the games and even showed up at the Olympic opening ceremony.

The team is an inspiration for overcoming adversity and pushing through to honor their comrade and with their passion to compete. They are showing the world that even in death that life must go on and their actions celebrate the spirit of their fallen teammate.

The Time Traveler's Wife 2009

The movie The Time Traveler's Wife celebrates the overcoming of adversity in the name of passion. This unique story is based on the best selling novel about a librarian named Henry (Eric Bana) who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel randomly. He falls in love with Clare (Rachel McAdams) while time traveling to her as she grows up as a little girl.

The challenges come when they are married and Clare must deal with his spontaneous disappearances. She is left alone during special occasions and even when they are expected to simply have dinner together. The film inspires in that this couple's passion for one another outweighs the unusual adversities they face. It is their love that allows them each to persevere even in the face of death.

We all face unexpected challenges, changes and crisis during our career and life journeys. How we face them is the point of why these challenges exist. They teach us to build the mindsets that allow us to move forward. They help us to find the courage to activate our optimism and positivity.

So when you are facing overwhelming challenges remember to FEEL your passion for a loved one or for what you dream of having. FEEL the ache of what your truly desire. Unleash the powerful feelings you have within you and let it fuel you to achieve your wishes today.

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers around the world!

INCREASE POSITIVITY & PRODUCTIVITY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SEE DETAILS FOR EMPOWERING KEYNOTES & SEMINARS HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

Tip#329: Let Go In A Big Way - The Lovely Bones

This past weekend I experienced an incredible synchronicity that confirmed I was on the right path with something I had to push myself to do. And that is I had to let go in a big way.

I am referring to the continuing saga of decluttering my live/work space to include big items from my previous illustration business (see more decluttering tips #270, #271, #277). It's been said that you must let go of the old in order to make room for the new to flow in. So with the help of a friend last Friday we started to throw out or organize donations of obsolete print materials, office items and furniture from my previous career as an illustrator.

All of a sudden the phone rang and it was my neighbour down the hall who asked if I had any metal I wanted to get rid of. He was asking because he hired someone to come in the very next day to haul his stuff out of his office and offered to take anything I had. So within 24 hours I had a large, 20 year old metal cabinet and clunky old air conditioner removed from my space.

My live/work space is feeling so much lighter and I still get chills up my spine thinking about how synchronistic and cosmic that phone call was. The synchronicity continued a day later when I was compelled to watch The Lovely Bones.

The Lovely Bones 2009

The movie The Lovely Bones is a fantasy drama about a 14 year old girl narrating from the afterlife about her life and how she was murdered. To be honest the story concept was disturbing and not my first choice film to see. But when I followed my gut I understood that this movie was about facing the challenges of letting go.

The story was about how the parents are not able to let go of the death of their daughter. And it's also about how the girl needed to let go of her earthly life in order to move on to heaven. The movie inspires in a unique way that whether in life or death we must all learn the importance of letting go in order to move forward.

So if you feel stuck in your career or life look around you and see if there are items in your work or live space that is anchoring you. Do your best to see how these things are preventing your goals and desires from flowing to you. And when you find the courage to let go in a big way your space will feel freer and so will your mind and soul.


INCREASE POSITIVITY & PRODUCTIVITY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SEE DETAILS FOR EMPOWERING KEYNOTES & SEMINARS HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

Tip#328: Rethink What You Think You Know - A Perfect Getaway

The key factor that has been helping me remain optimistic and create solutions to my career, business and life challenges has been to transform my old mindset. Instead of having a default "crisis" mindset response I've been training myself to have an "opportunity focused" mindset.

You must learn how to break out of old habits of thinking and rethink how you perceive your situations. Then you can re-examine obstacles from vastly different perspectives.

Albert Einstein said "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." In other words it IS possible to break old habits of thinking preventing you from manifesting your goals and dreams. You just have to rewire your brain to recognize the answers already in front of you.

A Perfect Getaway 2009

Movies with twist endings can shake up what you think you know. They provide the mind with an opportunity to re-examine and rethink the story you just witnessed. The film A Perfect Getaway is one movie that will compel you to watch a second time from a dramatically different perspective.

The story unfolds as a murder mystery on a beautiful island of Hawaii with a newlywed couple on their honeymoon. It's a "who done it?" story that pushes the boundaries of what you "think you know" about what is unfolding. Without saying anymore I invite you to see this film and enjoy the ride. And try to forget what you have just read here for full impact of the story.

Shock Your Thinking

Movies like this can help shock your thinking into new ways of perceiving. Stories with twist endings can jolt you into seeing clues to solutions for unexpected challenges you encounter. Your unwanted events are actually gifts to help you develop new habits of proactive thinking. They guide you to create new and more productive ways of overcoming obstacles.

So if you are stuck in your life or career remember that it is only an opportunity to change your ways of thinking in order to solve the mystery of your challenges. It's like a puzzle you've just assembled and yet needs to be rearranged in another way to reveal the true picture.

Let go of what you think you know and remain open to new ideas. Your challenges are really a blessing in disguise!

"Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change."
Dr. Wayne Dyer

SEE DETAILS OF EMPOWERING KEYNOTES & SEMINARS
FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

Tip#327: Be the Master of Your Fate – Nelson Mandela - Invictus

Invictus is Latin for unconquered. It is also a short poem that Nelson Mandela had written on a scrap of paper while imprisoned. It helped him survive the 27 years of incarceration.

The poem and movie of the same name recently inspired me because it's been 10 years since my early mid-life crisis hit and left me in a long state of depression. And although I have achieved many personal transformations and successes since, I sometimes still feel trapped like Phil Connors in the movie Groundhog Day (see tip#326).

Currently, I believe I have discovered what will help me break free and will share in future blog posts. For now I continue to believe that I am the master of my own fate and will push through the financial and career challenges weighing on me. I continue to stay positive and have unshakable faith that solutions are already in motion.

Invictus 2009

The movie Invictus can inspire you to have unshakable faith. It is a biographical story based on Nelson Mandela's life during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. President Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is inspiring in both his leadership qualities how he radiates this profound confidence.

In the movie Mandela tells the captain of the South African rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), how the poem Invictus helped keep him resilient in prison. He later gives the poem to Francois which inspires his success despite the overwhelming odds against his rugby team.

So be inspired to know that despite whatever life or career challenges you feel trapped in that you are still the master of your fate. Believe you are unconquered. Have faith that you will survive the overwhelming odds you feel against you. Read this poem and let the words fill you with optimism and strength…

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


SEE DETAILS OF EMPOWERING KEYNOTES & SEMINARS
FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION HERE:
www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations