Wednesday, February 03, 2010

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:
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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great blog! Thank you for persevering for the sake of all of us who daily seek faith and inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for such a strong message. I want u to know that your work makes a huge difference!

Vivian

Allison Crawford said...

great post, very inspirational poem and movie as well.

Head Health Nutter said...

Thank you for sharing your struggles, Emmanuel, and for the beautiful poem. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, too, after reading this blog post.

Stay strong and indestructible, Motivatorman. We're here cheering for you!

Steph @ Live Lighter.org

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that on your recommendation, I went to see Invictus and thought it was amazing. It was really inspirational, which was just what I needed. It also had a great soundtrack which I'm going to have to download. It just shows that if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. Although I already knew this, I think sometimes I need to be reminded of it and to see real life examples of it working in practice.

Keep up the good work. I always look forward to coming into work on a Monday and Thursday and reading your blog before I start the day ahead.

Vicki, UK