Tip#622: The Gain in Pain – Les Misérables

I started a weekly 90 minute exercise class called Total Body Workout which is the first major exercise I’ve committed to since I stopped doing Ashtanga Yoga over a year and a half ago. The physical pain I experienced in the first class was excruciating as I struggled to keep up with the instructor and driving dance tracks.

I knew this pain was good for my body and yet every limb was screaming and burning. What got me through was thinking of the pain some movie heroes had to endure.

Les Misérables (2012)

The musical drama Les Misérables is based on a musical and French novel of the same name taking place in 19th century France. It is about Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who breaks his parole and is hunted for decades by a ruthless policeman named Javert (Russell Crowe). The film is like an opera which means all of the dialogue is sung.

Les Misérables translated variously from French means the miserable ones, the wretched, the poor ones, the victims and this film is filled with characters experiencing very difficult lives. The one character that touched me the most was Fantine (Anne Hathaway), who is let go from her job at Valjean’s factory and forced into prostitution to support her young daughter. Hathaway’s performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" is heart-wrenching and deeply emotional to watch. It was all one shot and sung live for the camera capturing all the pain her character had to endure. See: movie trailer

This scene inspired me in that Fantine’s pain and misery was being expressed in song. She poured out the passion of the pain she was in. And so out of her pain came something positive and beautiful. That’s what I am applying to my challenging exercises because I know my physical, mental and emotional bodies will greatly benefit. There is gain in my pain!

We all experience pain in some form in our lives, careers and relationships. We just need to focus on the hidden learnings and benefits within it. Find the silver lining and then you’ll be able to endure and overcome those difficult times.

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Author | Speaker | Movie Blogger
Personal & Professional Development for Movie Lovers
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© Emmanuel Lopez 2013