On my first house sitting day I walked 7 km in hot weather and by the end of the day my legs and feet were very sore. I then went to see The Shallow movie and realized afterwards how this movie completely distracted me away from the physical pain for about 90 minutes!
As I’ve written before on this blog that movies are a healthy distraction for coping and managing depression. Therese J. Borchard author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg, author of The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques both support the use of films as healthy distractions.
See Therese J. Borchard article: “10 Movies to Uplift You From Depression”
See Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg, article: “Lighten Up Your Depression With a Movie”
Distraction is also part of the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) toolbox. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. EQ suggests that in dealing with negative emotions it is sometimes better to shift your awareness toward something completely different that makes you forget about your troubles. And so entertainment becomes a powerful role in managing stress, anxiety, depression and negativity. See article: "Healthy Escapism: The Emotional Intelligence Behind Fantasy and Distraction"
Of course healthy distractions has to be in moderation or else escapism can go overboard and bite you in the ass! Too obvious a segway? :)
The Shallows (2016)
The horror thriller film, The Shallows, is about medical student Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) who gets stranded 200 yards from a secluded beach after a great white shark attack. This gripping, tense story of survival also features gorgeous tropical scenery and a strong performance by Lively. Check out the unique trailer using an old motivational speech on self-reliance: movie trailer
Though some of the scenes were hard to watch (Lively in a swimsuit was very easy on my eyes) Nancy demonstrated amazing resiliency in using her medical experience to attend to her shark wounds. She is able to use her wits and determination to survive when her situation appeared hopeless.
Inspiring Themes:
• Courage
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism
• Strategic Thinking
• Problem Solving
One interesting scene about distractions comes at the beginning where Nancy is being driven to the secluded beach by a local resident. She is on her mobile looking at photos and he insists she looks at the beauty of the jungle instead. She realizes he is right and turns off her mobile. My being here and house sitting with this lush garden is training me to to stay off my iPhone, social media or laptop as much as I can. Spending time in nature not only helps mental health but also helps in finding moderation with healthy distractions.
So remember that consciously indulging in entertainment can improve mental health and wellness when faced with negative situations. Watching a movie, playing video games, listening to music, socializing with friends, reading a book and going on vacation are all healthy distractions. What healthy distraction will you take today?
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LISTEN TO EMMANUEL’S CBC RADIO INTERVIEW on
MOVIE MESSAGES OF HOPE: Fresh Air Show 14 minutes
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
The Movies-For-Motivation Speaker
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2016
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