Pleasurable Activities
I also get energized feeling a cool, comforting breeze on hot days and it makes me feel so good and grateful to be alive and for my health, home, friends and family. The sight of delicious foods and meals also energize me even before I take a mouth-watering bite of it! This positive emotional energy flowing through me then leads to feeling self-confidence, self-esteem and, of course, indestructible optimism! Tapping into personal triggers for fun and joy is what I practice everyday to manage depression symptoms and is what cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) refers to as pleasurable activities.
Pleasurable activities is a behavioral strategy that helps reduce depression and anxiety by breaking negative, ruminating thoughts and feelings with activities you already know help you feel positive. These activities help you be more present in the moment taking you out of negative thoughts from your past or future.
See more: The Big List of Pleasurable Activities
On one of my sunny walks I saw this Royal Purple Smoke Tree in full bloom!
Thankfully watching movies, especially with a friend, has always been on my list of pleasurable activities long before I knew it was a CBT coping strategy. The fun and joy I experience from a feel-good, stimulating and inspiring film is my favourite tonic for when I'm feeling depression or anxiety symptoms. And when these films tap into happy childhood passions like superhero comic books it re-energizes me even more!
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
The superhero action film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, is about Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) big life changes and high school experiences after Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) designed a high tech suit for him to wear in the film, Captain America: Civil War (2016). This exhilarating, fun and humorous movie features great performances from Holland, Downey Jr., Michael Keaton and Marisa Tomei. The cast also features a wonderful, multicultural cast that includes Jacob Batalon, Zendaya, Tony Revolori, Laura Harrier, Donald Glover, Bokeem Woodbine and more. See: movie trailer
For me, Spider-Man: Homecoming is the most joyfully blissful, fun superhero movie of all time! As a fan of Marvel comic books growing up and loving the Marvel Cinematic Universe unfold on screen I was absolutely thrilled at this new adaptation of Spider-Man. The engaging story, the exciting action scenes and all the characters introduced in this film was an epic cinematic experience. I loved how multicultural it was and I loved that Parker’s high school sidekick was played by a fellow Filipino named Jacob Batalon! The film also captures the magic and humour of writer/director John Hughes's high school movies like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
What added to my feeling energized was seeing this film on opening day with an old high school friend and a packed audience full of kids and adults! There was just so much to love about this movie and the added bonus were the inspirational life lessons it presents on identifying your inner strengths, courage, passion, perseverance, resilience, teamwork and a strong belief in one’s self. These are just some examples of cinema thrills that could be your tonic for lifting you up when you are feeling lost or having a bad day.
Inspiring Themes:
• Finding Your Inner Strengths
• Courage
• Passion
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism
• Supportive Relationships
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Belief in Yourself
Related Tips:
Tip#515: Get Energized by Cinematic Thrills - Chronicle
Tip#994: Get Energized by Cinematic Thrills, Part 2 - The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Tip#1051: Get Energized by Cinematic Thrills, Part 3 – Pleasurable Activities -Spider-Man: Homecoming
Tip#938: Passion is Fuel, Part 4 - Pleasurable Activities - The Ramen Girl
Tip#1044: The Uplifting Power of Cinema, Part 4 – Galaxy Quest
NEW INTERVIEW WITH EMMANUEL:
Listen to Emmanuel’s interview on the podcast show THIS MOVIE’S ABOUT YOU with Thom Ernst (former host of TVO’s Saturday Night at the Movies) and Louis Marrone. Emmanuel discusses his ideal double bill of GROUNDHOG DAY and PLEASANTVILLE and how they helped him cope with clinical depression. Click here
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT NEEDS CHEERING UP?
SEND THEM THIS: Uplifting Movie Montage produced by Emmanuel Lopez!
LISTEN TO EMMANUEL’S CBC RADIO INTERVIEW on
MOVIE MESSAGES OF HOPE: The Fresh Air Show
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker on Health & Wellness
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2017
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