Tip#1187: How To Build Indestructible Optimism, Part 2 - COVID-19 - Contagion

The threat of the coronavirus has saturated the news around the world and yet there is a silver lining in this dark cloud if you choose to see it. One of the greatest gifts that came from years of suffering from clinical depression and seasonal affective disorder (winter depression, S.A.D.) are the decisions I made to take mental health programs like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that helped me feel hopeful again and rewrite my brain for positive thinking. They helped activate and rejuvenate my indestructible optimism!

I gained the ability to feel less anxiety and hopelessness and was able to fully recognize the silver lining of whatever dark cloud I was under. The coronavirus/COVID-19 has become a shared dark cloud since January 2020 causing many countries and cities to declare a state of emergency. This pandemic hit people harder when actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced, in mid March via his social media, they had tested positive with corona virus. Soon after Prime Minister Trudeau’s wife Sophie Grégoire also tested positive. Services, schools and stores are currently closing and employees are being asked to work from home.

So what is the silver lining of this dark time? I feel this is each person’s opportunity to develop what I call “indestructible optimism”. It’s to feel a sense of peace and calm like standing in the eye of a hurricane. It’s a chance to rewire your brain to take clear, positive actions rather than waste time and energy on negative thoughts and discussions.

 I highly recommend taking CBT group therapy programs or other methods to reprogram your thoughts. These programs take time so for now I recommend regularly looking at simple, clever infographics posted on social media such as these two examples that can help shift a pessimistic mindset to an optimistic one…

There are also so many movies demonstrating indestructible optimism that I’ve created top recommended lists to inspire you:

• Top 20 Inspiring Movies for Indestructible Optimism!
• See more of my movie tips and personal stories on optimism

And usually I would feature a film about optimism here but because of the coronavirus I wanted to recommend seeing the movie Contagion as an inspirational learning tool.

Contagion (2011)

The thriller drama film, Contagion, follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days and is about the brave people working hard to alert and help others on a global scale. This highly gripping story features outstanding performances by Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elliot Gould, Jennifer Ehle and Kate Winslet.
See: movie trailer
Watch, rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

When the coronavirus started to dominate the news this film suddenly increased in popularity and attention. There is a lot of science behind this movie and it contains many lessons for you to be mindful of related to self-care and reducing the growth of a deadly virus. Though it is not classified as a horror film it could also scare you into making life changes you may normally ignore or be in denial of. So please see this film again or for the first time. Being informed via entertainment is just another step to building your indestructible optimism.

It is rare that people around the world are united by a common threat and it can be so easy to complain or waste time dwelling and discussing the negatives. This is the ideal time for you to activate and develop your indestructible optimism especially when we don’t know how long this situation will last. This time is a gift for you. Be mindful of your thoughts and remember to see the glass as half full and not empty.


Related Tips:
Tip#998: Top 20 Inspiring Movies for Indestructible Optimism! 
Tip#1167: Remember Your Indestructible Optimism, Part 9 - Dolomite Is My Name 
Tip#200: How To Build Indestructible Optimism - Top 9 Movie Tips 
Tip#535: You Can Rewrite Your Life, Part 1 – The Cabin in the Woods 

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• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

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Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

 

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
See website: www.MoviesForMotivation.com
 
© Emmanuel Lopez 2020