Tip#930: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 4 – Mary Kom

As of this writing it is a chilly February morning and I’m feeling high symptoms of the winter blues that I usually feel at this time. Key symptoms are loss of concentration, feelings of hopelessness and heaviness in the arms and legs. Winter blues is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and is a form of depression. And since I’ve been diagnosed with a clinical depression called dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) it’s hard to identify if I’m feeling one or the other (see tip#855). Either way movies are always the perfect antidote for lifting my spirits and re-activating my indestructible optimism!

Recently on an extra cold day my intuition told me to finally see the biographical film Mary Kom. This inspiring film not only introduced me to an extraordinary woman but also to the beautiful land of Manipur in northeastern India. Seeing the rich colours of the fields and mountains was like a delicious mug of hot cocoa that my eyes and soul drank in deeply. The film took me away on a mini vacation and the movie hero gave me many life lessons to persevere in the low energy and heaviness of the day I was having.

Mary Kom (2014)

The Indian biographical sports film, Mary Kom, is about Indian boxer Mary Kom (Priyanka Chopra), a poor rice farmer’s daughter coming from the small village of Manipur to become an Olympic bronze-medalist and a five-time world champion. Based on the true story of a women still competing today it is a powerful and motivational film for women and girls of all ages and all cultures. See: movie trailer

This movie is inspiring in so many ways such as facing career and life challenges while following a passion, dream or goal. Since childhood Mary showed persistence and tenacity for standing up for herself and later for learning the sport of boxing. And despite the negative, unsupportive attitude of her father, the boxing commission and the Indian culture she lived in, she perseveres with all her heart and soul. Ironically, Mary’s most challenging opponents were actually outside the ring.

There is also a great love story here. Mary learns how to find a balance of having a family and a career thanks to the loving support of her best friend and husband Onler (Darshan Kumaar). His wisdom and consistent encouragement is inspiring to witness! She also had the support of her coach, trainer, teacher and mentor Narjit Singh (Sunil Thapa) showing that success is always a team effort.

Inspiring Themes:
• Courage
• Confidence
• Following a Passion
• Persistence & Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism 
• Leadership
• Supportive Relationships
• Work/Life Balance
• Community

This boxing story may have similar elements already seen in Hollywood movies like Million Dollar Baby or Rocky and yet it is the music and settings within the Indian culture and location of Manipur that makes this film so unique. It gives people around the world a taste of daily life, traditions and community of a beautiful land!

So when you are feeling down, discouraged or dealing with winter blues or depression remember to lift yourself up with an inspiring movie. You may even discover a strong women character that could motivate you by their story of courage. Let these movie heroes help you follow your passions. Let them show you how to tap into your inner strengths and face your opponents in life and at work with overflowing confidence!

“Girls just have to get the same chance and opportunity and they will top every field, not only sports.”
Mary Kom (2014)

Related Tips:
Tip#754: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 1 - Belle 
Tip#860: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 2 - Spy 
Tip#929: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 3 - Aliens 
Tip#930: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 4 – Mary Kom 
Tip#968: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 5 - Erin Brockovich  
Tip#1024: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 6 - Women’s March – Made in Dagenham
Tip#501: How Women in Movies Inspire a Leadership Mindset 

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
Motivational Speaker & Movie Blogger
 Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2016

Tip#929: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 3 - Aliens

I’ll always remember the first time I saw Alien when it opened in theatres in 1979. It was a stunning Sci Fi horror film that featured a new kind of female action hero. Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, was tough, confident and resilient! Ripley would appear in four Alien movies and have an amazing scene in Alien: Resurrection where she slam dunked a basketball behind her back and without any special effects! See: behind the scenes clip

In 2009, Entertainment Weekly ranked Ripley 5th on their list of The 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture, calling her "one of the first female movie characters who isn't defined by the men around her, or by her relationship to them". This is one of the many reasons why I feel she is a fantastic cinematic role model for inner strength.

There’d be many times at my work as an illustrator when a project, such as for The Globe & Mail Newspaper, needed to be completed the next day and it felt impossible to achieve. But I would think of how relentlessly driven Ripley was in the second film Aliens and I’d bring out that attitude in myself. I’d unleash my inner Ripley and got the job done. That’s all that mattered, it had to be done and I made it happen!

Since Ripley’s appearance she had paved the way for more memorable female action heroes that include Sarah Connors in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series and Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road.

See: The 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture
See: What Fury Road’s Furiosa Really Owes to Alien’s Ellen Ripley
See: The 50 most daring film roles for women since Ripley

Aliens (1986)

The science fiction action horror drama film, Aliens, is the second installment in the Alien series featuring Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returning to the planet where her ship’s crew died facing a deadly alien creature. She joins a Colonial Marine unit as an advisor but soon takes on a leadership role once they face an attack of countless aliens. Riveting and relentless action unfolds in this exciting chapter to the series! See: movie trailer

"I will never leave you. That's a promise."
 Aliens (1986)

Despite dealing with post traumatic stress at the start of the film, Ripley’s innate leadership skills, courage and resourcefulness activates when the need arises. And though initially faced with judgmental attitudes from the male dominate marines they later respect her once she puts her skills into action.

At the same time Ripley demonstrates a loving maternal quality as she discovers and protects an orphaned little girl. I believe it is this balance of masculine and feminine qualities that make her an outstanding cinematic role model. Ripley is an inspiring female action hero who clearly demonstrates excellence in courage, resilience, team spirit and indestructible optimism!

Inspiring Themes:

• Courage

• Passion

• Persistence & Perseverance

• Resilience

• Indestructible Optimism

• Supportive Relationships

• Leadership & Teamwork

Be inspired by strong women in the movies. Let them mirror your own abilities and potential. Let their outstanding skills, talents and actions motivate you to be the best person you can be at work and in your life!

Related Tips:
Tip#754: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 1 - Belle 
Tip#860: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 2 - Spy 
Tip#929: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 3 - Aliens 
Tip#930: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 4 – Mary Kom 
Tip#968: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 5 - Erin Brockovich 
Tip#1024: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 6 - Women’s March – Made in Dagenham
Tip#501: How Women in Movies Inspire a Leadership Mindset 

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
Motivational Speaker & Movie Blogger
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2016

Tip#928: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 4 - Hector and the Search for Happiness

I recently had a good cry after having a big epiphany for revealing a possible source for my reoccurring depression symptoms. It was further proof for me that these physical symptoms like heaviness in my arms and legs could be solved through psychological studies, spiritual and metaphysical teachings. Thanks to my friend, client and colleague Steffi Black (see Steffi Black Coaching), she’s been providing amazing resources and support.

As I’ve been documenting on this blog, the two Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programs I completed last year helped me go deep into my childhood to identify and reprogram core beliefs causing depression symptoms. I’ve been wanting to go deeper and a few weeks ago Steffi recommended a video meditation by life coach and intuitive healer, Christine Marie Sheldon. It has been helping me remember more of my childhood. She says that the core block imprints somewhere between age 0 to 7. She says that if core blocks are not dealt with then reoccurring issues with abundance related to money, relationships and health will continue to persist. See 30 min. video: How To Attract Abundance With Energy Clearing

At the same time I’d been listening to the audio book, Heal the Hurt That Sabotages Your Life by Bill Ferguson. The book really gets you to face and embrace key hidden beliefs such as worthlessness, shame and guilt. These blocks relate to emotions that weren’t expressed growing up and needs to be released or they will do damage to you physically and mentally. This book, as well as Christine’s teachings, guided me to face forgotten memories that may be the core cause of my 20+ years experience with depression. One aspect and epiphany has to do with childhood bullying.

This story leading to my epiphany is actually detailed so I’ll share more in the future. For now I will say that I uncovered specific memories of being bullied numerous times by other school kids who’d pin me down on the ground with their knees and body. I believe this could be the core imprint of memories and sensations causing the heaviness I feel in my arms, legs and body during depression periods. The clinical term for this is psychomotor retardation and this experience always reminds me of the patients in the 1990 film Awakenings starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Thankfully my symptoms are not as severe as in the movie.

When I shared these bully memories with Steffi I suddenly started crying. I felt myself holding back but she encouraged me to release the tears. It was a profound moment and felt grateful I had a friend who believed that my tears were vital and would release trapped emotions. And hopefully this helps free the core block to my mental health and physical disabilities. Time will tell. I did feel better after having a good cry though.

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

The comedy drama film, Hector and the Search for Happiness, is about a quirky psychiatrist named Hector (Simon Pegg) who feels he has a humdrum life and is not helping his patients improve their lives. To find a solution he goes on a journey around the world to research and document the meaning of happiness. This film is filled with funny scenes, heartfelt moments as well as many insights for achieving the state of happiness. See: movie trailer

This movie is also about how Hector reconnects with his inner child and releases trapped emotions. Throughout the film you get clues about a pet dog and it relating to something traumatic that happened to Hector as a child. There is also a wonderful moment where Hector is listening to one of his patients, Anjali (Veronica Ferres), an intuitive healer who predicts he will go on a journey. During this scene adult Hector suddenly becomes child Hector (Jakob Davies). Hearing about this news excited Hector’s inner child!

With the help of neuroscientist, Professor Coreman (Christopher Plummer), Hector has a breakthrough in releasing trapped emotions and blocks. It is an emotional and cathartic moment and it makes me cry every time I see it. This scene and the happy times that follow for Hector represents the end results of what I hope for in my current journey. Movies, once again, re-energized my indestructible optimism!

There are so many options and roads for healing that you can choose on your life journey. Just follow your intuition and gut about which ones you’d like to explore. Let movies inspire you to find the courage to go into the dark parts of yourself and embrace them to set yourself free. And remember having a good cry may be exactly what your inner child needs right now.

Related Tips on Your Inner Child:
Tip#906: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 1 - Top 10 Movies 
Tip#909: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 2 - The Little Prince 
Tip#917: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 3 - Joy 
Tip#928: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 4 - Hector and the Search for Happiness
Tip#1082: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 5 - The Florida Project
Tip#1083: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 6 – I, Tonya 
Tip#1084: Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 7 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 

Tip#494: Keep Childlike Wonder Alive - Steve Jobs – Real Steel
Tip#422: Keep Your Playful Imagination Alive – Imagine That

Related Tips on Releasing Trapped Emotions:
Tip#692: Have a Good Cry at the Movies, Part 1 – Shadowlands
Tip#836: Activate The Power of Your Mind, Part 2 - E-Motion
Tip#837: Be Open to Magical Messages, Part 2 – Song of the Sea
Tip#839: Activate The Power of Your Mind, Part 3 - Trapped Emotions – Pleasantville
Tip#912: The Power of Emotional Release - Supergirl – Creed

Related Tips on Bullying:
Tip#473: How To Feel Good When You Feel Horrible - Horrible Bosses
Tip#817: Be Inspired by Amazing True Stories, Part 6 – The Imitation Game
Tip#860: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 2 - Spy

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
Motivational Speaker & Movie Blogger
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2016

Tip#927: Increasing Mental Health Awareness - Bell Let’s Talk Day – 15 Uplifting Movie Quotes for Depression

On January 27, 2016 it was Bell Let’s Talk Day where Bell Canada helped increase mental health awareness and over $6 million from donating 5 cents per call, text, tweet and share. That’s a total of 125,915,295 interactions! Celebrities like William Shatner posted tweets and Ellen DeGeneres tweeted to her 53.2 million followers.

A personal irony and synchronicity for me was that last year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day it was the same day I had an appointment with CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) to get help with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). That’s when I was re-diagnosed with dysthymia also known as persistent depressive disorder. I was in shock for days because I slowly began to realize this diagnosis explained over 15 years of mental pain and suffering I’d endured.

Since then I have documented on this blog the solutions and clinical support that are helping me manage the depression symptoms as I also share my story and movies that helped me in my motivational presentations. On Bell Let’s Talk Day I posted 15 uplifting movie quotes and movie trivia with the thought that someone in pain may read them and feel better in their own struggles.

Here is how my posts and images appeared on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin along with the hashtag for Bell and tags for two mental health organizations I support, Healthy Minds Canada and Art With Impact.

JK Rowling created the Dementors after her experience with #depression #JKRowling
#HarryPotter #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

#InsideOut is the greatest all ages movie about #depression
#BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact #Disney #Pixar 

“I need to believe that something extraordinary is possible.” 

#ABeautifulMindmovie #BellLetsTalk #mentalhealth @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. 
How much you can take and keep moving forward.” 

#RockyBalboa #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“I’m happy to report & you’ll be happy to hear, I’m taking life one game at a time.”
#WreckItRalph #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“You always fear what you don’t understand.” 

#BatmanBegins #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“Above all, don’t lose hope.” 

#LifeofPiMovie #BellLetsTalk Day #mentalhealth @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“You treat a disease, you win you lose. You treat a person I'll guarantee you'll win.” 

#PatchAdams #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” #ShawshankRedemption #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise.” #CastAway #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“I call myself a Peaceful Warrior because the battles we fight are on the inside.” 

#PeacefulWarrior #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“Don’t hide. Live. Follow the sun, you’ll make it to tomorrow.” 

#TheCroods #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“Promise me you’ll survive. That you won’t give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless.” 

#Titanic #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“Every human being has a basic instinct: to help each other out.” 

 #TheMartian #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

“You're not a bad person. You're a very good person who bad things have happened to.” 

#HarryPotter #BellLetsTalk @Healthy_Minds @ArtWithImpact 

Many of these posts got retweeted and the three that got the most retweets were the quotes from Harry Potter, The Croods and Patch Adams. The Patch Adam quote also received enthusiastic comments and I wonder if it's because it also touched on the memory of Robin Williams who lost his life due to mental illness.

If you or someone you know is dealing with mental illness please remember that no one is alone in their struggle. It may feel utterly hopeless and that’s where social support is important the most. There is help right now if you are open to reaching out and receiving it!

Related Tips:
Tip#855: How Movies Saved My Life, Part 1 - Depression & Mental Health - Tomorrowland 
Tip#863: How Movies Saved My Life, Part 2 - Depression & Mental Health - Inside Out
Tip#900: Resilience in the Workplace - Depression & Mental Health – HRPA Toronto – The Martian 
Tip#811: Resilience Resources, Part 4 – Top 15 Movies for Dealing with Depression, Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 

LISTEN TO EMMANUEL’S CBC RADIO INTERVIEW on
MOVIE MESSAGES OF HOPE: Fresh Air Show 14 minutes

GET EMMANUEL’S NEW eBOOK,
MOVIE MESSAGES of HOPE for THE HOLIDAYS:
15 Films for Overcoming Depression & Difficult Times
Only $2.99 exclusively at: www.motivatorman.com

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



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Movie Blogger
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2016