Generally my family and I implement “family movie night” at least once a week as a way to relax and regroup after a long week. This week we had a bit of a movie marathon and watched Monster University and The Croods, both of which I highly recommend (especially if you have children). For the most part, family movie night is a chance to get away from whatever may be on my mind from the week before, yet there are times when the movies hit a chord within me so strongly that it sends my mind into a flutter of inspiration.
This Saturday was one of those nights.
Inspiration #1
While watching Monster University I was inspired by the message that we can each use our unique gifts and perspectives to do similar work and it is our unique experiences that make that work not only different, but amazing.
What does that really mean?
Regardless of how many people we feel are doing exactly the same thing that we want to do (only in our mind much better), we each bring our own set of talents, gifts, and experiences to the table. No one else is better or worse than us, they are just different and different is ok. In fact, it’s better than ok, it’s great! Different means we can extend our reach to a group of people others can’t reach simply because of who we are.
This comes up a lot with my clients. So many people, (myself included) view what other people are doing in the same genre as ourselves as doing it bigger and better that we find ourselves comparing apples to oranges. Sure you can have two writers who have a similar style, but the truth is each is unique and amazing in their own way. The same goes for two business owners, coaches, stylists, or whatever your dream might entail. Don’t let the success of another put a damper on your amazing gift.
YOU have a gift that can reach people that the other person can’t, so stand in your power and celebrate the wonderful things you bring to the table!
So the next time you start questioning your dream because you feel like you couldn’t possibly live up to someone you believe is doing it better, remember the little lesson from Monster University. Better yet, watch the movie and see if you experience the same inspiration I did.
Inspiration #2
I expected the next movie to be more entertaining than insightful, but I couldn’t help but notice some interesting themes.
The first theme is one I have heard and dealt with several times in my lifetime. Fear of the unknown. When we fear what we do not know and allow it to stop us from stepping outside of our comfort zone, we become caged birds (or in this case caged cavemen). We become too fearful of taking risks that we don’t really live and experience the precious gift of life.
One quote that stood out to me came from the teenage daughter as she was talking about her dad’s philosophy on staying safe:
“That wasn’t living! That was just…not dying! There’s a difference!”
How many of us have lived in this way before? Merely surviving a life that may be uncomfortable and not all that great, but too fearful of what could go wrong in the future to take that step to do something bigger.
Surviving isn’t thriving. Living a life with your dreams tucked down in your soul never to see the light of day isn’t living life to it’s fullest and I assure you it is not what you were given this precious time to do.
You were meant to love life, explore, and experience it. Feel it, devour the juicy tidbits of amazingness. To identify your gifts and share them with the world. You were meant to be happy! So if you aren’t happy right now, is it because you are fearful of stepping outside your comfort zone? Fearful that the next thing might be worse than now?
What if it isn’t? What if it is bigger, better, and more amazing than you ever dreamed? Would one single, scarey step be worth it?
Another theme that came up was the idea of “following the light to tomorrow”. Essentially it means to just keep going.
When things get tough as they sometimes do, remembering your dreams and why you started to begin with can help you just keep going. Continue moving forward toward the light of tomorrow with your dreams alive and you can do anything. Just keep going.
