I don’t know if Hollywood does this on purpose or if we try to find personal inspiration in things because it is the end of the year and that’s what we’re innately programmed to do.
I think it’s probably a combination of both.
On Christmas Day, our family (Me, Cheryl, and the two kids) met some friends with their two kids and went to see the movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. It turned out to be a solid, inspirational, thought provoking movie. The kind where everyone silently walks out of the theater while contemplating their life, especially the past year.
I was pleasantly shocked to hear that all four kids, ages 11 – 14, actually enjoyed a movie with their parents that didn’t include robots or some insufferable pop star or young Disney star trying to make the transition from tweens to young adult. (Disclaimer: I love robot movies the same as any other man. Just not kid robot movies.)
They may have liked it because of all the cool, funny daydreaming Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) did throughout the movie. I’m sure they could relate to the daydreaming because it always ended up showing him doing something funny, awesome, and cool. Besides, isn’t that what all kids do?
Unfortunately, I think the daydreaming of what he wanted to do or what he could have become are the same reasons adults would find the movie appealing.
I did! If you are true to yourself, you’ll admit it too. Admit it now!
We all daydream. It’s natural. We daydream about all kinds of things.
Being respected by others.
Being successful.
Being wanted by others.
Being the hero. I mean, who doesn’t want to be the hero?
You know you daydream about what you should have said or what you should have done different in a situation or what you could have become if only you had done something different.
Don’t worry; no one is around to hear you. Admit it to yourself or just admit it in another one of your daydreams!
I’m not saying that daydreaming is bad. I’m sure there is something healthy to it.
In the movie, Walter Mitty did a lot of daydreaming in the beginning. But as the movie progressed, he daydreamed less and less. Why? It’s simple. He was forced to take control of his live and start taking action instead of daydreaming about it! In the end, he was living the life he had dreamed of. And of course, he got the girl. (Come on, you had to see that one coming!)
Here’s the thing. This is not just something that happens in the movies. Every day, people DECIDE they want a better life and they take ACTION to make it happen.
Newsflash: We are not entitled to a better life!!!! We have to work for a better life!!!!
We’re now 2 full months into a new year. I don’t know if this is the year that you will DECIDE that you want a more fulfilling life and take the appropriate ACTION to make it happen, but I do know that taking action today is better than waiting until tomorrow.
Stop daydreaming about what you want and turn it into reality – right now!
You may be asking, “How can I do that?”
Here is my suggestion. Read this book.
“The New Psycho-Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz and Dan Kennedy
Don’t let the title fool you. This is not some new age psychobabble theory. This is rooted in years of actual experience. I believe the first version of this book was written in the 1930’s.
This is one of those books you will want to read every year. I have already read it twice and plan on reading it again soon. This is a good one to read at the beginning of each year.
Today is a good day to DECIDE what you want and take ACTION to make it happen!
Which one of your “secret lives” have you decided to bring to life in 2014?
Share it with us below and on our Facebook page. Accountability is good!
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