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HOW TO SEE MOVIES AS INSPIRATIONAL LEARNING TOOLS - Over 1,000 Movie Tips For Dealing with Depression & Difficult Times
Tip#1139: Yes, You Can Alter Your Reality, Part 2 - Welcome To Marwen
This has been a transformative and very surreal and emotional week. I was unexpectedly grieving over my dad’s passing on his recent birthday and shared that pain in my group therapy program. At the same time I was feeling the profound, cathartic benefits unfolding in this weekly program. Through the many tears I released I’ve been learning to rewrite the subconscious thoughts and beliefs that have been holding me back in my life and career.
During the past few weeks I have also been immersed in the synchronicity of movies and TV shows that amazingly mirrored my current journey of rewriting my reality. They contained stories about time travel and multiple universes and how the heroes navigate themselves to the one they want to be in or what is truly reality to them.
Star Trek: Discovery 2nd season explores time travel and altering reality.
The Orville's episode "Lasting Impressions" is about living in a fantasy world vs reality.
The second season of Star Trek: Discovery and a fantastic episode of The Orville called "Lasting Impressions" explores these thought provoking themes on “what is reality?” The Netflix shows Mirage and The OA Part 2 also twisted and bounced my brain up and down while being so entertaining and engaging! These shows were speaking to me and inspired me to persevere.
Netflix's Mirage is about altering reality and time travel
The OA Part 2 is about traveling through multiple universes.
I am so grateful my weekly group therapy sessions are helping me question my reality and my identity. I recently shared how I was once a thriving, successful illustrator but felt my photography (see my Instagram) has become my new focus and passion.
That same day I was later guided to seeing a movie where the hero also said the same exact thing about once being an illustrator and was now a photographer. This moment in the movie really blew my mind and I felt my reality warp in a beautiful, bizarre way! I felt the universe, once again, was speaking to me through a Hollywood film.
The fantasy drama film, Welcome to Marwen, is inspired by the documentary, Marwencol, about the true story of Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell), a man struggling with PTSD who, after being physically assaulted, creates a fictional village with doll characters he photographs to ease his trauma. This visually dazzling movie also stars Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, Merritt Wever, Janelle Monáe, Eiza González, Gwendoline Christie, Leslie Zemeckis, Siobhan Williams and Neil Jackson.
Like many film reviewers, I had some problems watching this movie which, I’m sure, were similar reasons it became a box office bomb despite having a great cast and a director I loved, Robert Zemeckis. I felt the tone, script and pacing where uneven and clumsy while conveying powerful themes on art therapy, coping with trauma, depression, fetishes and hate crimes. And although the film worked hard to lighten these themes there were some shining moments of inspiration and learning from Mark’s creative coping strategies and ultimately witnessing him overcome his deep-rooted fears.
Mark learns to be happier by rewriting his reality through the art therapy of his photography, dolls and town he created. This is why I still recommend this film for anyone who is struggling with trauma or any artist who wants to benefit from the healing power of expressing one’s pain through something creative.
Reality is so subjective and personal when it comes to unhappy life experiences. And yet making positive changes can begin by unleashing one’s imagination. Freeing yourself from old, limiting thoughts can unlock so many exciting possibilities! Remember that we are surrounded by so many real-life stories and imaginative TV shows and movies that can help us view reality in different ways. Healing ways. Find one today to inspire your new possibilities!
Tip#549: Yes, You Can Alter Your Reality - Men in Black 3
Tip#601: Benefits of Alternate Reality Movies – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Tip#506: Time Travel & Alternate Reality Movies – 4 Hidden Gems
• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com
• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
© Emmanuel Lopez 2019
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Sunday, March 24, 2019
Tip#1138: Learning through Movies, Part 5 – Remembering Queen Video – Romantics Anonymous – Danny Deckchair
Queen Video Store owner Howard Levman on Friday, March 22, 2019, the first day of their closing clearance sale and the two movie treasures I got that are featured in this blog post!
This week I was so saddened to find out that after 38 years the iconic Toronto movie rental store, Queen Video, was closing its last store on Bloor St. West. Since the 80’s, and long before the internet and online film viewing, this favourite store helped me discover so many movies from around the world that got me through depression and other dark times in my life and career. And they provided many movies for romantic movie nights I had at my home!
The flagship store on Queen St. West was just around the corner from my live/work studio on Spadina Ave. and it was my go-to resource for renting movies. It was such a joy just browsing the rows and shelves of all the colourful VHS boxes and then later DVDs. It’s definitely a sad ending for an era of the in-store rental experience and I’m going to miss Queen Video.
Thankfully I was able to purchase two wonderful, hard-to-find DVDs at Queen Video’s clearance sale that were perfect for this special blog post dedicated to the memory of this store. These films also synchronistically featured life lessons about anxiety and taking risks that I’ve been learning to embrace and use to empower myself!
Les Émotifs Anonymes (original title)
The French romantic comedy film, Romantics Anonymous, is about two painfully shy people Angélique (Isabelle Carré ) and her boss Jean-René (Benoît Poelvoorde) who fall in love while working at a chocolate factory. This charming, fun story has been called a mix of Chocolat and Amelie and is a must for chocolate lovers!
Watch now: Amazon Prime
I was immediately hooked when the opening credits began with a French version of the song “I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music! Through some hilarious moments and heartfelt scenes this film explores the pain and frustration of social anxiety disorder. You see how Angélique and Jean-René each struggle and cope with their fears through psychotherapy, affirmations and group therapy. The film also shows how life and relationships can improve when you find the courage to push through anxiety and take risks that are frightening.
Seeing this movie again was a timely mirror for my current successful experiences with group therapy that I’ve been sharing on this blog (see Tip#1136). I’ve discovered that being able to share my challenges in a safe environment with professionals and people who share similar disorders can bring amazing answers and solutions for finding my inner courage to feeling more confident and happier. And, as the film demonstrates, having some delicious chocolate once in awhile definitely helps!
The Australian romantic comedy film, Danny Deckchair, is about unlucky-in-love, Danny (Rhys Ifans) who escapes his unhappy life in suburban Australia when he lifts off in his deck chair tied to balloons. When lands he then finds a new life and new love with small-town traffic cop Glenda (Miranda Otto). This delightful, uplifting movie was inspired by a true story and filled with wonderful performances by the leads as well as Justine Clarke, Rhys Muldoon and everyone in the charming small-town of Clarence.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
This film is just glowing with the warm sunshine of the Australian people and the lush green locations it was shot in. The chemistry between the romantic leads was fun to watch blossom each day they were together. The story is also filled with life lessons for breaking out of an unhappy life by taking risks. The rewards that Danny receives when he follows his inner voice was inspiring to see unfold!
Seeing this double feature of these two romcoms from different parts of the world reminded me how powerful learning can be from movies. And though they highlight the importance of taking risks in life I also got the message from Danny Deckchair that maybe we just need a sense of adventure in order to take those risks. This is what I’m learning to master in my life and I’ll always be grateful to Queen Video for being there when I needed some cinematic inspiration! They were a meaningful, friendly neighborhood resource for my soul that I’ll always remember!
And thanks to these two movies I got at their clearance sale I’ll also have the nostalgic reminders of the DVD sleeves that have their name on it!
There are all kinds of traditional therapy available for anyone wanting to overcome their anxieties or depression. There is also the power of cinema therapy that can help teach and empower us to be the fearless and adventurous kind of person we dream about! Find those special films that mirror your own journeys today and be inspired to live your life to the fullest!
Tip#1042: Learning through Movies, Part 4 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Tip#1115: The Uplifting Power of Cinema, Part 7 - A Simple Favor
Tip#1013: How Movies Mirror Your Inner Strengths, Part 6 - PTSD - Prison Dogs
Tip#1036: Your Thoughts Have So Much Power, Part 4 – Anxiety - The Space Between Us
• Top Movie Picks for Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com
• Emmanuel's Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com
• Emmanuel's Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
© Emmanuel Lopez 2019
Posted by Emmanuel Lopez - Motivatorman at 11:40 AM No comments:
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Sunday, March 17, 2019
Tip#1137: Your Power to Heal, Part 3 – Powder – Avatar – The Grounded
I hadn't slept well at all during the past two months I was house sitting at a friend’s beautiful, sunlit home. I couldn’t understand it at the time. Plus I was feeling compelled to look into the spiritual meanings of the root chakra that related to: security, safety, survival, basic needs (food, sleep, shelter, money, etc.) and grounding. The last term “grounding” then led me to something that blew my mind about healing myself at a core level!
The term “earthing” or “grounding” is initially known to protect you from an electric shock. It does this by providing a path (a protective conductor) for a fault current to flow into the earth. That’s what the third prong of your plug does which is ground the electricity of any device you plug in. What I discovered was the profound importance of grounding our own bodies for multiple healing benefits.
I had found this concept of earthing through an amazing documentary called The Grounded directed by Steve Kroschel and featured Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. David Suzuki, Dr. Laura Koniver, astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell and Clint Ober one of the authors of “Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?”. I then found a short documentary that was also highly educational called Down To Earth that also featured Clint Ober.
See: The Grounded documentary (74 min.)
See: Down to Earth documentary (15 min.)
I have become passionately driven to research earthing/grounding and not just for the benefits of solving my sleep problems. I am excited about how it could dramatically reduce chronic inflammation in the body such as arthritis and autoimmune diseases as well as speed up wound healing and more. The answer pointed to the benefits of simply walking barefoot on the earth!
This photo was from my visit to Santa Barbara on January 1, 2019 where I instinctively needed to feel the sand and ocean water on my barefeet. Learning about earthing/grounding months later was an amazing epiphany of what my body was intensely craving on New Year's Day!
Walking barefoot on grass, soil, sand, water, stone, brick and concrete allows negative electrons, or charges, to counteract the build up of positive electrons in our bodies from all the EMF radiation (electromagnetic frequencies) we are bombarded with every day from the electrical devices like our cell phones, computers, WiFi and kitchen appliances. This revelation led me to thinking about two movies that must have been secretly teaching me about earthing so many years in advance!
The fantasy drama film, Powder, is about Jeremy "Powder" Reed (Sean Patrick Flanery), gifted with an incredible intellect, telepathy and paranormal powers after his mother was struck by lightening when he was in her womb. This emotionally engaging story features many thought provoking concepts about human evolution and society’s resistance to different people. Also starring Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, and Lance Henriksen.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
I always loved the Sci Fi, fantasy and spiritual themes of this movie and remembered it as I learned about earthing/grounding, electricity, energy and our important relationship with it. I was reminded that we are all electrical beings and that in order to live a long healthy life I needed to understand my relationship with the earth. And even though electricity is invisible I was discovering that negative electrons are vital for healing and maintaining a strong, body, mind and spirit.
The science fiction, action film, Avatar, is about humans wanting to take the natural resources from the planet Pandora and how Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) helps the indigenous people, the Na'vi, to preserve their world. This visually stunning and highly creative movie is filled with many exciting action scenes and moral messages. Also starring Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
While learning about earthing and our innate, forgotten physical connection with our planet’s energy I immediately thought of the Na’vi’s beliefs and profound relationship with their planet Pandora. That, in turn, is actually based on other indigenous people on our planet and their belief that we are connected to our world on a deeper level. In the film you see how the Na’vi physically connect and communicate with their world through their ponytails as they can bond with the energy tendrils of plant life, animals and each other.
Learning that we each have the power to heal ourselves can be an exciting journey. We just have to be open to the solutions no matter how simple or strange the solutions may be. Documentaries and Hollywood movies can help inspire us to new possibilities and new ways of thinking. Find a film today to excite you about your own power to heal!
Tip#1034: Your Power to Heal, Part 2 – Logan
• Top Movie Picks for Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com
• Emmanuel's Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com
• Emmanuel's Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
© Emmanuel Lopez 2019
Posted by Emmanuel Lopez - Motivatorman at 10:31 AM No comments:
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Sunday, March 10, 2019
Tip#1136: Discover Your Cinematic Role Models, Part 6 - Captain Marvel
Empowerment: The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.
I have written before on this blog that I was bullied as a child and it became a regular experience throughout grade school (see Tip#817). Through my new therapy group program I recently had an epiphany that I actually had “the right” to feel safe on my first day of grade school but that right was taken away from me. And since then I programmed myself to get used to being picked on and physically hurt and even expected it. I told myself that it was okay and that belief had consequences for the rest of my life.
Being bullied definitely left scars as an adult that caused subconscious fears to keep me from being the best version of myself. It’s the same with negative, unsupportive words that people say to us as children that keep us from our full potential later in life. Being told you can’t do this or do that, or to just give up trying can lock up our inner strengths.
Thankfully I always get a sense of comfort when I find films with movie heroes that mirror similar childhood challenges. They help me feel that I am not alone in my struggles. And when that main character finds a way to break free of that programming and unleash the brightest and best version of them selves it always shines a path for me to follow! And that makes me feel empowered!
The superhero action film, Captain Marvel, is set in 1995, where Kree warrior, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. She is also on a journey of self-discovery for her true connection with Earth as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. This visually exciting action film has amazing space battles, humorous scenes and is loaded with references to other movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Annette Bening, Lashana Lynch and Jude Law.
See: movie trailer 1
See: movie trailer 2
Watch now: Amazon Prime
It’s a slow journey onscreen to seeing Captain Marvel in her full glory and yet it is her journey of self-discovery that’s a mirror for anyone else's slow, therapeutic process of unraveling years worth of negative programming. You see Danvers go through piecing together fractured memories of who she really is. You also see scenes from her childhood of people telling her she can’t do this or do that or to give up trying. But no matter how many times she was knocked down she kept getting back up.
Despite being able to shoot amazing photon blasts with her hands, Danvers eventually recognizes her true inner strength is resilience. And when she does, higher levels of her super powers are unleashed in a series of epic battles in space! She is able to reclaim her right to be the best version of herself.
“I just want you to be the best version of yourself.”
In the end Danvers/Captain Marvel is one incredible, kick-ass female superhero! She demonstrates what empowerment is. Her physical powers and her inner strengths of resilience, perseverance and courage makes her an instant cinematic role model for anyone of all ages!
If we have the courage to piece together our own fractured memories from childhood we can discover the negative programming that have hurt and stifled us in our adult lives. Through supportive professionals, psychiatric therapy, holistic therapies, motivational speakers and books we can begin to unlock the best versions of ourselves. And when we can find cinematic role models that speak to us they will remind us of our resilience AND right to be empowered!
Tip#1133: Discover Your Cinematic Role Models, Part 5 - Alita: Battle Angel
Tip#1076: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 7 - Molly’s Game
Tip#742: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 4 – The Pianist
Tip#1105: Resilience Resources, Part 24 – Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• Top Movie Picks for Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com
• Emmanuel's Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com
• Emmanuel's Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
© Emmanuel Lopez 2019
Posted by Emmanuel Lopez - Motivatorman at 9:15 AM No comments:
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Emmanuel Lopez - Motivatorman
Emmanuel Lopez aka Motivatorman is an award-winning Illustrator, Movie Blogger, Author and Motivational Speaker providing lived-experience SELF-CARE tips and SELF MOTIVATION strategies for inspiring INDESTRUCTIBLE OPTIMISM in the face of depression and difficult times. He has been featured in The NEW YORK TIMES, The WASHINGTON POST, The GLOBE & MAIL and CBC Radio. Speaker Clients: TD Canada Trust, Investors Group, The Art Institute of Boston and Royal Ontario Museum. WEBSITE: www.EmmanuelLopez.com