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Tag: inspiration

  • Inspiring Films About Social Change

    Inspiring Films About Social Change

    Movies and documentaries to get you inspired:

    The world is full of remarkable individuals and organizations, dedicated to making a difference within their communities. If you have community-building aspirations of your own, it’s important to become familiar with the kind of work that is happening in the world today. That includes reading newspapers and journals, as well as doing research on the organizations that interest you the most.

    However, film can also serve as a great medium for a social message. Though many movies are “inspired” by true stories and not 100% fact, they are nonetheless a fun and accessible way to discover the world of volunteering, community work, and social justice with your own eyes.

    To inspire your own community efforts, here are some movies and documentaries on the topic of social change.

    Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough)

    Gandhi follows the story of the famed lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (now referred to as Mahatma Gandhi worldwide). The film focuses on Gandhi’s incredible work through the nonviolent revolution against British colonials in India. The movie also places a particular focus on the revolution itself as opposed to providing in-depth background of Gandhi’s earlier life.

    12 Angry Men (1957, directed by Sidney Lumet)

    A classic film about crime, punishment, and the true meaning of justice, 12 Angry Men features a jury in the deliberation room, deciding on the verdict of a criminal trial. The film explores themes of bias and prejudice interfering with the true administration of justice—racism and classism, as mentioned in the film, are just two examples of biases that continue to affect the justice system today.

    Milk (2008, directed by Gus Van Sant)

    Milk is a biographical film about real-life politician Harvey Milk, an American gay rights activist who eventually became California’s first openly gay official to be elected into office. The movie follows Harvey Milk’s struggle both as a politician and as a representative for gay rights, and the amazing things he accomplished even when faced with the homophobia prevalent throughout the United States in the 1980s.

    An Inconvenient Truth (2006, directed by Davis Guggenheim)

    Arguably considered one of the most important environmental films ever made, this documentary outlines former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s efforts to make the terrifying research about climate change widespread knowledge. The movie urges viewers to stop believing those who dismiss environmental claims as “myths”, and instead, to make efforts to salvage what remains of our planet before it’s too late.

    It is important to emphasize that though many of these films are not recent, they highlight issues that continue to be relevant today. The problems that these movies explore are far from being resolved, and it will take all of our efforts to ensure that progress is still made far into the future. Watch, and get inspired.

    Sources:

    IMDb. “12 Angry Men.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/

    IMDb. “An Inconvenient Truth.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/?ref_=nv_sr_1

    IMDb. “Gandhi.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083987/

    IMDb. “Milk.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/

  • The Future Is Now

    The Future Is Now

    Where do you see yourself in five years? Choosing a career path can be entirely overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. When it comes to your future, only you can have the final say, but there are things you can do to make your decision just a little bit easier. Consider the following factors before you make your choice.

    What you like.
    Considering all the time, money and energy you are going to invest into your career, you will be much better off if you actually enjoy what you’re doing. Think about your interests, your passions and your hobbies, and see if you can imagine yourself working in those fields in the future. Be honest with yourself. If you don’t thoroughly like something, then it might be difficult to put yourself through it on a daily basis. Chances are, if you are happy with the work you are doing, you will be much more motivated to succeed.

    What you’re good at.
    Are you a proficient public speaker? You might make a good politician. Are you great at hands-on work? You might flourish in the trades. Everyone’s good at something; you just have to figure it out. Think about your strongest subjects in school, things you’ve accomplished and so on—put these together to find the things you’re truly the best at. It is much easier to start your career off with a foundation of skills you already have, instead of starting from scratch. If you keep refining your talents, the things you’re good at now could turn out to be real assets in the future.

    What’s “practical”.
    Don’t think that you have to strive to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. Every job is unique in its own way—and there are always ways to be successful, no matter the field. However, it might be a good idea to look at your options before settling on something. For example, there are multiple ways to pursue a music career: if performing doesn’t suit you, you can be a professional music teacher, a composer, an arranger, and much more. Make sure you have a lifeline: it’s always good to keep those options open. That being said, practicality is entirely dependent on the individual—and if you truly love what you’re doing, and you’re willing to work hard, there is absolutely nothing holding you back from reaching the top.

    Now, the trick is, what’s the overlap? If you can think of a career that fits into all three of those categories, chances are that it might just be the one for you. Finding the common ground between your passions, your skills, and your common sense will ensure that you’re on the path to a balanced, meaningful, and enjoyable future. Making a career decision is going to be one of the toughest things you ever do. But if you lay out the facts and keep an open mind, there is no doubt you will find the perfect job for you.

  • Follow Your Instincts

    Follow Your Instincts

    There is pressure to know what career you ought to settle on for the rest of your life, even well before you are finished high school. Students are guided toward a career at a young age and are expected to follow the direct path counselors and parents present to them. Decisions about the future can be made for a variety of reasons including salary, job availability and aptitude, but there is no better reason than natural inclination and passion to help you determine your future employment.

    When it comes to how to choose what to do for the rest of your life, it is most important to take your time and really consider what it is that you enjoy. Is there something you love to do and learn about? Why not consider investing in education to make it your profession? If you follow your passion and interests you will find yourself working in a field that allows you to build continuing joy in your life. Take a closer look at your hobbies and investigate whether or not you could see yourself making a living in a relatable field. Work does not need to be mere labour; it has the potential to be a labour of love.

    The next step is confirmation. Can you turn your interests into a profession? Investigate, research and do your homework. What kinds of jobs are available in your area of interest? Is it really feasible or should you continue to search other avenues?

    Now that you have found something you think you would love to do, take the next step and offer your time as a volunteer. Be bold and assertive. Talk yourself into a place of business that you can learn from and experience the tangible reality of your choice. If you do this and discover you are not suited to the trade or craft, do not be afraid to change paths. Perhaps a pivot rather than a jump is in order. You may not need to change directions completely but simply tweak the dream a little to suit your needs.

    It is important to lean on your intuition when it comes to your future. Do not decide on a career solely based on numbers. To do that is a potential set up for burn out and early disenchantment. Take the time to understand what you really enjoy and trust that you have the skill set to see your dreams realized. It takes more than hard work to be successful – there is a necessary component of happiness and contentment that not only sets the course, but helps define just what success means to you.

    When you follow your instincts and choose a career path based on something you enjoy, life becomes an exploration of your interests and the anticipation of each new day lingers well into the future.