Movies Inspire Our Souls

Intellect  & Intuition Collide 

by Dianna  Amorde

About ten days ago, I was mesmerized and inspired by a movie that came out in 2007. It’s amazing how something as random as choosing to watch a movie can shift our thinking or inspire us to take a leap toward our dreams. And, summer is the perfect time to re-connect with the power of imagination and stories to move us toward our dreams.

August Rush is about a young boy who has been in New York’s childcare system since birth and who believes in the power of music to re-unite him with his parents.

The movie starts with Evan (soon to be renamed August) saying that he believes in music the way some people believe in fairy tales.August Rush closes with a compelling, uplifting symphony that I found to be so inspiring that I downloaded it immediately after watching the movie. The symphony created by the character August is infused with his intense desire to be united with his parents (whom he knows nothing about). 

1. Find The Music or Movie That Most Inspires You. Keep these sources of inspiration handy, so you can  easily bring yourself to the level of energy you need to create your best work or go for the dream you’ve been ignoring. Consider starting each week or day with a snippet from this work to fill you with purpose and passion for the week or day ahead.
   • What do your choices say about you? Does a movie scene or song reveal something that lights you up or that you’re meant to do yourself?
   • Ask your friends what movie scenes or music inspire them. You might learn something new about them.
2. Ask Yourself What Music – - What Notes – - You’re Sending Out Into The World. August created a beautiful symphony designed to call forth his parents. Imagine the love, passion, and intent put into it. Now, look at your days. Are you creating an inspiring symphony designed to bring to you all that you desire? Or, are you caught up in the noisy distractions that show up daily and are only playing discordant notes?
   • A symphony highlights different instruments or sections at different times, with segments where most instruments are playing together. How can you use this metaphor to create a symphony of your life?
   • What area of focus (instrument) is in the spotlight for you now and when do you allow time for other areas of your life to take centerstage? Do you allow yourself to effortlessly flow from one segment to another?
3. Consider Shifting Your Perspective In Order To Believe In Fairy Tales, Music, or Miracles. Have you been stuck thinking that what you “see” or hear about on the news represents the real world? Are you willing to believe in what’s never been done before? August was tenacious in his belief in the power of music, even when being made fun of by others.
   • Start looking for the “happy ending” in every situation you deal with.
   • If you were creating a fairy tale of your life, how do you see the next twelve months unfolding? Think miracles. Think magic.

August Rush ends with a happy boy asking us to pay attention to the music that’s all around us. Do you hear the music? 

9 Easy Ways to Create Your Beautiful Life

By Tamara Gold

Start creating the life of your dreams by first looking at the “Bigger Picture.”  Step back and look at your day-to-day habits, they are forming the foundation of your life. What is the end result you’d like to see? Discover how 9 Simple steps can start you on your way to creating the beautiful life you’ve always wanted.

1. Living On Purpose

Are you living on purpose? Once you discover your deepest desire and follow this one thing, you’ll find your life gets easier. Yes! Easier than you’ve ever imagined. Just think. You know that you are going “Right.” Would you turn Left? Nope. I didn’t think so. What is it you have always wanted to do with you life? Maybe you are already doing it. If so, you’re a very lucky person. Now it’s time to stop worrying about all the rest of the options and just follow forth with your purpose. If you’re a little confused, search out the options. Find your passion, discover your purpose…and then stick to it.

2. The Power of No

Do you hear yourself saying “Yes!” to things you really don’t want to do? Not only does it cause anxiety and frustration, but it takes away from YOU. We sometimes have a tendency to say “Yes!” just to make others happy. We have to realize how important it is to be able to say “No.” Not as easy, but you’ll find it can be very empowering. You’ll free up the time you need to follow your dreams, your passion and your true life purpose.

3. Focus On  One Thing at a Time

Multi-tasking is part of our culture. Especially for women, juggling families, businesses, and other commitments. Try turning off your email. Have one project on your desk or laptop at a time. How about this one? Try to concentrate on grocery shopping….instead of talking on your cell phone as you throw the banana’s in the basket. You’ll find you get things done faster, more efficiently, and without the frustrating little mistakes which happen to all of us when we aren’t present. You’ll may even begin to realize the “Art” behind doing one thing at a time. It can be very Zen.

4. Don’t Try to Do It All

Do you think the President of the United States does everything himself? Of course not! And, neither should you. Ask for help when you can. Hire help if you can afford it. Trying to do everything yourself leads to burn out, irritability and whoooo….a whole lot of unrealistic expectations. Act like the President….Ask for the help you need.

5.  It Starts with Self-Care

If you don’t take care of yourself, no one will. We’ve all heard, “Put Your oxygen masks on first before helping others.” We need to be at our best to run our businesses, take care of our families, and stay healthy. Eating healthy, finding time for exercise, and relaxing with friends are all part of the mix. This is the combination for a beautiful life.

6.  Enjoy the Silence

If you meditate, great! You’re one step ahead of the rest. If not, find a time in your day, even if it’s just 10-15 minutes, to sit, and just be. Get quiet, listen to the sound of nothing. It is in the silence where you will actually “hear” the unexpected. The silence is the portal between who you are and who you are becoming. You might be surprised at the inspired action the silence reveals.

7. Clear Your Mind

If you’ve got a highly creative or busy mind, it can be chattering all day long. Not only does it make it hard for you to stop and enjoy the life you have, you may even have a hard time remembering all your brilliant ideas. Carry a small “Idea Book” with you wherever you go. Leave it by your bedside if you’re the type of person who wakes in the middle of a night with the plot line to the next blockbuster movie. Write your brainstorms down in your little idea book and let it go. You’ll be able to refer back to it any time you need inspiration and rummage through the treasures of your mind.

8. Live in the Moment

Your beautiful life is happening NOW! Don’t miss out. Stop and take a deep breath. Look around and see your life as it is, right now. There are so many incredible things we missed, because we are on overdrive, or thinking about the future. Stop and smell the roses! Hey, didn’t some else say that?

9. Give Thanks

You already have more than most people. You may not be where you want to be in your career or even have the relationship of your dreams. But, you already have a lot. Be grateful for your health, your creativity, for your friends, family and for the promise your future holds. The more grateful you are in the moment, the more you receive in the future.

You can create your life any way you like. It’s up to you.  Set the intentions and let your Beautiful Life Blossom.

Do You Know How to Think Like a Journalist?

Think Like a Journalist 

By Stacey Johnes and Regina Novickis

The best way to get media interested in covering you and your business is to start thinking like a journalist. If you first notice what stories are being covered by the media, then you can start to think about how YOU can get in those stories next time. This is the same information PR pros look for when creating a media relations campaign for a client. The good news is, the way to start doing this is by watching TV, reading the paper or enjoying a magazine…a few things we bet you are already doing. We shared even more details about how to do this on our call, but we want to get everyone starting to think in this way. 

Do you want to be in Entrepreneur magazine? Take note of what they cover, how experts are used within stories and in what sections you could see your company. It’s the same for television. Do you want to be on your local news? Start watching the news with a critical eye to see how they cover local businesses. Did they do a stunt, or is someone providing tips for saving money? Or perhaps they are doing some good in the local community. These are all viable ways for a business or person to get the attention of the media.

Now, start making notes which detail your observations. This information allows you to know what media will be interested in what you have to offer, and ideas about what to pitch them in the future.

Congratulations, you have just taken Step One towards doing public relations.

Listen to the PRTakeOff Girls and find out more about how you can use PR to take your business to the next level.

http://www.prtakeoff.com/speaktomillions/callreplay/