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January 1, 2012

New Year’s lessons from Indiana Jones

molly wrote this at 3:00 am

I love movies. LOVE them. I don’t know if its the fusion of visual narrative with the coziness of a theatre and the concept of a singular, yet communal experience, but I cannot get enough of movies. I’ve learned many life lessons through movies, some of which I have been spared in real life because I was able to learn them by proxy via a movie protagonist.

For a peek behind the curtain, so to speak, you can read some of my celluloid-digital-literary meanderings on a groovy site called The Pop Bunker.

Today’s post falls upon New Year’s Day, and although there are many posts published today that will encourage introspection in a more formal fashion, I thought about applying a more Hollywood-esque whimsical spin and share some lessons I learned from brainy swashbuckling archaeologist Henry [Indiana] Jones that will help me to have a more productive, fulfilling and enriching 2012. I hope it helps you, too!

Face your fears: In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy encounters one of his greatest fears in The Well of Souls (interesting name for the location. Subtext, perhaps?) The place is literally crawling with snakes. The floor is a seething, slithering mass of serpents and in order to escape, Indy draws from his reserves of wit and strength, and overcomes his loathing of these creatures. By facing his fear head on, he explores alternatives, adapts and lives to see another day.

So, too, must we, if we are to transform our lives, and in the phrase used by a personal hero of mine Sarah Robinson, escape mediocrity. The very first post I ever wrote for this series has to do with ‘fears as tether.’ In order to become the most evolved version of yourself, you must continue to distill, face and overcome your fears.

Believe first; see second: Speaking very personally, I think 2012 is the year when I really get to work on this one. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy has already navigated past quite a few obstacles on his way to seek The Holy Grail. He is driven to find the Grail, because his father has been shot and pouring water from the Grail onto the wound is the only way his father’s life will be saved.

He comes to a seemingly dead end: a crevasse across which there is no visible span. He must take a step into the abyss, trusting that the way will be made clear and he can safely pass.

Truth? I hate this feeling. I truly get so annoyed at not having proof or assurances before taking a risk, but that’s not the way faith works.

As you make your way into larger and more complex realms in 2012, you will be asked to take risks in order to grow. You will have as your guides other people who have succeeded or perhaps books, as Indy did, full of notations made by his father. But the fact remains that if you wish to reach your goals, you will have to step out in faith.

Use your strength to liberate others: Near the end of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indy and his band of friends have escaped. They have the Sankara Stone they need – the acquisition of which was the reason for their journey from the beginning. However, through the course of the film, Indy realizes that the mining of the sacred stones has been done by the children of the villages that surround the mines. Before heading out for a safe plane and a return trip to his college classroom, Indy declares that the children will be liberated from their slavery and returned to their families in the villages.

In a similar fashion, as you get stronger through overcoming challenges in the coming year, you will also be presented with opportunities to share your wisdom gained from these experiences with others who have yet to emancipate themselves.

The good news? All the world IS a stage and we are merely players. …and I like it. I wish you a fulfilling, productive and abundant new year!

——-

Molly Cantrell-Kraig is a woman with drive. Possessing an innate sense of purpose and a pragmatic, solution-based approach to empowering people, she fused these two traits in order to establish Women With Drive Foundation. Based upon its founder’s personal history, Women With Drive Foundation is a means through which Cantrell-Kraig may effect change on both a micro and macro level. By providing women with something as essential as personal transportation in order to transition them from poverty to prosperity, she, through Women With Drive Foundation, seeks to empower women to help them help themselves. Through this action, the individual applicant benefits, as does society as a whole. Follow Molly on twitter as @mckra1g or @WWDr1ve (Women With Drive Foundation) or “Like” them on facebook.

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Filed under Successful Blog | 5 Comments »




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5 Comments to “New Year’s lessons from Indiana Jones”

  1. January 1st, 2012 at 4:11 am
    Mukesh said

    Great blog! I am a big fan of the Indiana Jones series! Nicely written and a collection of the right moments!

  2. January 1st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
    David Pylyp said

    Interesting to see Indiana Jones as the Moral compass and thought leader!

    To your continued success!

    David Pylyp
    Living in Toronto

  3. January 1st, 2012 at 1:09 pm
    molly said

    Thanks, David. :) I also must confess: I also admire the way that Indy tends to deal with the hand that’s dealt him and he just keeps on going. I hope you have a wonderful 2012 and thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

  4. January 1st, 2012 at 2:29 pm
    molly said

    I’m glad you stopped by Mukesh. :) Steven Spielberg is such a wonderful storyteller and I love the “Indy” series. I actually DO recall the “Leap of Faith” scene when I’m stepping out of my comfort zone!

  5. January 7th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
    New Year Lessons: Naps, Trains and Weddings « If Coffee Could Talk said

    [...] New Years Lessons from Indiana Jones: http://www.successful-blog.com/1/new-years-lessons-from-indiana-jones/ [...]

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