We all look for motivation in different ways. Some turn to religion, while others turn to self-help for the realization of their goals. Whether it’s a biopic, a sports film, or a tale of overcoming adversity, movies can have a knack for lifting us up and inspiring us to do more and be more. Here, we’ve compiled a list of five of the most inspirational movies you should watch to stay motivated during your stroke recovery.
The Lion King
This is an all-time classic and probably the best hand-drawn animated film of all time. The film features Lion cub, Simba who searches for his identity. His eagerness to please others and test his boundaries sometimes gets him into trouble. The film has everything from youthful innocence to unforeseen loss, all things we face in life. The story speaks of love, responsibility, courage, and strength. Featured songs like “Hakuna Matata” (a Kenyan phrase for ‘no worries’) and “I just can’t wait to be a King” can be seen as philosophies.
Lesson learned: Worrying isn’t constructive. Do not dwell on the past and face your fears you might have before stroke rehabilitation. You cannot change what happened and must move towards a better future for yourself.
Forrest Gump
The film follows a man named Forrest Gump through his extraordinary life, which includes encounters with Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, and other significant historical figures. This film is equally funny, inspiring, and downright heart-wrenching. There are quite a few life lessons that can be learned from this motion picture. After all, the film is one of the most quoted movies of all time for a reason.
Lesson learned: One cannot ever know his capabilities until he doesn’t try. A single-minded focus on one thing at a time can create miracles. The movie can motivate you to establish a clearly defined path to a successful stroke recovery (with small goals along the way).
Gladiator
When a Roman General is betrayed, and his family is murdered by a corrupt prince, he returns to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. Against all odds, he rises again to become a hero and a legend. Although the film is scripted, but real life can throw equally outrageous challenges and Gladiator can motivate you to surpass them. The film is an interesting tale of perseverance, redemption, and leadership.
Lesson learned: The strongest you can be is when you are a part of a team. It’s not weakness to accept the help of others. In fact, it’s the best way to get stronger. Think about rebuilding your life after stroke, and there’s somebody out there who can help you with it.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The film is about a salesman who undergoes defeats, challenges, and hardship to secure a happier tomorrow. Throughout his journey, he does not give up and stand firm to his goals. Besides determination, self-belief, persistence and going after our dreams, the film also speaks strongly of a father’s love for his child. The film is based on the story of a stockbroker Chris Gardner.
Lesson learned: This is not as easy as it sounds. Good or bad, never give up. The movie can teach you to be patient during your stroke recovery.
Yes Man
The film revolves around a man who challenges himself to say “Yes” to everything for an entire year. The film reinforces the importance of having fun in life, fearing less and leading the life which you want to lead. After watching the film, you will most likely feel a positive change in you.
Lesson learned: Say yes to the opportunities which life has to offer to you. One thing leads to another; opportunities can come in any form. Each situation has in itself a seed of opportunity. The film can motivate you to say YES to face all the challenges (with a smile) during stroke recovery.
This Blog is contributed by Dr. Deepak Kr. Nain. He is a certified therapist who specializes in the field of rehabilitation. Deepak possesses a clinical expertise in prescribing the best solutions to help people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
