Screen Shot 2014-04-08 at 6.21.11 PMIt was a Saturday morning and I needed to head out of town for a speaking engagement in the early afternoon. Everything was ready to go and I had some time so I turned on Netflix and looked at what I had stored in my queue.

The first choice that jumped out at me was The Croods. I had heard and read that this was a pretty good movie for people of any age and its length was just about what I had before I needed to get moving for the day. As a guy who speaks about fear and courage I couldn’t have made a better choice. I took five great lessons about fear and courage away from my Saturday morning viewing of The Croods.

  1.     Parents Aren’t Always Right. Wow! I knew this but it was tough to watch as I listened to Eep’s (girl) dad, Grug, talk to the family about fear. He said, “Fear keeps us alive. Never stop being afraid.” In speaking to his wife, Ugga, about Eep he said, “If she wants to stay alive she has to listen to our rules.” I truly believe that my parents, as well as me as a parent, were well intentioned when trying to protect their children. Often times that protection doesn’t allow children to grow and learn through challenges and difficult times. What did your parents tell you that echoes in your mind when you are trying something new?
  2.     Self-Talk is a Powerful Thing. I will do my best to not spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it as I describe this point. The family is in a difficult predicament and have to make a loooong walk. As they sit looking off into the distance to where they need to go Thunk, Grug’s son and Eep’s brother says, “I don’t think my feet can do that.” Ugga, the mom, chimes in, “We’ve never really walked that far.” Finally, Gran, Ugga’s mom says, “I’ll never live long enough to get there.” What does the voice in your head tell you when you are facing a challenge?
  3.     Try to See Things from Someone Else’s Perspective. Along the journey the Crood family meets a young man named Guy. Eep has a strong interest in this new young man who looks at life from a whole different perspective from her father. He relishes new things and opportunities and has lots of new ideas. As most of the family realizes that Guy may be able to help them on their journey with his ideas Grug says, “Ideas are for weaklings.” As I have matured (insert your own comments here if you know me) I  have grown in my ability to recognize that there might be another perspective other than mine and it might even be better than mine. What perspective do you hold onto just because? What can you do today to try and see things from someone else’s perspective.?
  4.    Facing Our Fears Helps Those Around Us. As the Croods go on their journey to save themselves, Grug’s desire to hang onto his fear and his unwillingness to try new things endangers his family on more than one occasion. What price do those around you pay for your unwillingness to face your fears?
  5.     Have the Courage to Believe in Yourself. As the movie moves towards its climax Grug has been separated from the rest of the family. He is slowly beginning to recognize there might be other ways to do things as he finds himself in a difficult situation. Having never really embraced new ideas he says to himself, “What would Grug do,” in an effort to find a solution to his problem. After a short period of time and recognition that he might have an idea he says to himself, “What would I do?” Grug began to believe in himself and what new ideas he might have on his own. This is an area that I struggle with personally. I am making my living as a speaker and yet I find myself referring to myself with things like aspiring speaker. I learned a valuable lesson just today as I watched a video featuring author and speaker Jeff Goins. He told of an interview he did with Steven Pressfield and asking him, “When do you become a writer?” Pressfield’s response is a powerful one, “You are when you say you are.” Today I declare myself for all of you to see, “I am a speaker!” What are you waiting on to happen before you believe in yourself? What is your dream or your passion that is waiting for you to declare, “I am a …?”

Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!

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