How To Simplify Your New Year's Resolution With This One-Word Method
The 2010s have been nothing short of monumental. From technological advancements, changes in societal dynamics to the state of the planet, the years have been challenging and shifting our ideals about who we are and who we want to be. On a global scale, the impact of the last 10 years has been massive but it affected people on a personal level too. Every single one of us has been swayed by the multitude of events in the past years. As we head into a the next decade, we get to ask ourselves what we want the next years to look like. Before making a New Year's Resolution, take some time to reflectTrying to project the future can definitely seem like a daunting task but it doesn't have to be. So often, at the end of the year, we get stuck in the whole New Year’s Resolution cycle. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to say that making a New Year’s resolution is a bad thing. Its great! But the cycle is that we don’t truly acknowledge who we are when we make them and who we want to be by following them through. Instead, we make our resolutions based on what we want and then can’t see them through. This is because we never truly reflect on how having that accomplished that resolution thing will change us or make us feel in the long run. Because we don’t take the time to look at who we are in the present moment with gratitude, acceptance, and appreciation for just how far we have come, we fail to create the change that we want. Before we make a resolution, we need to reflect on the reason why we need to add a certain change or thing to our lives.In order to make your New Year’s resolution, but also your New Decade’s resolution, effective, you want to get very clear on who you are right now. But you also want to make sure that you are reflecting and looking at yourself with the utmost gratitude. Who were you at the start of the decade? For my part, I was pregnant and married to a narcissist with no idea what my future was going to look like or who I even was anymore. I had lost touch with my magic, the parts of myself that were intuitively me. Take stock of who you were back in 2010. Some easy ways to do this is to listen to the music you liked then or watch your favorite movie that came out that year. Acknowledging things that spoke to your soul, like film and music, helps you to reconnect with the person you were. Even if that person isn’t someone you are proud of, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid looking at them. In fact, by accepting the parts of us we are ashamed of and the times in our lives when we weren’t the greatest, we help to heal ourselves and move towards the next stage of our lives. Make sure to think about your progressionWhat happened between 10 to 5 years ago to make you the person you are today? Take a bit of time and acknowledge the pieces of you that fell into place and forgive yourself for anything you did that you weren’t proud of. But also, be sure to note all the achievements you are proud of. They have set the building blocks for who you are now.Five years ago, I was reconnecting with my inner magic and starting to help other people do the same. I was healing from trauma and clearing blocks in the thick of PTSD. It is a far cry from who I am now, even though it still feels like just yesterday. Think of who you are right nowAnd, that brings us to now. Who were you at the start of this year? What did you believe in? What did you value? How has this past year changed you or helped you grow? What have you learned? What have you achieved? The Holiday Season isn’t just good for cookies and Christmas trees. It’s a time for reflection and introspection. So before you decide who you want to be in the coming years, make the end of the year a time to honor who you are right now. At the start of this year, I was struggling with my notion of what is next. I had been trying to get a publishing deal for nearly three years, battling with my mindset and playing too small. However, I end this year being a bestselling author with a publishing deal and I am the host of a metaphysical comedy podcast. I am now the person that I have always dreamed I would be, even if in the last ten years I did none of the things that I had been hoping to achieve.And that is almost better. It is an incredibly freeing feeling to finally be the person your soul has always called you to be. Start by choosing your wordSo, how do you decide on who you want to be and how do you build a resolution to fit that? Well, I have come up with an exercise that I call choosing your word. Now, before I even get into how to do this, I want to be sure to state that this is not meant to be complicated or confusing. In fact, if you notice you start to make things complicated while doing the exercise, be sure to pause and explore why you are doing so. It will help you further into your journey towards healing.The goal of this exercise is to choose one, and only one word, that you want to strive for in the next year. By doing a resolution this way, it allows you to constantly connect with the person you are becoming and striving to be in five seconds or less. It eliminates all the shame that can come up if you don’t hit you resolution goal, like losing 50 pounds by June. In fact, by narrowing the process down to one word, you gain more clarity and the ability to renew your drive whenever you want just by repeating that word. Figure out your word and simplify your resolutionsSo who do you want to be this time next year? And what is one trait that that person will have? There is your word. That trait is the thing you should dedicate this year to. For example, if you want to lose weight your word could be "healthy." If you want to cure your anxiety, your word might be "brave." My word for the next year, and most likely the rest of the decade, is authenticity. I know that, in order for me to truly keep following the path that is meant for me, I must get comfortable showing my authentic self at all times. Once you have your word, write it down, put it on your wall, or just have your phone remind you of it every now and then. Remember, whoever you are becoming is a result of who you have been, so acknowledge your power and take the leap into the next version of you. More helpful articles:Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work For You (And What To Do Instead)Learn Quick and Easy Ways to Reduce Stress This New Year5 Simple Habits that Can Add 12 to 14 Years to Your Life
20 Most Inspiring People of the 2010s
The 2010s have been nothing short of world-changing. Ten years ago Facebook was barely starting to gain traction over Myspace and most of us were carrying flip phones. But more than that it has been a decade filled with deep societal change with huge progress made in things such as equal rights, mental health, and spiritual awareness. Don’t get me wrong, we still have so much work to do but that doesn’t mean we should discredit the amount of incredible things that have been accomplished in this past decade and the people who made them possible. There have been so many incredibly influential and inspiring people that have changed our lives and shaped the world over the last ten years. So let's take the time to highlight some of the most inspiring people and the marks they have left on us. Now, you may not know everyone on this list and to that I say, heck yes! This is your chance to look back on some amazingly powerful things that have happened and get to know the incredible people who made it so! Here are the most inspiring people of the 2010s20. Malala YousafzaisMalala gained massive worldwide fame at the beginning of the decade for being an 11-year-old girl secretly communicating with BBC reporters about life in Pakistan under Taliban rule. Throughout her early teen years, Malala became a symbol of strength for the women of Pakistan and the world as she fought to keep education available for women.Even after she was shot at the age of fourteen and nearly died her voice could not be silenced. Because of her efforts, Pakistan passed equal education legislation and hope was given to thousands of women. It is important to note that Malala is still a college student at Cambridge University, now in her early twenties-- her best is yet to come!19. William H. McRavenAs a Navy Seal and one of the main leaders in Operation Neptune, which eventually led to the death of Osama bin Laden, Admiral McRaven has an impressive resume. But, to me at least, one of the most inspiring things about him is that through all of that-- and the honors he received because of it-- he's never forgot the importance of having a community to rely on.On top of that, McRaven is a huge advocate and reminder that one person has the power to change the world. 18. Elizabeth SmartThis one is a tearjerker. Everyone remembers the story of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping, but since gaining her freedom, she has done everything in her power to ensure we remember the story of what happened afterwards as well.Elizabeth’s dedication to overcoming the trauma of her nine months in captivity and live a happy life is so powerful and truly illustrates the major changes in conversation that have occurred in the last decade. This has been a decade of people learning how to overcome trauma and then talking about it. Elizabeth not only decided to live a life where her captors would never have power over her again but she also dedicated herself to her happiness and her dreams. She now runs multiple non-profits dedicated to helping kidnapping survivors and child victims of sexual abuse.Elizabeth’s voice is powerful and, though shaped by her past, she is not defined by it. She truly took one of the worst possible things to happen to someone and made it a blessing to others. 17. Maggie DoyneMaggie Doyne’s story is so inspirational because it doesn’t sweep the globe like others on this list. In fact, the modesty of her story is what makes it so inspiring.On a trip to India during a gap year, Maggie met a little girl who changed her life forever. The little girl was working hard each day, breaking stones into gravel to earn money for her family, but always still had a smile on her face when she greeted Maggie each day. Overwhelmed with the need to help, Maggie funded the girl’s education. Because, though she knew she couldn’t help all 8 million children living in poverty like the little girl, she could help at least one. And then that one became ten. And ten became 100.Using her savings from her babysitting jobs, Maggie purchased land and built an orphanage in Nepal dedicated to educating women and girls. She has changed the lives of so many by starting with just one. Your mission can start small and grow to something that changes the world of countless people. Follow your heart and Maggie’s lead. 16. Lisa NicholsFrom failing speech and english class, to being an abuse survivor raising a baby alone with nothing, to multi millionaire, Lisa Nichols is one of those people who wouldn’t let the world ignore her.She is a prime example of turning pain into passion. Lisa is not just inspiring as a person-- she is captivating.Being an abuse survivor myself and also becoming a mother at a young age, Lisa’s story has always spoken to me on a deep level. We hear rags to riches stories all the time but seeing the rise of this powerhouse of a woman is something else entirely.Lisa's company also helps people learn how to make what they say count-- that is one way to change the world in a hurry. 15. Claire WinelandClaire Wineland was such a beautiful person and her energy was contagious. She had Cystic Fibrosis, a sickness that is currently incurable. But did she let that slow her drive? Oh heck no.Claire advocated that people who are sick or disabled shouldn’t be pitied. She was proof that it is perfectly possible and okay to be absolutely happy with life even if you are sick. Claire died in 2018 at the young age of 21, but in her short life she empowered so many people to view not just sickness but life itself differently. Claire even worked on Hollywood productions to shed light on Cystic Fibrosis and what it is like to live with.Her efforts will live on for years to come and her message is undying. Life is what you make it. You get to choose your happiness.14. Chance the Rapper Chance the Rapper has not only redefined what is possible within the music industry but also what is possible within an inner city.The independent rapper and producer's 2016 album Coloring Book was awarded three different Grammy Awards, becoming the first streaming-only album in history to do so. Chance has also been an activist since childhood and his nonprofit SocialWorks actively works to give inner city kids constructive and positive things to do and also to end gun violence within Chicago.In fact, during memorial day weekend 2014 SocialWorks ran the #SaveChicago campaign with the goal of stopping gun violence for the entire weekend-- and it worked.For 48 hours there was not one shooting in the city of Chicago. That is nothing short of incredible. 13. The Stoneman Douglas High School SurvivorsI am almost speechless when I think about the amount of strength these young people possess. It is no secret that America has a seriously problem: children are being shot and killed in their schools.The Stoneman Douglas High shooting survivors were brave enough to say, enough. Though their school was shot up and their friends died, these amazing teens didn’t allow sadness to consume them. Instead they immediately rose up and made their voices heard. They met with lawmakers and spoke on every TV network. They let their tears be seen and demanded change even when it was hard.Even when everyone would have understood if they didn’t want to talk about it, they stepped up to reveal the horrors that took place in their school, and they made sure that everyone could hear them. 12. Brene BrownThis decade has been so incredible in regards to the advancements made in mental health and mindset research and application. And leading the charge, is the amazing Brene Brown.Brene, a professor and psychologist, has dedicated her life to the study of the most human and painful emotions. Her work is not only groundbreaking and impactful but also has been widely recognized. In my opinion, the best thing about her philosophies and studies and books is the ability it gives us to feel normal. That all the things we experience truly are universal. She has shone a beautiful light on the experience of being human and has started a conversation about the importance of feeling that cannot be ignored. 11. Steve Jobs Though Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, even in his brief work this decade, he accomplished so much.He didn’t just make computers or phone's-- he redefined what they meant and what they could do. Whenever I think of Steve's journey I always am reminded of Simon Sinek’s Tedx talk about people buying why you do something not what you are selling. Steve infused his "why" into every Apple product.His legacy lives on in the way we interact with the world on a day to day basis. His company gave us words that are now in the dictionary and he truly helped to connect the world through his vision and his company's tech. Talk about an influential and inspiring legacy. 10. Tarana Burke and the #MeToo Movement#MeToo became a topic of household conversation over the last three years-- at long last. Back in 2006, Tarana started using the term "Me Too" to raise awareness for sexual assault survivors but it wasn’t until the brave silence-breakers came forward against Harvey Weinstein and what he did to them that it really became a movement.It felt as if the #MeToo movement caught the world on fire overnight and, as a survivor of assault, it meant so much to me and thousands of others like me. The #MeToo movement truly put the problem of sexual harassment and assault on the front page of every paper. It became a global internet movement but it trickled into the record-breaking Women's March. And, honestly, I get really emotional when thinking about it. The power of having a community of people you don’t even know who understand the pain you have gone through and are to stand together to stop that pain from happening to others is sincerely one of the most amazing feelings.I am proud to live in a time that honors the voices that were once forced to be silenced. Tarana and all the silence-breakers were even named Time Magazine’s People of the Year in 2017 for speaking their truth and demanding justice for us all. 9. Beyonce Beyonce hasn’t just changed the music industry, she has remade it into something that works for her. Re-imagining the way music can be release, she held nothing back in 2013 when she dropped her self-titled album overnight with no announcement and with zero plans to have any of the songs appear on the radio. And she still shot to the top of the charts and broke all sorts of records. On top of that, Beyonce is truly an incredible role model for young people everywhere. She has supported the rights of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people. She has also actively participated in many different charities and projects including Ban Bossy, aimed at helping young girls gain leadership skills. Beyonce is outspoken about being a feminist and the power of women and girls to change the world-- and she lives it.8. Jon Stewart Alright, I must be honest, Jon Stewart is one of my favorite people ever. His work on The Daily Show transformed the way we believed we had to get our news. He made watching current events fun and making things fun makes them incredibly more impactful. During his stint on the show he changed the face of television and politics and created deeply meaningful social change.Jon is even credited with being the deciding factor of a bill granting money and support to 9/11 first-responders, which passed three days after he featured a group of first-responders on his show. He has been actively fighting for first-responders even after leaving the Daily Show and still speaks out often on the need to honor their heroism. Also, just this year, Jon and his wife purchased a 45 acre farm and has made it a sanctuary and rehabilitation facility for animals that have been abused. He has dedicated both his career and personal life to amplifying the voices of those who don't have a platform.7. Nahko BearNahko and Medicine for the People's music is a medicine that can heal your soul in a way you never could have ever imagined. Nahko had a very different and unique childhood and his capacity for forgiveness and eagerness to grow as a person is translated into music that documents that journey. Nahko was adopted as a baby and grew up homeschooled in a suburb of Portland where he developed his love for music. As a teenager he longed to find his Native American roots and set out to find his birth parents. Not only did he find his birth mother and siblings, but he learned that he was conceived in a rape and that his biological father had been killed a few years after the incident.Feeling a pull and trusting in spirit, he ended up meeting with the man who killed his father and forgave both men in the act of doing so. He is vulnerable with his music and his life. His ability to own his flaws and growth is incredibly inspiring. Personally, Nahko reminded me of my magic in a time when I didn’t know if I would ever find it again, and is part of the reason that I now help people discover and learn to use their intuitive magic without fear. Fear is part of life, but that doesn’t mean your magical gifts should remain hidden as a result of it. 6. Sinead BurkeSinead is such an inspiring person in so many different ways. As a little person she has fought incredibly hard since 2012 to ensure that people with disabilities get included in the fashion industry. And it is working.She currently runs a company that specializes in creating fashion for people with varying different disabilities. Last year she became the first every little person to be invited to the Met Gala and she has been featured on the cover of Vogue.How did this all start? Well that is simple: she started a blog that called out the fashion industry for being exclusive and ableist. Though some people may think that the fashion industry is a weird place to be fighting so hard for equal representation, to Sinead, this is not a fashion issue, it's a confidence issue. It’s also a visibility issue.It is time for all people to be able to access things that make them feel more confident and, more importantly, it is so essential for all people to be represented in the industries that matter to them. 5. Father Gregory BoylePops, as the people he has helped call him, is truly the epitome of what means to make a difference in the world.Seeing how the prison system failed former gang members by making it nearly impossible for them to assimilate back into society, Father Boyle decided he was going to change the experience for the former prisoners. So, he started Homeboy industries, which has now expanded to be the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world.Father Boyle approaches Project Homeboy with eagerness and a massive dedication to help. Thanks to his work, the people in Project Homeboy have a 70% chance of never returning to prison-- way up from the 30% that is the national average.Not only does his project find work for ex cons and gang members, it also offers them a positive community that helps them see the world in a different way. 4. RuPaul In the last ten years, RuPaul has truly revolutionized the public attitude towards self-love and drag and brought light to a massive amount of LGBTQ+ issues in mainstream media.In the past decade the acceptance and an understanding of the LGBTQ+ community is more the norm than ever and RuPaul’s presence in the media-- and his hit show, RuPaul's Drag Race-- has been a huge contributor to that.After 30 years in the industry, he now also holds the record for the most Emmys for a Reality TV Show Host ever. His radical self-love and dedication to normalizing and embracing our differences is deeply inspiring and incredibly impactful to thousands of people every day. 3. Daryl DavisDaryl Davis is the poster child for the power of communication over violence and discrimination.Daryl has made it his mission as an African-American man to befriend as many members of the KKK as possible. In the time that he has been doing this he has been responsible, either directly or indirectly, for over 200 people leaving the hate group.Many of the members who have been inspired by him to turn their lives around remain close with him to this day. He has even gone as far as being in their weddings and appointing a former member to be his daughter’s godfather. It is Daryl’s philosophy that conversation can change the world. He states that when two people are talking, they aren’t fighting-- and that ignorance breeds fear. If we can educate people on the things they fear, it makes it far more difficult for them to be afraid. 2. Greta ThunbergJust this week Greta was officially named Time Magazine’s youngest ever Person of the Year and, wow, does she deserve it.I don’t know what you were doing at 16 years old, but if you’re anything like me, it probably had something to do with avoiding having everyone’s eyes on you. Greta on the other hand, is doing the exact opposite.She quickly went from being a lone protester boycotting school in order to raise awareness about climate change to leading a global movement. That movement has included such things as addressing world leaders at the United Nations to working with fellow children activists, Earth Guardians, to bring forth a lawsuit against the US government demanding they take real action to stop the climate crisis. On top of that, she has Asperger's and isn’t afraid to talk about it, which is such an empowering and inspirational thing to see. Greta is normalizing disabilities and talking about things that can no longer be swept under the rug. I can’t wait to see all the things that this incredible young woman will change in the next decade.1. Pushpa Basnet A Nepali activist and all-around wonderful human, Pushpa Basnet is making a difference-- one child at a time.For the last decade, Pushpa has founded and run a special daycare and education center for the children of convicts in Nepal. Even after her school was destroyed in 2015 by the earthquake, she continued her work and rebuilt it from the ground up. She is truly giving these children a future that would have been taken from them had she not been there.Her work has garnered her not one but two CNN Hero awards in the past ten years. Her dedication to her mission can inspire us all to live according to our values and beliefs, and to be the change we want to see in the world.To the 2010s... and beyond!In order to create a better tomorrow, we must be the people who inspire others to change, to grow, to come together. Whether it starts with helping one child learn to read or leading a global movement, your voice matters.We are at the start of a new decade. You have a choice: let your energy be heard, be used for a better world, or remain stuck in a past that can no longer serve us.The world is changing and as long as there are people like those on this list in the world, I believe that we are headed in an amazing direction. Who will you inspire?Looking for more uplifting content? Check out our article of quotes to inspire you.
The 20 Most Inspiring Movies of the 2010s
Here we are at the end of the 2010s. To say it has been a transformative decade would be an incredible understatement. It has been a decade of massive advancement and change in everything from tech to human rights to art. There is so much to discuss -- this past decade has been inspiring in so many different ways. To honor this, we wanted to give a run down of some of the most inspiring and impactful movies that have been released this decade. They paint a beautiful picture of the priorities we as a society have come to hold these last ten years. In the past decade, film has become more available than ever before with the takeover of countless streaming services and overall digital accessibility. That, in part, has given rise to a massive boom of the film and television industry. Films have always been a place where the deepest and most impactful of topics can be addressed in palatable (or sometimes not so palatable) ways. But now, with the accessibility to film and visual media at an all time high, there is a need for film to show all parts of people in increasingly creative ways.Here are the most inspiring movies of the decade:20. The Impossible (2010)No joke: this movie made me wake my kids up to hug them. Based on the "impossible" true experiences of a family who survived the devastation of a tsunami in Thailand, it hits your right in the feels. Not only is this movie inspiring because of the pure power of a will to survive is so beautifully displayed, but also because you truly see the strength of unconditional love even in chaos. There is also definitely an element of the Universe, or some sort of higher power, truly intervening in the family’s search for each other after the Tsunami tears them apart. The Impossible is such a touching story. Anyone who watches it feels how the depth and strength of a family’s love for one another brings them together against all odds. On top of that, it really helps to give you a sense of what it would really be like to go through a natural disaster such as this and by the end your heart is opened to anyone who has ever had to experience anything like what this family went through. 19. Creed (2015)Creed seemed like an underdog. It was the first Rocky sequel not to focus mainly on Sylvester Stallone's iconic boxer. Surely the series had run out of steam?Ingeniously, the movie instead follows the rise of Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, as he trains to excel in the sport that led to his father's death. Along the way, he gets some unlikely support from Apollo's former opponent, Rocky, and develops into a future champion who is ready to embraced his father's last name: Creed.Ryan Coogler's movie subverts so many assumptions we have about Rocky movies, but it retains the core message of Rocky-- that the underdog can become a champ through determination and driver-- while adding some complexity that perfectly updates the story for this decade. It feels how the Rocky theme song sounds.18. Arrival (2016)At first blush, Arrival seems like a twisty sci-fi story about aliens trying to communicate with humans-- and it is, but it's also so much more. Without giving too much of the plot away, what unfolds is an powerful lesson about how, despite loss and conflict, the love of a mother and the determination of a hero can bring about world peace. All it takes is one person who's willing to listen-- and one who's willing to speak up.17. 12 Years a Slave (2013)Though set in pre-Civil War America, the beauty of this film is that its dedication to showing the power and fortitude of the human spirit is just as powerful and inspiring now as it would have been back then, and was to all those who read Solomon Northup’s original book of the same name. There are some moments in the movie that are challenging to watch and even more so knowing that it is a true story but, on the flip side, that is also what makes it so important. No matter how beaten Solomon may be, he is never truly broken. He never loses the belief that he will be free, and that his friends and family will be waiting for him. It is truly a statement of the power of love and determination that has been relevant for the last 150 years. In telling these stories, the ones that many would like to remain forgotten, we continue to show our commitment to letting them never happen again. 16. Inside Out (2015)Yes, this is a cartoon, but, to say it is a revolutionary and inspiring movie is an understatement. Inside Out follows the personified emotions in a growing girl's head as they try to process the changes she's experiencing.Not only does Inside Out describe emotions in a way that children can understand but also it brings awareness to the power of emotions. Additionally it shows that adults also don’t always have control over their emotions, which is a beautiful thing for children to be able to understand in pretty colors. This deliciously cute and colorful Pixar flick has also been immensely helpful for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Counselors even have Inside Out dolls to help them explain their emotions. Normalizing the fact that we all are constantly dealing with our emotions and that they can sometimes be overwhelming is so essential for our growth and the health of our children. Inside Out nails it. 15. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)Alright, this one really hits a deep part of me that I can’t fully express and, honestly, that is one of the most impactful and inspiring parts of the film. So often, stories set in a high school environment seem to glamourize the experience but for so many of us, high school was not glamourous. Not just because we all had braces and made stupid choices, but because adolescence is really about learning how to accept the facets that make us human and therefore flawed. The Perks of Being a Wallflower tells the story of the shy and awkward Charlie as he makes friends and mistakes in high school, while also confronting past trauma.It can be hard to cope with your identity, especially as a teenager, and the journey of learning how to do that is one we are on forever. This film does such an incredible job of capturing the pain and heartache that comes along with coming of age. It is inspiring to see reality displayed in such a simple yet powerful way and truly helps the viewer integrate the parts of themselves that may be hard to look at. 14. Life of Pi (2012)Life of Pi is the incredible story of young who gets shipwrecked on a boat journey to Canada, with a tiger as his only companion. He tells the story of his long journey to safety-- but how much of it is true?There are quite a few ways that the movie and story are inspiring, but the most impactful thing that I left the theater with was the notion of the power of storytelling. As humans we get to create and choose our own stories, and the process of telling those stories is incredibly healing. Stories are the way that we cope with our own humanity. They are the way we interact with ourselves. And through this movie, the power of choosing your own story is illustrated in such a painful but real way. 13. Love, Simon (2018)This story, about closeted gay teenager Simon falling for his anonymous pen pal, is a great example of using a high school story to help so many people see and understand different parts of themselves. It's not just that Love, Simon itself was inspiring and impactful, but the stories that came out when it was released as well. So many people talked about how amazing it was to see teenagers cheer and clap at the end when Simon gets the love he so desires. This film normalized both the feelings that a lot of closeted people experience along with the reactions of the people around them when they do come out. It showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of the experience so people who hadn’t gone through something like this before could truly understand. And it created even more awareness around the struggles people of the LGBTQ+ community experience while also beautifully illustrating the immense power of unconditional love.12. Hidden Figures (2016)The true story told Hidden Figures is one that you watch and don't understand why you didn't already know it! It's just so amazing! In a time of segregation and separation, the brilliant African-American women working as mathematicians for NASA used paper and adding machines to send someone into space. I still don’t even understand how that works but again, knowing that what you are witnessing on your screen actually happened makes it all the more inspiring. To make it even better, Katherine Johnson, one of those very mathematicians was awarded the medal of freedom this decade. In fact, most of the women the film features are still alive to this day! This, combined with the stunning visuals that really pull you in emotionally, perfectly communicates its message of inclusion and fearlessly reaching for your dreams.11. Wonder Woman (2017)The 2010s were truly the decade of superhero cinema. The Marvel Cinematic Universe broke records at the box office while inspiring future heroes around the world, but a different superhero stands above the rest.Wonder Woman never uses her powers to keep others down. Nor does she give into her impulses towards rage and revenge. Instead, driven by love, she protects those in need and empowers them in turn.Not only was Wonder Woman an anthem of empowerment for the little kids who now look up to such a powerful and positive role model-- it's also a reminder that true strength requires compassion. I admittedly cried many times throughout this movie, because I could genuinely feel the power of seeing a proud and strong woman on the screen inspiring so many to be the same. 10. The Greatest Showman (2017)Not only is The Greatest Showman inspiring but it is the soundtrack of a generation. We are in a place where accepting and loving yourself for what makes you different being talked about on a wide scale. This film was exactly what our society needed to mirror that conversation. The beauty of this movie is that not only do the circus performers learn to love themselves for who they are (and create amazing music about it) but so does the main character, played by Hugh Jackman. My favorite story about this movie however comes from the casting. Keala Settle who plays Lettie, aka the bearded lady, actually wasn’t hired to play that role initially. She was just signed on to do the first table read for the producers but because she did so well they wanted her to play the part she read for. Prior to this she stayed out of the spotlight because of her own confidence issues but in playing this role she was able to fully own her talent. So when you hear the fantastic song "This Is Me" know that all the emotion in it is her own. Talk about inspiring. 9. The Hunger Games (2012)The Hunger Games trilogy is one of my favorite book series of all time because of the content, message, and writing. Usually, when adapting books to film, it is hard to make something near as good, but wow did The Hunger Games manage it! Being part of the generation that was raised on dystopian fiction, the message that someone so small can truly make a difference and ultimately change the world was deeply impactful. On top of that Katniss Everdeen is anything but perfect. In fact, she not only is selfish through a lot of the story but she is also traumatized multiple times to the point of being almost broken. This, in particular, was inspiring to so many, myself included, because it showed how powerful you can still be in spite of the perils thrown your way. 8. Inception (2010)That this movie has been memed and parodied like no other (looking at you, Rick and Morty) gives just us an inkling of the impact it's had on this decade. It addressed the power and potential of healing from our past wounds on a subconscious level. The surreal story of a team of thieves who break into people's dreams to steal their ideas captivated audiences back in 2010, creatively and intellectually.Inception makes the idea of facing mistakes and the effect trauma has on our mental health so visually stimulating and intriguing that doing the work to heal from your own past seems far less daunting. It presents the power that our subconscious mind has to change our reality, which can be a really abstract concept, in a simple and stunning way.7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)First, let me just say how amazingly fun this Spider-Man multi-verse story was to watch! The art and animation alone are so incredibly inspiring. Moving on to the story elements, I am a sucker for any super hero movie that turns an established trope on its head, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse does just that. It takes a hard turn away from the concept that to be a hero you must lose everything and be a lone masked crusader in a harsh and unfair world. This movie made one of the most beloved heroes of all time even more lovable in such a deep, different, and human way. And A++ for diversity and comedy. Also, the way the movie shows how the little things we do for one another make such a huge difference was so simple and yet so moving. The notion that we are not alone and always supported even when we can’t see it is so beautifully inspiring. It brought me to tears. 6. Boyhood (2014)Here is another one that made me totally cry all the tears-- in part because I am a mom and anything about children growing up makes me want to sob. Yup, even those horrible tear jerking life insurance, or whatever, commercials. But Boyhood more than earned my tears.Filmed over the course of 12 years, this magnificent work of movie magic follows the same actors as they age naturally. Boyhood truly tells a story that everyone can relate to about the truth and pain of growing up. It powerfully contrasts the wonderment and excitement of childhood with the pain and confusion of our teenage years.Though the main character experiences many big milestones, Boyhood teaches us that the little moments are what truly shape us. It’s one of those movies where you walk away and want to be a better person. 5. Paddington 2 (2017)Okay, I know that this pick may have a few people scratching their heads but this movie -- and the first Paddington film-- is inspiring in such a sweet and genuine way it just had to be included.Children’s films have truly evolved to carry a message for adults as well. Paddington, despite being a movie about an animated bear searching for a home, is no exception to this.The most inspiring part of the Paddington films is its huge emphasis on kindness and family. Paddington is always kind to everyone -- even when he is in prison. And that kindness transforms those around him. It can be a hard feet to focus on kindness in today’s world, but Paddington literally goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit and still he chooses kindness.Another wonderfully inspiring take away from this film is the power of choosing who your family is. With the massive amount of variance in family units that have been becoming more and more normalized in the past decade, showing this power of choice to children is wonderfully empowering and validating.4. Her (2013)In the past decade, humanity's means of connecting to one another have expanded beyond even the dreams of science fiction and yet people are more depressed and lonely than ever. Addressing this exact thing, Her does a beautiful job or reminding us the importance of connection. Set in the near future, Her tells the story of a lonely divorced man who falls in love with his AI named Samantha. Its deep and sometimes weird look at what AI could end up being for us is the perfect platform to drive home the power of connecting with other people and embracing the flaws that make us human. Nothing can ever be perfect but sometimes the imperfections of our relationships are the parts that truly fill our soul. 3. My Name is Khan (2010)Though released at the start of the decade, the conversations sparked by this amazing film are still incredibly relevant today.My Name is Khan tells the story of a young Muslim immigrant who stands up to racism and terrorism in post-9/11 America. In addition, the titular character has Aspergers and it is so inspiring to see a character on the spectrum presented in such a real way. The iconic line of “My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist” really establishes the theme of the film and the power of accepting and loving people for who they are. My Name is Khan started so many powerful characters. conversations around discrimination and inclusion. It has somehow has gotten even more relatable as time has worn on. 2. Mad Max: Fury RoadWho would've thought that the fourth movie in the pulpy Mad Max franchise would become one of the most inspiring movies of the decade?Mad Max: Fury Road unites two, equally inspiring stories. One: the tale of two rebellious loners isolated from society who find salvation in each other and in helping others. Two: a group of women break free of the captivity of an oppressive regime, seeking a better life for themselves and their children. When these two stories intertwined, George Miller created something that was as inspiring as it was thrilling1. The Untouchables (2011)This French movie, based on a powerful true story, will make you laugh and cry, and then laugh and cry again! The Untouchables follows the unlikely friendship between the rich man who is quadriplegic and the poor man with a criminal past hired to care for him. Their friendship inspires both men to reach beyond the limits of what they thought their potential could be. Together, they teach us that human connection is the most powerful force of all and that, by putting aside our differences and pushing ourselves farther, we can change ourselves and even the world.The true power of moviesThese are just some of the amazing and inspiring films that have come out over the past decade. And with the advances in filmmaking and streaming technology, I am sure that we can look forward to many more to come. These movies prove that the right story has the power to change your life. If someone watches the right movie at the right time, it can inspire them to take action, to change their life, and even change the world.I hope you enjoyed looking back on this decade of movie magic! What other movies inspired you in the last ten years? Looking for more uplifting content? Check out our article of inspirational quotes.More inspiring stories:Father Gregory Boyle’s Boundless Compassion Turns Gangsters Into HeroesSabrina Philipp’s Journey From Sad Little Girl to Success StoryMaggie Doyne Changed the World, Starting With Just One GirlThe Days That Made Ian Humphrey Glad to Be Alive
The 5 Stages of Grieving Your Past Self -- so You Can Move Forward
What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an archaeologist. From the time I was very little I was determined. I was going to be an archaeologist for sure. There was no other option.And then I grew up. And I am not an archaeologist. Don't get me wrong, my life is great-- even though I am not in Greece excavating pottery shards. But when I first realized that dream was not going to become a reality, I was sad. For many reasons, but mostly because when I realized that I was not going to be an archaeologist was the day I dropped out of college. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I wouldn't finish school. To say it was a blow is an understatement. It was incredibly painful, but I had become a mom and I needed to provide for my kids above anything. In order to avoid feeling my sadness I pushed on to the next thing. I found a new career and focused on that. And each time I changed companies or got a promotion or started a new endeavor, I kept up with this process: abandoning the past version of myself in order to establish a new one. So how did I do it?I abandoned my past self to move forwardMoving from version to version of ourselves is a common practice. When we move forward on to something that is good, why would we want to feel anything other than positivity towards it? On top of that, everyone in our life wants to talk about how awesome the change is so it is only natural to want to dedicate yourself to that positive attitude as well. And there are other times that we do this also, specifically after we have gone through any sort of trauma or major life change. Things like an abusive relationship, a house fire, even having a baby or getting married. Because we are moving into a new stage of life we want to focus on the positives of it more than anything else. We try to push past the things we are giving up or that are being taken from us to create a new version of ourselves. This new version has new things and wants new dreams.I began to lose myselfYes, this process is fine if you need a life raft for a moment but unfortunately, is not very effective when it comes to actually resolving and healing our past. And, it also limits your ability to honor your future. What I began to notice was, with every life change and every decision, every time I abandoned a version of myself to make a better one or to move on as fast as possible, I was actually just ignoring my needs. It was a way of avoiding any feelings that were dense or hard to feel in favor of focusing on the positive ones that were easier to process. Which is not positive after all. The side-effects of ignoring griefI started struggling emotionally because I had never taken the time to honor the past versions of myself that I had simply been leaving behind. I had never grieved for the dreams I had given up or goals I would never reach or the communities I had lost. I realized that if I was going to truly learn how to be in alignment with myself I needed to honor who I used to be. Grief is not typically viewed in a positive lightIn fact, even the word grief conjures up images of wearing all black and death. But grief is an incredibly healthy process and something that we should all be intimately comfortable with.First, let me say this, everyone grieves in different ways so if you want to start honoring your past by grieving the selves you used to be, you may already know how to do that based on your personal brand of grieving. But, if you are reading this thinking how the heck do I even start grieving myself, there are a few quick ways to get the process started. The 5 stages of grieving yourselfThe typical model that people use to think about grief is the Kubler-Ross model, which outlines five stages of grief. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, then acceptance -- a cycle of grief. And, if you think back on a time when you went through a big life change you may have experienced some iteration of these stages, though, at the time, you may not have be conscious of why. If you go through a big change where you are stepping into a new version of yourself, this model can be very helpful to you. Take the time to honor the feelings that are coming up for you by journaling or talking with a friend, or even just simply crying. Allow yourself to experience what you are going through even if you don't think you should be feeling what you are. Your feelings are valid, and honoring them will help you to move forwardYes, even the positive changes are a cause for grief. And that is perfectly okay. However, if you haven't ever taken the time to grieve the past versions of yourself and now it is years later, and, like me, you are experiencing things like anxiety, it may be hard to work through the Kubler-Ross model because you aren't in the heart of the incident that is causing the grief. You can still take the time to honor the person (or people) you used to be.Embrace your griefA good place to start is by forgiving yourself. Often we hold ourselves brutally accountable for pain that we have caused ourselves. But nothing good comes from continuing to harbor grudges towards our past. Take time every day to look yourself in the eyes-- in the mirror, of course, and forgive yourself for something. Literally say, "I forgive you for [blank]" to the mirrorIn this way your past selves can start to come forward and be heard. Then, just simply recall those people you used to be and thank them, Journal to them or just imagine yourself as you were then and talk to you in your mind. Allow yourself to feel the things that aren't always the most comfortable. Because you deserve to be able to truly move forward into the positive future. My grieving gave me clarityOnce I started getting comfortable with my own grief so many blocks that I didn't even know I had began to clear. I stopped having so much anxiety because I stopped being so absorbed in the guilt I felt I owed myself. I was able to think more clearly and feel in a way that was authentically me. I stopped focusing on how I should feel and felt comfortable with actual feelingsRemember: grieving is not a bad thing-- and neither are sadness, or anger, or any of the denser emotions. In fact, allowing yourself to feel those emotions in a healthy way is the best way to come home to yourself. Now you're ready be all that you are and become all that you will be.
