Movies can tell us a lot about hidden aspects of our world, things that may go unnoticed and unacknowledged every day. But if you listen and look closely enough you will realise many of them hold valuable life lessons which we can take away afterwards, and even apply it to our own lives.
1 The World is Full of Beauty - American Beauty
Ricky is the only character in American Beauty who can see beauty in everything around him, without hesitation. And if you think about it, he's right to view the world like this because it's absolutely true. Everything around us is full of beauty and it's up to us to take the time to stop and realise that before the chance is gone.
Ricky shows us that something like an empty, plastic bag or a dead bird lying on the grass are beautiful in their own way and that's something that should be admired by all of us.
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2 Love Might Be Right in Front of You - Clueless
Cher spent several years trying to find love and her 'perfect match', failing to see that love itself was right in front of her, under her nose the entire time. Josh turned out to be just the person she was looking for.
This is often the case in reality as well, where we spent so long searching for something we had all along and all we have to do is open our eyes to realise this. Take a moment to stop what you're doing and think about what's in front of you...is it what you've been looking for this entire time?
3 The Only Person Standing in Your Way is You - Black Swan
Nina is a ballerina for a prestigious ballet company who strives to be the image of perfection while she's dancing. She wants this more than anything but finds another version of herself staring back at her every time she looks into a mirror. This is a very evil, possessed looking replica of herself who tries to sabotage Nina's opportunities as a dancer and stifles her success.
Often in real life there is only one person holding us back and that is actually ourselves, because our fears and anxieties put worry into our head and it stops us from achieving and succeeding.
4 Money Can't Buy Happiness- the Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby owns a huge mansion with anything and everything you could imagine found inside. He hosts extravagant parties on a regular basis and is wealthiest, most popular man around (plus everyone is always talking about him). It's true that he has everything...except for love. He tries to convince himself that he's truly happy because he can afford and possess everything under the sun. But he doesn't have that special person to share it with, his true love of many years or more commonly known as 'the one who got away'.
Often we spend money because it acts as a security blanket and has the ability to make us feel better temporarily, but that always wears off sooner or later and we're still left with that missing part that we can't seem to fill with money - no matter how much we have of it to spend. Money can't buy happiness and it also can't buy love. Money is not the answer to everything.
5 Never Be Ashamed of Who You Are - 10 Things I Hate about You
Kat and Patrick were both very different people with big personalities, but they have one thing in common, and that is that were never ashamed of who they were. They never apologised for being themselves, even with others couldn't (or chose not to) accept them for who they were.
We should all remember this and apply it to our own lives. We should have enough self-worth, pride and self-respect to never be ashamed of who we are and value our unique identity.
6 Love Can Last Forever - the Notebook
Noah and Allie got together when they were young and although they spent the following years apart (with other partners, even) they found their way back to each other as they continued to grow old together.
This shows us that our love can last forever and for the rest of our lives, no matter how much time apart and distance between two lovers. Love has great strength and it can be kept alive in your heart. It doesn't have to fade with time but it can continue with time.
7 There's No Such Thing as Perfection - Stepford Wives
The wives of Stepford all look the same, speak the same and act the same. They're all smiles and fill the room with chirpy laughter as they twirl in their floral dresses, heels and wide-brim hats. But Joanna, who is new to the town along with her family, is suspicious of the Stepford way of life and particularly the wives.
Secrets unravel as she discovers the hidden secret within the town and that looks can be very deceiving: perfection isn't attainable. There is no such thing as perfection, in fact, flaws and imperfections are what makes us who we are! They're a big part of us and can easily be seen in a positive way.
8 Keep the Faith - August Rush
A young boy named Evan runs away from his orphanage in search of his birth parents. On his journey he meets a homeless man who nickname's him August Rush due to his gift of being able to hear music wherever he is. The homeless man is secretly plotting to exploit the young child, but little does he know, his birth parents are searching for him too.
On their quest to find each other, they're all eventually reunited. This teaches us we must always have faith in the things we believe in because that faith is going to take us to our dreams. And if it doesn't, then it will take us to something we were meant to have which is even greater.
9 Relationships Take Work - Fireproof
“When a man is trying to win the heart of a woman, he studies her. He learns her likes, dislikes, habits and hobbies. But after he wins her heart and marries her, he often stops learning about her..."
This movie shows that even though you may be married, you still need to put work into your relationship. You need to continue to grow together and learn from and about each other, otherwise, you're never going to last.
10 Never Stop Dreaming - Million Dollar Baby
“It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.” This quote is so powerful! It shows just how important it is to have dreams in life and to always continue to pursue those dreams.
A true rags to riches story of a humble waitress who breaks into the boxing world and takes it by storm. Shooting to stardom along the way, Maggie shows us to never give up no matter how far our dreams may seem out of reach.
What other movies have you watched that you realize now have taught you so many more life lessons than you expected?
