5 life lessons and strategies from binge watching Netflix’s
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker
Believe it. Watching Netflix was an inspired action and led to further inspiration!
I woke up at 5:30 AM today. I meditated, journaled, stayed in bed until noon (not something I do…well I did it this morning but not something I normally do) googling tulle dresses for a family photo session in three weeks (which is completely stressful for me due to my complete and utter lack of fashion sense).
I was not feeling “it” (“it” meaning finish my billing for my business, studying for a real estate exam, creating video resources for clients, complete a self-development course, create a self-development course, do the laundry, and feed myself) I finally succumb to my desire to watch Netflix.
I turn on Netflix, for myself, for the first time in 3 months.
I click on the first highlighted box.
Months ago, I noticed this show thinking “oh that looks good! I need to watch that sometime!” Knowing full well that “sometime” may or may not present itself.
Anywho, this was the best thing I could have done for myself today. Instead of resisting through the tasks, struggling upstream and read the same paragraph 3 times because I wasn’t “listening” to what I was reading, I followed the calling of …. wait for it….Netflix. Ironically.
Although these episodes were “made for television” and did not do her life justice, I was inspired to extract the mindset tools. The tools are not new in business or in life and the strategies I extracted are actually research based but reminders are helpful and I clearly needed them today as I was lucky that I brushed my teeth.
I love learning about extraordinary people anyway and always loves me a good autobiography. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning was and still is a game changer for me and I recommend it to anyone who can read. The list goes on and I shall put Madame C. J. Walker's Biography on my to do list but I shall now present the inspiration I have received from binge watching Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker...
Drum roll please… (aaaand the drum rolls…)
1. Be the person that lives the life that you want to create.
Sara Breedlove was known as Madame C.J. Walker. She knew and felt she was beyond her current reality. She prepared for more customers even when she didn’t have any.
Tool
Who do you want to emulate?
Ask yourself, every morning
“What would my future, best self do?”
“How would she feel?”
“How would she act?”
“Who would she be?”
Do you want to be a peaceful conscious parent?
Ask yourself the same questions.
Do you want to live an extraordinary life with an abundance of time, money, and love?
Do you want to navigate life with confidence?
Answer your questions before getting out of bed in the morning and don’t get out of bed until you feel you are the person you want to be ( You can probably complete this well before noon but whatever works for you).
2. Endorse yourself
You don’t need approval from anyone or anything outside of yourself to move in the direction of your dreams. If you are a contractor or in commercial real estate, well , this doesn’t apply completely to your dreams but you get the idea;)
One of my favorite authors and favorite quotes
“What other people think of me is none of my business”- Dr. Wayne Dyer
Tool
Allow yourself the freedom to make your opinion of you the most important. If it doesn’t feel good you can change your mind;)
3. Be tenacious
“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”-Madam C.J. Walker
She did not let anything stop her. Not the fears of others. Not her own fears. She even splashed water in the face of her own imagined bully which brings me to the next tool…….another drum roll please…..( trumpets)….. wth?... either way…
Tool
Close your eyes. Put a face or image to whatever naysayer voices you have in your head. Imagine that naysayer in front of you talking smack. Look that naysayer in the eye, say thank you for trying to keep me safe and dump the bucket of water over him/her and watch it dissolve into a beautiful puddle with your favorite flower growing up from the quenched soil.
You're welcome;)
4. Be an inspiration
“I want you to understand that your first duty is to humanity. I want others to look at us and see that we care not just about ourselves but about others.”- Madam C.J. Walker
Love this Madam! Be the change!
Another favorite quote/motto I try to live is “be the change you want to see in the world.” The actual quote is below by Mahatma Gandhi.
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Tool
Look in the mirror.
When you feel triggered or angry. Look in the mirror
When you feel sad. Look in the mirror.
Be curious and dive deeper knowing each emotion has an inside source that was merely triggered by an external source.
5. Keep dreaming!
She kept dreaming bigger and bigger. Whatever called to her she did. She was aware of naysayers but she did not assume their fears. She stayed true to her calling.
Allow inspiration to be your compass. When there is a spark, fuel it by following it.
Tool
Allow yourself time to be quiet. Be quiet. Ask the question “what would feel fun right now? What would feel exciting?” Listen. Listen some more. Is there anything calling you to action? Do it.
Thank you for reading! Now let’s get out there and make our own opportunities!...or at least a sandwich;)