Hey, Stop Being Lazy!
Image by L.E. Wilson from RedBubble based on work by Ralf Designs from Pixabay
It’s amazing how difficult it is to feel sympathetic toward a lazy person, and alternatively it’s interesting how satisfying it is to watch the progress made by an industrious person. Perhaps the reason that it is hard to root for someone who is slothful is simply because their very inactivity means there is nothing to hope for, no way for goals to be reached, and nothing to expect. In contrast, movies that show characters who have a good work ethic, focus, discipline, and determination are not only satisfying, but also strangely empowering and motivating.
That gumption, that drive, that verve, is really life itself, isn’t it? A lazy person is in a very basic fundamental way not really living—just existing in the most passive way possible. It’s very unappealing in the same way that death is unappealing. But unlike death—there is a cure for laziness, and it’s to stop being lazy. Sure habits are hard to break, but getting the body moving and doing something, anything, even if it’s just cleaning or tidying up, is surprisingly energizing.
So it’s really no coincidence that many of the movies that portray the characteristics of an industrious person, that passionate, driven work ethic, tend to be sports movies or those set in competitive environments that push people to their physical limits and abilities, usually in music or entertainment. Moreover, a common theme through these films is overcoming limitations and barriers, particularly poverty, which in many cases serves as the main motivator to achieve, and thus proves the stoic philosopher Seneca correct, “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
Which really is the life lesson shown to us in these films, if we choose to learn from them. In fact, the underlying truth may be that humans need adversity and competition to thrive. Something needed has to be at stake, others must be trying to get it too, and one has to believe that there is a path to victory in order to try.
So if you need it, and are feeling lazy but want to change, imagine that you are in competition with one of the hard-working individuals listed below, some of whom are characters based on real persons, and some of whom are actual people portraying themselves in documentaries. Click on the “🍿Movie Scene Link” under each movie to find out who is who for yourself:
Life Lesson: Push yourself to reach your full potential.
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Life Lesson: Learn to defend yourself in a way that should gain the respect of your opponents.
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Life Lesson: Own the moment; seize the opportunity. Don’t wait for someone to rescue you.
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Life Lesson: Know that you are valuable, so don’t settle for less, even if others are trying to keep you down.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Life Lesson: Ignore those who judge you based on your age and not your ability. You can, you should, and you must pursue your goals no matter your stage of life.
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Life Lesson: Never stop learning.
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Life Lesson: To become the best, push yourself harder than the rest.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Life Lesson: If you want to blaze your own trail, do what you really want and not answer to anybody — you can do it, but it will likely be a long, hard road with a lot of sacrifice. If you succeed, the personal and financial rewards will be huge.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Life Lesson: If you want to succeed in a field, you have to endure long hours of hard work for no or low pay while you hone the necessary skills.
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Life Lesson: Being good enough is not enough if you want to be great.
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Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.
So get going!
Visit the moviewise catalogue—a searchable database of one sentence movie summaries, movie quotes, and movie wisdom—for movie recommendations.
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Well, I was going to read this but I'm too lazy.
The notification on my phone with the title "Hey, Stop Being Lazy!" really got me moved and working for the day