What Forrest Gump has to do with performance happiness, freedom of choice, and motivation
Choosing the Best In the Hollywood movie "Forrest Gump," Forrest Gump sits on a park bench and kindly offers an open box of chocolates to the nurse sitting next to him. Slightly unsure, she ignores his offer, but this doesn't stop him from reflecting on life, saying, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." This sentence is from Forrest Gump's mother. One might wonder: Is that true? Part of it is certainly correct. Much of what happens to us is not really predictable. But another important aspect is missing here. The nurse could have chosen from a variety of delicious chocolates. She could have taken a light or a dark chocolate. One with nuts or a white one. She chooses none, maybe she was on a diet or didn't trust him or simply doesn't like chocolate? We choose from the box of chocolates of life. And we have never had so much freedom to do so as we do today. Nevertheless, many of us are unhappy, demotivated, or overwhelmed by stress. The Best Day of the Week? Recently, it was Monday, and not everyone was pleased with this fact. I have been wondering for a long time why that is the case. Because in fact, we also have a choice here, how we wake up on Monday morning, how we go to work, and what we make of this day. However, if you enter the word "Monday" as a term into a search engine, the following result appears in the images: Out of 30 displayed representations, only 4 are positive. All the others range from Monday haters, vulgar and offensive words to bored faces. From my point of view, a serious misalignment that can be changed if we want to. For example, starting the week with good questions, such as: "What am I looking forward to today?" or "What can I contribute today to the success of my life and that of others?" or "How can I do more of what I love today?" These would be questions that would bring better answers and thus more motivation from within than this constant complaining and lamenting about a fact we cannot change: that the week has 5 working days and starts with a Monday. For myself, I have decided not to complain about what I cannot change but to shape what I have control over. I no longer want to criticize the box of chocolates but choose the best one for me. And be grateful for it. Even Failure Can Be Mastered Artistically And what does this have to do with Forrest Gump? He is not the smartest, but in the movie, he is very successful in what he does: table tennis, American football, running, and even shrimp fishing. Despite this, he is humble, looks out for others, and wants them to be well, as in the scene on the park bench. He is content with himself and his life, has achieved a lot, and still cares for others. The way he deals with setbacks makes him a beacon and a great example. Never give up but keep going if things don't work out. What a magnificent example of performance happiness. Let's follow his lead. Choose from the large box of chocolates of life what tastes best to you. Enjoy your meal!
