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Mark Twain, The Great Gatsby, Shattered Glass, Jim Rohn, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Sunday Supplement #118 (August 13th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.”

– Mark Twain

Book of the Week:

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest American writers, and his novel The Great Gatsby is one of the great classics of American literature.

I read The Great Gatsby in high school and knew even then that I was reading a brilliant novel that stood out across time.

The novel follows the narrator Nick Carraway’s recounting of his interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and the socialites of Long Island in the 1920s.

Gatsby throws lavish parties in the new-rich town of West Egg, hoping his long-lost love from the fashionable West Egg will one day attend.

The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite novels of all time and, in my opinion, should be a book on everyone’s reading list.

Movie of the Week:

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass tells the story of a young journalist of The New Republic magazine, who fell from grace when it was discovered he fabricated over half his articles.

Hayden Christensen stars in the leading role of Stephen Glass. He became famous because of the Star Wars prequels, but he shines in some of his lesser-known films like this one.

The supporting cast of Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynsey, Hank Azaria, and Steve Zahn also put in great performances.

Bill Ray directed and co-wrote the film based on the article written by Buzz Bissinger. The final result is a brilliant little film well worth checking out if you haven’t seen it.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Power of Ambition | Jim Rohn | Let’s Become Successful

This video starts with Jim Rohn discussing how ambition differs from greed and how ambition is an activated desire to achieve. 

Rohn goes on to discuss self-interest versus selfishness. Much of our behavior comes from a place of self-interest, but what makes it different from selfishness is that it is not coming at the expense of others.

Let’s Become Successful hosts this video and is a team of motivation enthusiasts who want to provide videos that will help inspire.

I’ve featured Jim Rohn in one other Sunday Supplement and am a fan of his work. 

Check out this video and see if you want to explore more of Rohn’s work or other Let’s Become Successful videos.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Perform your duty equipoised, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.”

– Bhagavad Gita 2:48

This passage from the Bhagavad Gita reminds me to operate from a place of balanced expectations.

Being ambitious and excited about what you are doing/working on is a great source to tap into, but failure shouldn’t derail you, either.

Failure can be a lesson and a motivator to improve and continue. Equally, getting too attached to success can lead to the avoidance of challenging endeavors.

The last part of the passage defines yoga as operating from a place of balance. For those who don’t know, yoga isn’t only a physical exercise; it is also a state of being.

Achieve your dreams, stay balanced, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Elizabeth Wurtzel, Brave New World, Little Miss Sunshine, Therapy in a Nutshell, and a Dhammapada Verse

Sunday Supplement #117 (August 6th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end. The fog is like a cage without a key.”

– Elizabeth Wurtzel

Book of the Week:

Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World depicts the World State city of London in AF 632 (2540 AD), where citizens are born through artificial wombs and into predetermined castes.

The novel focuses first on Bernard Marx, a psychologist, and member of the high caste, suffering from an inferiority complex because of his short stature and sub-par looks.

Bernard disagrees with the State’s methods of keeping its citizens peaceful and vocalizes his displeasure, which threatens his position.

A holiday to the outside world brings the perspective of life removed from Government control. The subsequent experiences after the revelations have consequences back in the World State.

Huxley’s dystopian classic is on many best/greatest novels lists and is a brilliant exploration of human emotion.

Movie of the Week:

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine follows the Hoover family’s cross-country road trip in their VW bus to get their daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant.

The oddball comedy from first-time writer Michael Arndt with directorial debuts from Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, made $101 million from its $8 million budget.

Little Miss Sunshine explores each dysfunctional family member portrayed by Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collete, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, and Steve Carell.

The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Abigail Breslin), and won Best Writing – Original Screenplay and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Alan Arkin) at the 2007 Academy Awards.

Little Miss Sunshine is a wonderful exploration of the ups and downs of life packed in an engaging and entertaining narrative.

Brainfood of the Week:

Fight Depression and Burnout in 2 Minutes a Day | Therapy in a Nutshell

The video starts with Emma McAdam, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, discussing how our brains are much better at focusing on survival than focusing on being happy.

Because of this default setting, we find ourselves hyper-attuned to negative information and can form harmful habits.

McAdam goes on to break down an exercise to combat negative thinking and help rewire your brain to increase positivity.

Emma McAdam set up her YouTube channel Therapy in a Nutshell to make mental health resources easier to access. She takes therapy skills and psychological research and condenses them down into bite-sized nuggets of help.

Therapy in a Nutshell has over 1 million subscribers and over 84 million views. If you like this video, check out more of McAdam’s content.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“It is in the nature of the foolish to be full of sorrow and feel depressed when things go wrong and to be full of gladness and feel elated when things go well. The wise, however, can withstand the ups and downs of life.”

– Dhammapada 83

This verse from the collection of sayings of the Buddha came off as some pretty hard tough-love when I first read it.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that it speaks to the wisdom that can come with age and experience.

I don’t necessarily think the verse criticizes the feelings of depression, sorrow, gladness, and elation but instead emphasizes the wisdom of not getting lost in them.

It is important to be aware of your emotions and to check in with yourself so you don’t get carried away or swept away by elation or depression.

Check in with yourself, be aware of your feelings, ask for support, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Thomas Carlyle, Becoming Supernatural, The Whale, Psych2Go, and an African Proverb

Sunday Supplement #115 (July 23rd, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”

– Thomas Carlyle

Book of the Week:

Becoming Supernatural – Dr. Joe Dispenza

I recommend this book with a grain of salt. I’ve touched on other books about New Thought beliefs, but I find the best from these books comes from practical application.

In the book, Dispenza discusses topics ranging from demystifying the seven chakra centers of the body to changing past conditioning by reconditioning your mind.

While the book delves into spirituality, manifestation, and mysticism, all topics I find fascinating, I believe his insights on meditation and thought management are helpful to all.

Becoming Supernatural is a dive into the deep end of New Thought, but I believe it’s worth checking out and has some valuable tips for self-development.

Movie of the Week:

The Whale

The Oscar-winning film The Whale follows a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher as he attempts to reconnect with his teenage daughter.

I don’t think the movie is perfect, but I found it a thought-provoking and emotional film that deeply explored depression and loss.

Brendan Fraser made his acting comeback with his Academy Award-winning performance as Charlie, and nominee Hong Chau stood out with her brilliant supporting role.

Director Darren Aronofsky took Samuel D. Hunter’s play and brought it to the screen, continuing his streak of films exploring darker human emotions.

The Whale comes off as meant for the theater, but it’s an intense film worth watching for those looking for a deeper experience than a popcorn flick.

Brainfood of the Week:

Mental Health vs. Physical Health | Psych2Go

In this Psych2Go video, FM doctor Mike Varshavski discusses mental and physical health aspects and how they are often related.

Varshavski starts the video by discussing experiences of how many patients come in with physical health complaints that, after investigation, relate to mental health issues.

Monica Tiang of Pysch2Go asks brilliant questions that allow Varshavski to delve into topics of diet and health, comorbidities, psychological diagnoses, and treatment options.

I’ve featured Psych2Go in a few previous Sunday Supplements. They have over 11 million subscribers, and their mission is to make psychology and mental health more accessible.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“When a small toe is hurting, the whole body swoops down to attend to it.”

– African Proverb

I laughed when I read this African Proverb. It made me think of the times I’ve stubbed my toe and completely forgot everything else except my unfortunate toe.

However, the proverb is an excellent example of how minor pains can take our attention. And it bodes that even larger pains can demand all of it.

We often are encouraged to work through the pain, whether that be physical or emotional. There is some merit in certain circumstances, but it shouldn’t be a go-to mentality.

Knowing our bodies and mental states is vital to making the best decisions. It’s one thing to overcome limiting obstacles, but it is another to ignore our bodies and emotions.

Take care of your health, build good habits, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Alia Bhatt, Gwendy’s Button Box, Rounders, Improvement Pill, and a Japanese Proverb

Sunday Supplement #114 (July 16th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Whatever you do, do with determination. You have one life to live; do your work with passion and give your best. Whether you want to be a chef, doctor, actor, or a mother, be passionate to get the best result.”

– Alia Bhatt

Book of the Week:

Gwendy’s Button Box – Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

It’s been a few months since I featured a Stephen King novel, but since this week’s theme is about passion, I want to highlight Gwendy’s Button Box.

Most people assume King is strictly a horror offer. This novel, written with Richard Chizmar, is a brilliant coming-of-age tale about Gwendy Peterson.

The novel starts with twelve-year-old Gwendy exercising on the local Suicide Stairs of Castle Rock when a mysterious man presents Gwendy with a magical button box.

Gwendy is tasked with protecting the box and must battle the temptation to test the dangerous contents the box holds.

King is a brilliant author and crafts a wonderful small-town tale. His work fires my passion for literature and writing, and I highly recommend his work.

Movie of the Week:

Rounders

Poker became a mainstream game in the last twenty years, and Rounders was one of the first movies to feature the game and its underground world.

David Levien and Brian Koppelman wrote the script about a young, reformed gambler who must return to playing high-stakes poker to help a friend pay off a debt while trying to balance his relationship with his girlfriend and his commitments to law school.

Matt Damon and Edward Norton star in the film, and the supporting cast features terrific performances from John Turturro, John Malkovich, Martin Landau, and Gretchen Mol.

John Daly directed the film that remains a legacy in the poker world and is still a brilliant story and excellent film.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Find Your Passion | Improvement Pill

This video starts by debunking the assumption that only one thing can be our passion. The truth is that many things can be your passion. You can have more than one.

The two things you need to do to discover your passions. The first is that you must change where you get your dopamine from. 

Dopamine is the chemical released by our brain that motivates us to do something. It is accompanied by pleasure and is easy to get from outside substances.

If we receive our dopamine from outside sources, we are less likely to pursue activities that naturally release the chemical in our bodies.

Check out the video to see the rest of the breakdown. And I’ve also featured Improvement Pill in other previous Sunday Supplements. Their videos are excellent sources of knowledge.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Beginning is easy; continuing is hard.” 

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese Proverb is a straightforward message that highlights how it’s easy to take the first steps, but it’s challenging to finish the journey.

For me, knowing that the journey is hard allows you to embrace the challenges that come along the way.

If you know something will be hard, you won’t be surprised when you encounter obstacles. Instead, you can expect them and be in the right mind space to take them on when they come.

I enjoy proverbs like these because they remind you what you’re getting into. If you know that and still want to take on the challenges, you’re on the right path.

Pursue your passions, don’t give up, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Rollo May, The Other Wes Moore, Dunkirk, Stephen Jon Thompson, and a Kitab al-KafiRollo Passage

Sunday Supplement #113 (July 9th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.”

– Rollo May

Book of the Week:

The Other Wes Moore – Wes Moore

Wes Moore states in the book, “The other Wes Moore is a drug dealer, a robber, a murder. I am a Rhodes scholar, a White House Fellow, a former Army officer. Yet our situations could easily have been reversed.”

The journey of this book being written started when the Baltimore Sun ran a piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had received a Rhodes Scholarship.

In the same paper, the police were reported to be looking for two suspects who had allegedly killed a police officer in an armed robbery. One of the suspects’ names was Wes Moore.

Moore reached out later to the other Moore in prison and started a correspondence that developed into a relationship.

In this book, he chronicles their lives, how similar they were growing up, and the differences and a bit of luck that shaped their lives differently.

The Other Wes Moore is a New York Times bestseller well worth checking out. 

Movie of the Week:

Dunkirk

I think the war film genre is extremely difficult to capture uniquely after so many brilliant films in the past have covered much ground.

So, I was curious when director/writer Christopher Nolan decided to tackle the story of Dunkirk. I’m a huge fan of his work and wanted to see what he could do differently.

Nolan’s Dunkirk follows three storylines around the battle of Dunkirk: one from the perspective of those on the beach, one from a pilot going to provide cover, and the third follows a boat of civilians called to action to help rescue the stranded soldiers.

The storylines are straightforward, and the history of Dunkirk won’t leave any surprises, but the way Nolan brings the narratives together is brilliant.

Brainfood of the Week:

Creating A Community And Finding Purpose | Stephen Jon Thompson

In this TEDx Talk, Stephen Jon Thompson tells the audience about his beginnings as an abandoned child to his success as an executive recruiter in the software industry.

Thompson was in a juvenile detention center when he promised himself he would never be alone again and that he’d find his family.

His journey afterward took him to an orphanage, where he started to make friends with the people in the home, his classmates at school, and others in the community.

Thompson discusses how nurturing relationships through thousands of seemingly simple interactions created oneness.

Check out the video if you’re interested in hearing the whole story, and consider Thompson’s question of what you want your ideal community to look like.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“He who begins his day without endeavoring for the improvement of Muslims’ affairs is no Muslim.”

– Kitab al-Kafi Vol 2.

The Kitab al-Kafi is a hadith collection, which refers to reports of statements or actions of Muhammed.

I’ve stated in previous Sunday Supplements how I find it fascinating how many passages of the spiritual religions could have a word or two changed and fit right in another religious text.

If you replaced Muslim with Christian, I wouldn’t be surprised to find this passage in the Bible. I take that lesson from this passage and replace the word with humans.

We should all look for opportunities to help those around us. Whether that be a smile and a hello to someone walking by or lending a hand to one in need, I believe our actions can help make a better community.

Look for those opportunities to give back, and have a blessed week ahead!

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