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Tag: Steven Spielberg

Maya Angelou, The Psychology of Money, Minority Report, Philosophies for Life, and a Dhammapada Verse

Sunday Supplement #112 (July 2nd, 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:

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

– Maya Angelou

Book of the Week:

The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel

Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money shares 19 short stories that exemplify different ways people think about money and provides valuable lessons in them.

One of the fundamental principles of the book is the idea that doing well isn’t necessarily about what you know but more about how you behave.

Many smart financial people lose a lot of money or go completely broke. It often has to do with the lack of control or awareness of their behavior.

Housel is an award-winning author, two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and a partner at The Collaborative Fund.

The Psychology of Money is worth a read as a good reminder of solid principles that will help you secure your financial future.

Movie of the Week:

Minority Report

Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report takes place in the future, where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes.

The film is based on Philip K. Dick’s novella and focuses on the situation an officer in that special unit faces when he is accused of a future murder.

Tom Cruise stars as the accused officer, John Anderton. Max von Sydow, Colin Farrell, and Samantha Morton also stand out in their performances.

Minority Report is an excellent exploration of free will versus determinism in a well-done science fiction/action film.

Those familiar with Dick’s works will know the story can get pretty heady, but it’s worth the watch if you’re interested in a thought-provoking and entertaining story.

Brainfood of the Week:

Miyamoto Musashi – How To Build Your Self Discipline | Philosophies for Life

Miyamoto Musashi is considered the greatest swordsman in the history of Japan. However, he wasn’t just a master of the sword; he was an artist, a philosopher, and a Buddhist.

Musashi wrote war and philosophy books, which became blueprints for people wishing to lead a disciplined life.

Philosophies for Life breaks down philosophical ideas that will help you improve multiple aspects of your life – spirituality, finance, relationships, mental, and emotional.

In the Philosophies for Life video, they discuss four principles from Musashi’s work about discipline. Check out the video and let me know if you liked the content.

I’ve featured Miyamoto Musashi in Sunday Supplement #20 and Philosophies for Life in Sunday Supplement #17 if you want to check out other similar videos.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Easy to do are things that are bad and harmful to oneself. But exceedingly difficult to do are things that are good and beneficial.”

– Dhammapada 163

This is a fairly straightforward verse from the Dhammapada, but it’s a great reminder of how the decisions we make each day can compound positively or negatively.

I’m blanking on where my brother picked up this phrase, but he shared the example of how each decision we make affects our present self and our future self.

So a decision I make now can be fun for present Drew, but future Drew will have to pay the consequences. A simple example is staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.

This Dhammapada verse reminds us that it’s easy for us to make decisions that will become our future selves’ problems. 

Look out for moments when you can take control, make the best decisions you can in those moments, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Viktor Frankl, The Really Hard Problem, Catch Me If You Can, Existentialism, and Dhammapada 103

Sunday Supplement #52 (May 8th, 2022)

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.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering.”

– Viktor Frankl

Book of the Week:

The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material World – Owen J. Flanagan

Owen Flanagan has the title of James B. Duke Professor ad Duke University, which is only given to a few faculty members with extraordinary records of achievement.

Flanagan teaches Philosophy and Neurobiology and has written extensively on the problem of consciousness and the meaning of life with regard to science and philosophy.

In The Really Hard Problem, Flanagan addresses how meaning is still possible in a material world without needing a supernatural explanation.

The Duke University professor uses concepts from philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology to outline his findings and beliefs. Flanagan also draws on practices from non-theistic spiritual traditions like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Stoicism.

The book outlines the concept of eudaimonia and how we can live a meaningful life through parameters like being moral, having true friends, opportunities to express our talents, experiencing beauty, and having trust.

Flanagan’s work is a brilliant insight into a human spiritual experience that doesn’t shy away from science. His books are worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

Catch Me If You Can

Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can is based on the autobiography of con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. 

The movie opens with FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks) escorting Frank Jr (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) back to the United States.

Various meaningful moments of Frank Jr’s life are revisited to show how the young man became a notorious check forger. Along his journey, he took on the alias of a pilot, doctor, and lawyer as he conned millions of dollars with forged checks.

The story brilliantly explores honesty in interpersonal relationships as well as the upside and downside of wealth and fame versus being seen and loved for who you are.

There aren’t many movies that delve into moral themes deeply while having an adventurous and entertaining story as the vessel.

Catch Me If You Can didn’t win any Oscars and was only up for two categories at the Academy Awards in 2003. Regardless, it’s worthy of remembering and watching years later.

Brainfood of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDz7xZkaoFk

Existentialism: Finding Meaning in Suffering | Freedom in Thought

The video opens with the question, “What does suffering mean to you?”

Viktor Frankl’s life and beliefs and Existentialism become the focus of the video to answer and find meaning in the question. 

Frankl is an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, writer, and Holocaust survivor. He famously wrote the book Man’s Search For Meaning, chronicling his time as a prisoner and his psychotherapeutic method of logotherapy.

The video discusses how essentialism was a widespread belief before World War II. The belief states that we are all born with an essence and a purpose. 

However, many questioned this belief after the atrocities of WWII. It was hard to believe in a predestined meaning if all experiences were suffering.

Existentialism then became a wider spread philosophy. Its core concept is that we are born without a purpose and are left to define our own.

Some people believe this to be a depressing viewpoint because there is no ultimate or objective meaning. Others see it as a beautiful and liberating philosophy where we can have infinite amounts of meaning. 

Frankl’s philosophy allowed him to find meaning in his suffering.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – just think of an incurable disease such as inoperable cancer – we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Life isn’t about avoiding suffering or stress at all costs. Finding meaning in suffering or finding something worth suffering for is a worthy goal.

The video delves into more positive sides of Existentialism, and I encourage you to view the whole thing. If you enjoy their breakdown of philosophical concepts, I feature another Freedom in Thought video in Sunday Supplement #27.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men is he who would conquer just one— himself.”

– Dhammapada 103

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings from the Buddha and is one of the most widely read and known Buddhist scriptures.

This verse reminds me of the true power of having control over oneself.

There are many external obstacles and achievements to navigate in life, but one person is always with you along the way.

I believe some of the most important life lessons are learning to be happy with yourself and being fully conscious of your actions.

The Dhammapada verse reminds me that personal growth and well-being are two things worthy of a lifetime commitment.

Catch yourself in the moment, and have a blessed week ahead!

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