3 Important and Universal Life Lessons From Kung Fu Panda

A little over a week ago, we took the girls to see Kung Fu Panda.  Not only did we see a great movie, but there were at least three important and universal life lessons that can be learned from it.

There are no accidents - There is a reason behind everything that happens in our lives.  The decisions we make and the actions we take today will determine what happens to us in the future.  That is why worrying and getting upset about things that are out of your control are such a waste of time.  Make your future a great one by doing the things today that will make it great.  This may mean making the tough choice or doing the difficult today for a better tomorrow.

There is no secret ingredient - Too often we go through life waiting for great things to happen to us, but what we need to be doing is going out and making great things happen for us.  Waiting for the secret ingredient that will never come is not a way to a better life.  Realize that you must do what is necessary to have a great life, and then go out and do it!

You must believe - Believing in yourself and the things that you are capable of is the foundation to all great successes.  It is one of the most important things you can do in order to lead a better life.  Everyone of us has amazing talents, and having a belief in yourself and your abilities is a must!  A conversation from another movie, The Empire Strikes Back, makes this point perfectly:

Luke: "I don't believe it!"
Yoda: "And that is why you fail"

Also, show someone else that you believe in him or her.  The confidence you will give that person will help them do amazing things too.  The simple act of believing in someone can trigger events that will lead to great accomplishments.

I will be teaching these lessons to my girls from this day forward.  I want them to believe in themselves, and I will aid that along by showing them that I believe in them.  I will teach them that there is no secret ingredient, so go out make things happen for themselves.  They will also learn that there are no accidents; the decisions and action of today will determine their tomorrows.

For some similar thoughts, Dumb Little Man has a post of five life lessons learned from Kung Fu Panda.

Comments

[Phil Stanoch]

Stephen, thank you for the advice and assistance!

[@Stephen Productivity in Context]

This is a great post, I really like the lessons.