7 Songs, Books & Movies That Are Really Worth Your Time
Like the smell of fresh-baked cookies, media permeates society. It titillates, tempts and encourages consumers to devour it. Although cookies hold promise of mouth-watering pleasure, sometimes they’re packed with fat and sugar, and if we eat platefuls of them we risk damaging our body. Likewise, although pop culture promises happiness and flair, it often does so on an external level, which, if we’re not careful, can lead us to feel inferior and negative about ourselves. Who wants that?
As even super model Cameron Russell admitted in a TED Talk, the majority of media out there often conveys, frankly, totally false messages about our self-worth. From touched-up pictures of models to have-it-all storylines, from the over-emphasis on resumes to how many Facebook likes we have on our profile picture—it all sends the message that our worth is based on what we have, how we look, what we listen to, and so on. Father Moon asks us to consider this: “Before you, you have the whole world at which you can look—but to look into yourself, where are you situated and what is there in yourself?”
We all hunger to understand our real worth, don’t we? It’s an unfortunate part of our culture—a global inferiority complex, if you will, that stems from our oblivion to our true value throughout history, ever since Adam and Eve broke away from God, and forgot who they were in the eyes of God. Because we don’t know our true identity and value, we usually look to external things to define us and make us feel worthy. Father Moon mentioned that, “When you look into yourself… you find that in yourself there is a thing of vast value which is something like the source, the origin, God.” Deep down, don’t we all want to believe that there is something indeed invaluable in us to behold and share?
With all the mixed messages permeating our society, it’s hard to know which one is true… but there’s still hope! Amid the tumultuous sea of pop culture that can make us feel sick with external self consciousness, there are some good movies, books and music that are well worth our time.
Movies (spoiler alert!)
Get on Up is a biographical drama featuring the life of James Brown and how he rose from desolate surroundings to becoming the “Godfather of Soul.” Throughout, he comes to realize his self worth in the context of his passion for music and reconciliation with his family’s past.
Stardust is a family-friendly fantasy movie about a guy with low self-esteem who is determined to bring a fallen star back to a girl he thinks he loves. He goes on a journey and realizes that he is so much more than an overtly materialistic girl deserves.
Spirited Away is a Miyazaki movie about a little girl who needs to save her parents, but is plagued with fear after forgetting who she is. Through her journey, she realizes her self-worth, that she can save her parents and that she doesn’t need to be afraid anymore.
The Namesake is a movie about an Indian boy who grows up in America and initially rejects his family’s traditional ways. However, he discovers his self-worth in the context of forging his own life path while learning to accept his family heritage.
The Sword in the Stone is a family-friendly movie about King Arthur’s beginnings as a lowly servant boy who had no sense of his self-worth or what his potential could be – until someone opened his eyes to it.
Books
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston tells the story of a young woman’s search for love and beauty as she evolves through difficult life experiences and discovers her true worth throughout.
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho follows the adventure of a young Spanish boy who is in search of treasure. His journey, however, leads him to find an insurmountable treasure hidden within himself.
Music
These songs speak of discovering who we really are – and furthermore letting it shine!
When we are intentional about the media we consume, we practice seeking ourselves in the things that reciprocate our depth, authenticity and value. What other movies or songs have got the definition of self-worth right? Share in the comments!