Here's a brief summary of its story:
It was a story of Elizabeth Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts. The movie was divided into 3 sections, the “Eat” portion of the memoir where she flew to Rome, where she surrendered to the physical pleasures, such as tasting the great food and drink that only Italy can offer. She tried her hand at learning Italian and even dated with some of the local men whose romantic language soothes her aching heart. But at the end of the fourth month, she found herself still being haunted by depression. So she continued forward with her plan.
Her next stop is a sacred ashram (or temple) in India, where, under the tutelage of a wise and aged guru, she explored her spiritual side. Gilbert spent long hours sitting in meditation, sometimes practicing strict silence and taking only short amount of time to focus on her physical needs.
For the third part of the story, the one that corresponds to “Love,” Gilbert travels to Bali, Indonesia. There she met an Australian who will eventually become her husband.
End of story....
Ok first I am not Elizabeth Gilbert or I do not have story like hers and I am making my own story.
But I was inspired to do it not because I needed to heal from a certain pain or depression but because I was trying to get a deeper understanding of life.
Having a good career, relationship or even being driven with our personal goal is a wonderful path to take. But I believe that their is more than that, something that is so empowering when discovered.
It took me sometime to finally have the opportunity to do it.
It was a gift for myself.
I remember packing, booking my flight and accommodation on the same day and telling myself, "I will fly to Bali today." It was a very quick decision. And I did it this summer of 2017!
I wish I can give you the details of what have happened but let me jumped into my realizations:
I did not get here without deciding for it.
Over 6 years ago, I had dream of traveling the world. I made it a goal.
So the first impact is #1 Have specific goals that do not only inspire you but also push you to take action.
Knowing that your dream is not enough but it also involves having this dream as a short term written goal. Once they are are written, find a vehicle to get it.
How do you get there?
Without clarity to your goals, you will forget them. So impact #2 for me was to find an opportunity, a work, a business, develop a talent or product to allow me to get there. That is what finding a good vehicle means. It is something that gives you the access to get there faster or make your goal more realistic.
Having a goal is important but who will benefit when you make it?
I call it having a purpose and that is impact #3 for me. So I will stick to my goal without giving up on my chosen vehicle I needed to make the connection to it even stronger by adding my purpose. Some people might call it their WHY's.
Why do you do what you do?
It could be for yourself, for your family or for others that is important to you.
Who will benefit when you make it?
I have always believed that the best way to inspire others is to get myself inspired first. The best way to help others is to help myself first.
I do it to get to get understanding about life. To develop a mindset and attitude to persevere.
Going to school is not enough, it's about making the world your school and learning from every opportunity you will encounter.
Eat.
In my travels, I have learned to compare and linked food to culture and even lifespan.
That we are what we it. Becoming healthy starts from your diet if it is personal level.
But if in general I learned more.
That people eat to keep them together, it is to survive of course but they do it as well to strengthen the bond and celebrate small or big things together. It is to unite the society or family.
In some of my meals I had it is also to think about the future of a business or team direction.
I also had an opportunity to date someone realizing that food is to make people trust, surrender and even fall in love with each other. :-)
Pray.
My own version of prayer is about being connected to my source, to the Creator, to my purpose and to me.
It is very empowering to know yourself, accept it, appreciate it and love it. You are your number one believer and supporter.
Prayer is not only about asking what your heart desires but it is also about claiming for its possibilities and working to make it work.
Self-expression is beautiful specially if it is something that is positive and that cares about others.
Love.
I love life. That is very important to me. When you love life, you will respect it.
When you respect it, you will nurture it and protect it.
Loving means forgiving.
It might also need forgetting so you can move one.
Again love is wonderfully expressed when you believe in it. It is not something that is always asked but it has to be given first before it can be received.
I hope that this post inspired you.
Let me be honest, I still want to go to Italy to EAT, maybe India to PRAY but everywhere is a perfect place to do it, and finally LOVE is not only in Bali.
Do it your way.
Impact #4 is to realize that you do not need to exactly copy what was told. You are the captain of your own ship, the architect of your own design - make it your own original version.
Thank you for reading this post. I am smiling while writing this line as I am still inspired with more things to do in life, more people to meet, stories to make and more. Your comment below will add extra smile for me. Say it!
How did Eat. Pray. Love. Made an Impact on YOU?