FILMS A kaleidoscope

Of our lives

SOME PERSONS’ idea of studying film, like any other discipline in the humanities, comes with the perception that the field is a waste of time, offers limited job opportunities, or in the case of film, its focus is exclusively on film-making and production.

Lecturing a wide range of film courses has reminded me of the importance of the discipline in developing students’ critical

your brain to be happier. It’s similar to the “camera effect”. When you have a camera, you’re always looking for beautiful things to capture. Instead of hating the ugly or undesirable things, you might change your way of thinking and try to make it more attractive in your frame. That’s how the gratitude journal works for your temperament. Instead of focusing on negative thoughts, you’re going about your day looking for positive things to add to your gratitude journal.

3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE

Reflect on your mood and outlook after you have spent time with certain friends. Do you feel inspired and connected, or do you feel drained and dissatisfied? If it’s the latter, you might want to re-evaluate your friendship. We only get one life to live, so why waste any time surrounding yourself with negative influences? It’s not easy to remove certain people from your life, but it’s even worse to feel unhappy because of the people you are surrounded by. By positioning yourself around inspirational and positive people, you’re setting yourself up for a brighter outlook and successful future.

4. TALK BACK TO YOUR NEGATIVITY

You know that inner talk that says you’re not smart enough, beautiful enough, or interesting enough? While those nagging thoughts are completely normal, the trick is to talk back to them with positive affirmations so they don’t get in the way of your happiness. It may seem weird at first, but it works, trust me. If I catch my mind going down a dark and gloomy avenue, I counter it with logic and positivity. It’s normal to have bad thoughts, but what’s more important is how you react to them and to make sure they don’t take over your life. We have to train our minds to think positively.

5. FOCUS MORE ON YOUR COMMUNITY AND OTHERS THAN YOURSELF

When you’re feeling down and dreary, it’s easy to get lost in “me, me, me”, which can lead to self-pity and depression. However, when you focus less on your problems and more on those around you, you’ll start to feel happier because you’re helping other people. Try volunteering. You should consider joining the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica. You may also try writing greeting cards to loved ones or cooking dinner for a friend in need.

If you practise gratitude each day, you will slowly start to see a positive change in your attitude and overall outlook on life. Remember that happiness is not a destination. It is a journey and a journey that is influenced by your mindset, your connection with God, relationship with people, and the choices that you make.