The first question that grabbed us after watching this emotionally-engrossing flick was Question 10, because we realized that many of us had settled in relationships before. One person was reminded of the phrase "You get what you settle for." We talked about how we can convince ourselves that something is better or worse than it really is, as a way of making it OK to stay where we are and just settle. And we linked it into Question 3, because we often compromise our ideals when we think our current reality is the only option available to us, and we tend to believe THAT when our self-esteem is low.
We also talked about forming meaningful relationships (Question 5). Some people said it was easier for them to connect with others in a rural setting than an urban setting, because people are more likely to talk with each other and chat when simply walking down the street. Someone else said she created some very meaningful, long-lasting relationships when she lived in New York City, because she was involved in a personal growth group where they all shared intimate details of their lives and also shared a common personal growth path. Which led someone else to say how important a shared mission is to him when it comes to feeling a genuine sense of connection with another person.
Since we talked so much about the importance self-esteem, I couldn't help but tell people about the Cheryl Wheeler song "Unworthy," which I play for the people in my self-esteem class. I recited some of the words, and several people asked to hear it, so after the discussion ended I played it for them. Check it out, it's great!
(This video was reviewed by Bob McGarey)
Feel free to come and share your own personal insights sometime; the Saturday Night Video and Discussions here in Austin, Texas are a lot of fun and fascinating. (They're free, too.) Here are the questions the group came up with, based on the personal growth themes in the movie: