I don’t run on Nike shoes and this commercial won’t make me change my mind. Still I like it for it’s inspirational message. It says: “The theory of evolution claims only the strong will survive. But the theory of competition says just because they are the strong, doesn’t mean they can’t get their asses kicked”. Remember that when a business competitor stronger than you is after the same contract. Or what about this line: “The odds may be stacked against you, the other guy may in fact be the favorite. But what the odds don’t know, is this isn’t a math test”. The way I see it, ‘the other guy’ in this case can be anything. It can be a person, but also a statistic, a distance, an illness, a crisis and last but not least, it can very well be yourself, trying to sabotage you in one way or another. The point is, in life we face all kinds of challenges. Sometimes we take them on with great confidence, but if we can’t, this commercial encourages us not to worry, for “passion has a funny way of trumping logic”.

Even when we’re frustrated with something, like our job or rude people in the streets, we tend to not really show it. For a large part because we are taught to remain calm, to keep our cool, to control ourselves and play it safe. So that’s what we do, most of the times anyway. And this can go on for years. For years we can have the job that we know isn’t going to make us happy. For years we can tolerate rude people being rude etc.. I recently stumbled upon this video. It’s called ‘Get mad as hell’. It’s a dialogue from the 1976 movie ‘The Network’ and a great dialogue it is. Although the story is set in the 1970’s, the dialogue could be about 2011. In fact it could be about you about you and I: to get mad as hell, to not take it anymore. To not take what anymore? Well, anything we’re unhappy with, but don’t show. And if you like, here’s the original footage (quite brilliant too).

Some days I really feel like dancing and I throw myself on that floor to make some confident moves. There are also days I prefer to stay in the background, making just a little step, or two. I’ve had days where at first I wanted to be invisible, finding myself transformed an hour and a half later, making the craziest moves. There are days I just don’t catch the rhythm, no matter how hard I try. And there are days I really don’t want to dance, but I’m forced to anyway. And then there is style. Dancing comes in all kinds of styles, just like living. One style isn’t better then the other, it’s what makes you feel good that counts. And watching these people dance, reminded me of just that.

Now this may be a guys thing. You know, a motivational speech in an American Football movie. But I felt like posting it because of the intensity of it: being vulnerable can be so powerful. The movie is called ‘Any given sunday’. The actor is Al Pacino. The speech is about winning or losing and that the difference between them is a matter of inches. To fight for these inches and be willing to die for these inches, that’s about living. Nobody can do that for you. Only you can – alone or with others.

While most of us try really hard not to fall, these men and women risk their lives for it. And seeing them enjoy their free fall in slow motion, makes me understand why. It’s like gravity is non-existent. But make no mistake; with their fall they reach speeds over 160-180 mph. Still, seen in slow motion this extreme sport looks so totally comfortable, amazing really. So next time I fall, I’ll picture myself falling in slow motion. Maybe it helps break my fall. Hell, I’ll even enjoy falling!

I’ve been reading Alain de Botton’s book Status Anxiety. And a great book it is. With the help of philosophers, artists and writers, the book examines the origins of status anxiety (ranging from the consequences of the French Revolution to our secret dismay at the success of our friends), before revealing ingenious ways in which people have learnt to overcome their worries in their search for happiness. It aims not only to be entertaining, but wise and helpful as well. In this speech he displays some of what’s in the book, only very much compressed and in high speed – as all speakers at TED, who are given so little time for the many things they have to say. Nonetheless, I hope it will inspire you and if you like, you can check out Status Anxiety here (and our Dutch readers here).

If you feel a little restless or if you just have a moment of spare time, watch this film. It’s called “Water & Rocks, New Zealand” and it’s completely relaxing. New Zealand’s nature is just awesome and a ride in a hot air balloon for free is always nice, right? Not only the images, also the downtempo music helps you to unwind. And while you’re at it, try to breathe in and out, as deep and conscious as can. Follow the rhythm of the music. And afterwards you’ll feel a bit more at ease.