Lessons From “Up”

We are sure that you all must have seen the movie “Up”. The film critic Roger Ebert famously called the “Up” series “an inspired, even noble, use of the film medium.”

The movie provides insights into life that we dismiss as clichés. These are:

• Life Goes On

Science says that there is no course to happiness and no course towards misery either. You can sure be happy by cultivating an approach to life that emphasizes appreciation for the good things, as well as qualities like forgiveness and compassion. Cultivating positive experiences, especially with people you love, broadens and builds your permanent happiness. 

• Count Your Blessings

You should always be grateful for what you have.   

• Relationships Matter

The movie shows how important friends, family, and social connections are to an individual’s success and happiness in life — which is also one of the most important takeaways from decades of research into positive emotions. Invest in your life in caring for others.  

• Money Also Matters

Research also shows that once we secure food, shelter, and a minimum level of comfort, happiness springs from meaning and relationships much more than money. “You don’t have to be rich to be happy, but instead be a valuable contributing member to your groups,” says Cameron Anderson, a professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. “What makes a person high in status in a group is being engaged, generous with others, and making self-sacrifices for the greater good.” 

• Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

Research also found that inequality makes us unhappy — but it turns out that this has little to do with absolute amounts of money. It’s the comparisons that hurt. The strongest lesson we can take from the movie is that each life must be judged on its own terms.