As you may have seen in the news last week, the British actor Eddie Redmayne won the best actor category at the annual Oscars ceremony.

This was for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in the film”The Theory of Everything.”

I went to see the film recently and I can see why Eddie’s excellent performance was recognised, His co-star Felicity Jones who played his wife also gave a great acting performance.

The film is an adaptation of the book – Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Wilde Hawking.

It deals with her relationship with her ex-husband (Stephen Hawking), his diagnosis of motor neuron disease just after they met and his success in physics.

The film was very interesting and at times quite moving.

There are certain life lessons that can be drawn from the film which occurred to me:-

1. Live for today and live in the present moment. None of us know what is around the corner. Stephen Hawking was in the prime of his life when he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

2. Don’t believe everything you are told. Hawking was told he had just 2 years to live when he was diagnosed with the disease in the 1960’s. He is now 73.

3. Physical disability does not have to be an obstacle to achieving great things. Hawking has achieved success with works of popular science in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general.

4. Don’t be afraid or too proud to ask for help. The Hawkings struggled to cope as Stephen refused outside help .This changed when Jane told Stephen about her spiraling depression and told her he would understand if she needed help.

5. Never give up on your dreams and goals. In the film Hawking said “There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.”

This week given my first point above about living for today, why not take a few moments to reflect and consider if there is a project or goal you are putting off or procrastinating over.

What step could you take to get things moving?

Quote for the week:

“Three grand essentials to happiness in life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for” Joseph Addison

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk