Bullies

Remember that scene from that movie FORREST GUMP. Forrest Gump played by Tom Hanks is chased by bullies while he runs and breaks the shackles from his legs. He is a physically challenged individual in the movie. Needless to say there is a heroine in the background saying “Run Forrest! Run!” which in turn became the iconic phrase from the movie. If you haven’t watched it, I think you got the gist. A boy discovers his true self when the bullies intimidate him.

So, here is the fact about bullies. They are of two types. Ones those are good for us and ones that are bad. Now the thing is people tend to think bullies come in their stereotypes, big and mean. But here is the thing. The ones that come in these stereotypical images are good for us. Weird fact right? How can a bully be good for me? Well, that is hard to say because if we take the physical intimidation and injuries from wedgies then it’s not good. But let’s look at the motivational factor. There are many people have succeeded from trying to upstage bullies. For example Napoleon Bonaparte who wanted to upstage his bullies who bullied him about his height and succeeded.

But, what about the second kind of bullies? Who are they? Well, look no further it’s you. Technically you because it’s your consciousness putting you down. See, the lesson from that Tom Hanks movie scene is breaking your shackles from your mind that you have made yourself. Beat the bully inside you.

Well, it’s hard. That is why the scene is iconic and that is why we don’t see such scenes in our daily lives. You, me and everyone has a hard time beating this bully. This bully knows everything about us and beats us down with self doubt which is hard for the other kind. The large amount of courage needed to face this bully is the thing that separates us from failure and success and I have seen this as a proof in my own life. The amount of courage required for me to do singing was pretty hard. I had to fight myself and put the bully down. Even though I wasn’t good at it, I did it and it was liberating.

So, the point is if you want to succeed then defeat the bullies. Around you or inside you, beat them!