I've been watching a lot of movies recently, and each one I found to have a lot of meaning behind them. The list includes Benjamin Button, United 93, Fearless, and The day the earth stood still. After watching the movie Fearless, I found that the movie's message beyond China's disppearing pride in the 1900's and the martial arts, was the important idea of honor and respect and how it relates to us. I'll try to explain this without ruining the movie too much, but no promises =P.
In Fearless, a man named Huo Yuan Jia vows to protect his family's honor by becoming the number one fighter in his city, Tian Jin, but later he realizes that honor is not cannot be gained through selfish ambition, but is granted through character, and respect for others and oneself. Huo Yuan, from his childhood, wanted to be a fighter by learning wushu to uphold his family name. Huo Yuan Jia first sought honor and respect by gaining power through winning fights alone and this consumed him. After winning many fights, he became popular and many wanted to learn to fight like him. He wanted the respect from others, but he wound up with many followers, but few he could trust. People followed him not because they respected him and honored him, but because they were drawn to his wealth and status. After losing everything, Huo Yuan Jia comes back and learns the true meaning of wushu: honor and respect. He no longer wants to use wushu for status, but wants others to learn the purpose of wushu: self-discpline, honor, and respect. After he learns this, he fights for the people of China, who are oppressed by foreign powers. He teaches others to not use wushu for revenge or self-gain, but as a way of self-discovery. In the end, he is honored by the Chinese crowd after fighting for his country.
The theme of honor and respect is apparent throughout the movie and is a big part of the lives of many people. People want to know that they are worth something and want to be remembered after they have lived their life. I find that there could be a correlation between how people choose to obtain that respect and honor and those that actually receive it, and difference between gaining respect and honor that lasts and that that doesn’t. In Fearless, Huo Yuan Jia portrayed two of these ways. Some choose to gain honor and respect by being an example to others. They live outwardly; they want to give more than they receive and gain influence by positively influencing others. Some others want respect by gaining status and popularity through self-promotion. They live inwardly; they want to everything to be drawn to them and live for themselves instead of for others.
Naturally people are attracted to status, but people’s attention change with the trend as soon as a person with more status comes along. Status will bring honor and respect from people, but after anything that is gained is lost, so is that respect and honor.
So what I realized that may be true from watching this movie is that respect and honor is gained by people who live their lives outwardly: giving more than gaining. Others will give you willingly respect and honor if you live for others. Those who try to gain respect and honor through personal gain will lose it eventually.
So I want to encourage you to: Stop seeking respect from
...getting that job you want
...being the best at a sport
...wanting to be considered the nicest out of your friends
...being the smartest
...trying to be the most influential
...appearing to know it all
...appearing to be strong when you are not
...trying to be cool
...getting respect from that girl/guy
...getting that position you wanted
...sounding smart
...getting good grades
...doing everything
BUT DO do things for the purpose of serving others, and respect will come to you. Strive to be honest, sincere, and build up your character, and then honor and respect that is worth keeping will come to you. Live for others while taking care of yourself and you will be honored and respected by those who matter.
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."Proverbs 22:1
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