CONSCIOUS CINEMA
nature of our true inner self and the destinies we’re
meant to live out. The more closely our manifesting beliefs adhere to our inherent being, the better
they’ll yield outcomes in line with who we really
are and what we’re meant to do with our lives (and,
one would hope, results that are innately more fulfilling and satisfying). But, if we start to stray from
our truest, innermost intents, we run the risk of
getting off-track with our manifestation efforts.
Even a little “belief fudging” can prove disappointing, because it means we’re not being faithful to
ourselves. And, if our beliefs wander far afield from
where they’re supposed to be, the results can be
disastrous.
To avoid all this, then, paying attention to the degree of integrity associated with our beliefs is crucial. But, if that practice represents unfamiliar turf,
drawing on a little illustration can go a long way
toward helping to get us back on track, and the examples set by the movies can be particularly helpful. Here are some films that are especially inspiring when it comes to matters of integrity.
Doubts and second-guessing often prompt us to
scrutinize what we’ve created, because our man-
ifestations may not seem to match our intentions,
at least superficially. However, upon closer examination, we frequently find that we end up precisely
where we’re meant to be, that our materializations
are indeed faithful reflections of our beliefs, even
if they don’t seem to embody the personal integrity we’re supposed to imbue them with. Such is the
case in the heartfelt ballet world drama “The Turning Point” (1977), in which a pair of longtime middle-aged friends (and former dance rivals) (Anne
Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine) reunite and review the
choices they’ve made – be it pursuing their craft
(and sacrificing a personal life) or giving it all up
to raise a family – to see if their paths were, in fact,
governed by their personal authenticity. Their realizations prove eye opening, even if not readily apparent to either of them initially.
A similar fate befalls an aspiring author (Diane
Lane) who’s left broke and alone to start over after
a bitter divorce in the life-changing comedy-drama, “Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003). Following
an inexplicable impulse to purchase a crumbling
Tuscan villa while on an impromptu trip to Italy,
the struggling scribe envisions a new life for herself, one whose elements even she doesn’t
fully understand, until she sees her new existence unfold in truly magical ways – and
in line with her wishes – her integrity thus
being given life through the new reality she
manifests for herself.
Exploring our options when doubts and second thoughts arise is often healthy, a sort of
reality check of our beliefs that can help us
verify whether we’re truly following the right
course. That’s the experience of an uptight
groom-to-be (Ben Affleck) who embarks on
a wild, unplanned road trip with a capricious
free spirit (Sandra Bullock) while travelling
from New York to Savannah for his wedding
in the romantic comedy-drama, “Forces of
Nature” (1999). Will cold feet sway the prospective groom in a new direction? Or will
he follow through as originally planned? It
all depends on how much he abides by his
personal integrity.
A similar quandary arises in the science fiction fantasy “Avatar” (2009), in which a crippled soldier (Sam Worthington) must make
a hard personal choice while serving in the
private security forces of a mining company
on a distant moon. When faced with doing
45 | New Consciousness Review