Life Lessons from Nacho Libre

"When you finally decide who you crave to BE, the universe enters the ring and conspires in your favour."

~ Gerry Visca

One my favourite all-time movies is Nacho Libre featuring the talented Jack Black. I recently introduced this flick over the holidays to my life partner Angela Kontgen, a meditation coach. As the Why Guy, I just couldn't help but extract the deeper learning's from this fun little film.  So raise the curtain, turn off your cell phones and sit back in your seats with some savoury popcorn as I reveal some of the life lessons from Nacho Libre.

Life Lesson No. 1: Wear Stretchy Pants

"Chancho, when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room ... it's for fun!" ~ Nacho

Here's the great thing about life. You get to choose how you want to live and what you want to be when you grow up. It's far too easy to follow the crowd and try and conform just so you don't stand out. Well, perhaps there's a deeper part of you that is ready to ZIG when the rest of the world ZAGS! It's OK to stand out and defy the system. You get one shot at life and then the bell goes off and the match is over. So, why not make it the life you've always dreamed of. Lead with the things that bring you a deeper sense of joy. We call that, living your passion. Let down your guard and throw on some stretchy pants and go have some fun.   

Life Lesson No. 2: Forget the Doing!

"Maybe I'm not meant for these duties...Maybe I need to find some new duties..." ~ Nacho

The disconnect within human beings is that we get really defined by the "DOing" aspects of our lives when the true path to fulfillment is through "BEing." I love the expression: "Be what you seek." Here's the thing about your deeper WHY which I define as the World Helped by You, the one thing you're seeking most is also seeking you. Look at your life right now. If you had one year to live, would you honestly be DOing the same things you've been doing? The key is to run towards your goal. Don't look back. Keep your head up high and embrace the gifts you're meant to receive. According to Nacho Libre, "Maybe it's time to get a better duty!"

Life Lesson No. 3: Taste the Glory

"Don't you want a little taste of the glory? See what it tastes like!" ~ Nacho

Most people are afraid of change yet, it's only through change that we truly discover who we were meant to be. 'Discomfort' leads to growth whereas 'comfort' suppresses the passion for the soul. A great way to savour your desired life is to taste it. You don't need to see the whole picture, you just need to leap into the ring with both feet. It's the first step that will get you onto the path of truly living your best life. Look up, open your heart and marvel at all of the wondrous glory that awaits you.  

Life Lesson No. 4: Feel the fear

"Tonight, I felt something deeper inside me that I never felt before!" ~ Nacho

What you focus on expands. That's just the law of the universe. You always have two choices.

1) Live with Fear

2) Live with Love

These two emotions cannot co-exist in the ring of your mind simultaneously. Winners choose to love everything and everyone around them. See everyone that has ever crossed your path as being one your greatest teachers putting you onto your desired path. It's OK to feel the fear.  The key is to not let it stop you from lacing up your boots and thrusting yourself into the ring of life. Feel the fear but smile as you do it anyway. When FEAR enters the ring, Face Everything and Rise.           

Life Lesson No. 5: Find your Eagle Power

"So, what you're saying to me is if I eat this yolk my moves will become the best in the world..." ~ Nacho

This is one of my favourite scenes, as our hero Nacho climbs up the side of a cliff in search of an Eagle's egg. He believes that the yolk will enhance his wrestling moves. Inside each one of us lives a super power that I define as: "Your Purpose."  It's your unique gifts that truly bring out the best in you. You don't need any confirmation from the external world. (or golden eggs for that matter!) Your super power dwells within. That's the only place you'll find it. Forget about the next "workshop" (unless it's a WHY Weekend!) The only mountain you need to climb is the one to your heart.

Listen to the whisper. It may be difficult to hear among the noisy spectators that continually scream at you, but rest assured that it lives and breathes inside of you. I call it your 'fiery dragon'. It's your passion and it gets you leaping out of bed and into the ring of life.

This is your time to soar with the eagles and make your mark on the world. You no longer need to criticize and judge others from the stands. This your time to be who you were meant to be. You need to get off the sidelines, take chances on life, face your fears, shine your glory and become the performer of your one precious life.

Ding. Ding...