What We Can Learn From Forrest Gump

MotivationJuly 9, 2017

Forrest Gump is a movie (actually a book) about a simple man with a low I.Q. who has only good intentions. He has only one childhood friend, and that is a girl named Jenny. Forrest believes only in his mother who teaches him the ways of life but leaves him to choose his destiny on his own. He joins the army where he finds new friends called Dan and Bubba. Throughout his life, he inspires people in many ways and here are just a few ideas.

”My momma always said: Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” — Forrest Gump

You should not let anyone tell you they’re better than you

These are actually his mother’s words which he accepts with no questioning. She never let her son believe that he is not the same as other kids, that is not ‘normal.’ But really, what does ‘normal’ actually mean? As his mother notes, society dictates what ‘normal’ is. It has always been that way, and it will always be. Since it’s all relative, we don’t ever have to feel like we have to be ‘normal.’ We have to be ourselves.

You should do what you love

If no one has told you this until now, you should hear it from us: Live your life how you want to! Participate in activities simply because you want to, not because someone has told you or because you are obliged to. You have to be aware of the fact that not everything has to have a deeper meaning in life. You can do some things simply because they make you happy and when you start doing what you love, it will soon develop a deeper meaning on its own.

You should not be afraid to be honest

In the movie, Forrest always blurts out everything that’s on his mind. His words crack everyone up or help them realize something huge about themselves. Sometimes, he even says something mildly offensive, but no one really minds because he has good intentions.

Whether he is speaking to the lady at the bus stop or the president of the United States, Forrest treats everyone with equal respect and honesty. To his mind, despite the status, a person’s a person, and there’s a full stop to it.

You should never take your true friends for granted

Some friendships come and go, but when Forrest finds a friend he doesn’t let him go. He knows how special his friendships are and he cherishes them. We should all do the same.

You should always try new things

When asked to play ping pong, Forrest simply takes the paddle and does it. He realizes his natural talents, and it is amazing. After all, how can you know what you’re good at if you don’t try? Still, if you are not so good at it, that’s okay, too. At least you tried…

You should always tell those you care about how you feel

Forrest never hesitates to show his affections for those he cares about. Everyone who matters to Forrest knows his feeling towards themselves, so it is pretty easy to have a real relationship with this guy.

There are times when you just have to do the right thing

Even though Lieutenant Dan may have wanted to die on the battlefield, Forrest didn’t want to let that happen. Sometimes, your heart may be pulling you in one direction while others are telling you to go in the opposite direction. You should always trust your gut instinct because it might save somebody’s life.

You can’t take your words back, so be careful what you say

One of the most influential moments in the movie is when Jenny rejects Forrest’s marriage proposal. Then he brings up a gross insult that she had given him many years ago. We should all think before we speak since our words could wound somebody and those wounds need a long time to heal.

You never know whose life you could change

Forrest made The King (Elvis Presley) famous and helped a person come up with the smiley face and a clever bumper sticker. Still, he had no idea what he was doing. We should be ourselves and remember that our actions matter in more ways than we can realize.