When asked to choose the most beautiful and inspiring films of all time, Forrest Gump is always on the top of my list.
A cinematic adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel of the same name, Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump” (from 1994) is a popular example of this genre. Forrest Gump is a movie about a man from Alabama who has a low intelligence but a great heart. Forrest has an incredible life despite his disabilities, meeting and influencing many notable historical personalities along the way as he searches for his ultimate purpose. Forrest’s naiveté, innocence, and generosity shine through as he fumbles through significant historical events like the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Forrest Gump is a cultural hero in the United States because he personifies the values of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
The Forrest Gump film is a great choice if you’re in the mood for some soul searching and want to watch something that will always be relevant to your life.
The film stars Tom Hanks and has a universally appealing plot and message.
Here are ten of the best life lessons anyone can take away from this Oscar Winner.
Table of Contents
- 1. Always Pursue Your Passions in Life.
- 2. Love Unconditionally without any expectations.
- 3. Be Open to Change and New Things in Life.
- 4. Life is to be lived to the fullest.
- 5. Be Kind to Everyone you meet and Respect People.
- 6. Always look at the Brighter side of things.
- 7. It Is Possible to Transform Suffering Into Something Productive.
- 8. Kindness Goes a Long Way.
- 9. Money can’t Buy Happiness.
- 10. Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get”
1. Always Pursue Your Passions in Life.
Forrest Gump sticks with what he wants to do and has never done anything that was against his desires and what his heart felt, like starting Bubba Gump Shrimp Company when his friend dies in the war. He never did anything against his heart’s will and didn’t think much before doing something since he didn’t see the point in it; instead, he went with his instincts and focused on activities that brought him joy.
He opened Bubba Gump Shrimp to fulfill his dying friend’s last wish. Because he enjoyed running so much, he went as far as he could, and because he cared deeply about Jenny, he did everything in his power to support her and bring her joy.
2. Love Unconditionally without any expectations.
Forrest Gump is a selfless man who is always looking out for other people. When he loves someone, he gives that person his complete attention and devotion. He is not afraid of harm and has no desire for revenge. For want of a better term, he loves on the most fundamental level.
His unreserved devotion to Jenny serves as a model for a love that puts others before oneself. After all, giving is at the heart of love. What goes around comes around, assuming the saying is true.
3. Be Open to Change and New Things in Life.
Throughout the movie, Forrest tries a lot of new things without the fear of being judged or failing at it, which is a valuable lesson to take away from the story.
We all have our own flaws and it’s ok to fail at first especially when you are trying something for the first time, but occasionally you can surprise yourself by being good at it or even simply loving a new activity.
During his travels, Forrest encounters a number of different individuals and is not shy about striking up a conversation with any of them, regardless of who they are or how well-known they are, such as President John F. Kennedy, famous singer John Lennon and all the different strangers he meets at the park bench. Throughout the movie, he is eager to experiment with new skills such as running, ping-pong, or even starting a new career or a business, and he doesn’t get upset if they don’t pan out. If You are passionate about something you will either find a way or make one.
4. Life is to be lived to the fullest.
Our time on Earth is brief, therefore we should make the most of each and every one of its precious moments. Forrest enjoys every minute of life without letting it pass him by, and he isn’t scared to make a fool of himself in front of anybody, whether it’s the President of the United States or a random person he meets on a park bench. Forrest is never concerned about how his actions will be seen by others, and he never alters who he is to get their approval.
It’s important to remind people of the value of modesty and to never lose sight of the fact that everyone has flaws. Due to the fact that no one is without imperfection, taking life too seriously is pointless. Make the most of each and every one of your waking hours.
5. Be Kind to Everyone you meet and Respect People.
Forrest did not differentiate his love and respect for others based on factors like their age, gender, ability, or social position. He showed them all the same amount of love and respect. To Forrest, a person is a person regardless of how old they are or what position they are in life. He believed that one can get insight from anyone you meets in Life, so treat everyone equally without any judgment.
6. Always look at the Brighter side of things.
No matter all the Ups and Downs in life Forrest Gump maintains an upbeat and positive attitude. Even when things are difficult, Forrest always tries to look on the bright side of life, despite the fact that other individuals around him, notably Lieutenant Dan, find this attitude annoying. When you’re around people who are upbeat and positive, it’s hard not to feel hopeful. That attitude often gets passed on to other people too, as they find themselves in a more positive frame of mind.
No matter what life throws at you, focus on the solution and not the problem as only that will give you the confidence of overcoming every obstacle in life. The sense of joy that Forrest embodies is admirable and maybe a bit idealistic, but it’s worth aspiring to.
7. It Is Possible to Transform Suffering Into Something Productive.
The lesson that may be learned from Forrest Gump is that any sort of suffering, no matter how severe, can be transformed into something positive. Forrest is naturally devastated by the fact that Jenny, the love of his life, has chosen to end their relationship. But instead of living in his own misery, he gets up and starts running.
He motivates his broken heart and channelizes his immense pain into something creative when he starts running. He achieves fame, though that was not his intention when he chose the act. The lesson one learns here is that Even if we hadn’t intended for them to, the actions we do when we’re feeling particularly depressed can occasionally lead to outcomes that turn out to be beneficial.
8. Kindness Goes a Long Way.
When Forrest achieves great success and earns a fortune he provides his close buddy Bubba’s family with the portion of his wealth acquired through the Shrimp Business.
He remembers his mother’s words that “there’s only so much fortune a man really needs and the rest is just for showing off” and lives by this principle all his life.
Being generous helps. It will make you a better person overall and will provide you with a sense of tranquility and inner peace. Be generous, and never take something that is rightfully someone else’s.
9. Money can’t Buy Happiness.
Throughout the course of Gump’s life, he is able to amass a substantial fortune as a result of his undying determination, as well as his share of good fortune. However, he stays humble and values relationships and People more than anything in his life.
Gump suffers the loss of his mother as well as the woman who was the love of his life despite the fact that he is quite wealthy. Even before the tragedy, he doesn’t pretend that money fixes everything. Money can’t buy happiness, and there are lot many things in life more valuable than money.
10. Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get”
I totally love this one dialogue in the movie and if there is just one lesson one can take from this masterpiece it is this “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.” Forrest himself was able to confirm it in his experiences since he had times of complete and utter delight during which joy predominated. However, he also had other, more difficult occasions in his life, during which smiling became something that was more difficult to do.
Forrest, on the other hand, never gave up on anything and always understood how to move forward, even having to overcome hurdles like as the trouble with his legs, the biases of individuals who crossed his path, or the death of loved ones.
