Up In The Air Movie

In Up in the Air movie, starring George Clooney, he invites us to complete a self-reflective exercise on what is weighing us down in life. He uses the analogy of a back-pack which begins empty and to which we are invited to add all the things we have in our lives. For example, we begin with our homes – ornaments, pictures, belongings, furniture, cars, people, relationships, insurance policies, commitments etc. At various points during this we are asked to walk with the backpack – after filling it with only 1 or 2 items, it becomes impossible for us to move with ease. Beyond this, it is impossible to even lift the backpack and we feel pinned to the ground.

This analogy invites us to consider our lives differently. With so many appendages, it is clear to see literally how we become de-pressed and anxious – we can’t move! Agreed, we aren’t physically carrying around all these things – but everything we have IS a responsibility – it draws our attention – it needs paying for, maintaining, cleaning, insuring etc. Additionally, remaining stuck in the past, holding on to past grievances – all sources of weight and de-pression of who we are and can be.

How do we lift the load? It begins with an appraisal of our values and what is truly important to us. This becomes the internal navigation of how we spend our time and attention. Stress is not imposed from the outside. It is our response to life’s events – and occurs when we are not acting in accordance with our true selves and our integrity. You can change this when you begin to see that you are the navigator of your life – you have just lost your way. Invest your time and energy in creating a life that means something – not one weighed down with things that don’t serve you in creating that life.

Sydney Psychologist and Psychotherapist

Psychotherapy & Counselling assisting people to create clarity, purpose and success