We live in a culture that is saturated with technology.  Media is a constant with 24-hour cable news and streaming services that provide more movies and shows that you can watch in a lifetime.  In addition to all the information we engage with online with our computers and mobile devices and on-demand with our smart TV’s, the average person’s responsibilities at work and home continue to grow. Most people find themselves living overwhelmed and one step from burning out. How do you deal with this life’s demands and the noise that follows?

1. Stop looking IN. Realize that it is easy to fall into the trap of looking IN.  Focusing on your problems and the things that add stress to your life turns into a fine line that can cause you to be paralyzed.  It is important to do the hard things, to getting going when the going gets tough and to press on. To do so you have to get beyond looking IN.
2. Look UP!   God is the author and creator of the universe.  He is also the artist that created you – His masterpiece.  Look to Him for peace and hope. Search His will to discover your dreams!  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
3. Look OUT!  Find things that inspire you.  Take a hike and ponder at the beauty of a waterfall or the view of endless miles of nature.  Read a book that motivates you to learn and grow. Go see a movie that inspires you to be a better person.  Serve someone in need. The most important thing is to invest yourself in building relationships and encouraging others to follow Christ!  Find a way to rest but also invest your time in something beyond yourself.

Engage Media Partners has the privilege of working on teams that bring inspiring life-changing movies to theaters and ultimately homes around the world.  These movies can be an inspiration. I Can Only Imagine inspired many people to seek restoration in broken relationships.  A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood inspires us to learn how to listen and to be kind to others.  Overcomer challenged us to know who we are by knowing Whose we are, to find our identity in Christ. I Still Believe reminds us that faith tested is a faith worth sharing.

These movies can inspire you to go from looking IN, to looking UP and OUT!  It’s why we do what we do at Engage Media Partners. Our life at work, home and even the portion of our life where we are “online” and “connected” can be a burden.  They can also be a blessing! Focus on the things beyond yourself and watch God do more in and through you than you can ask or imagine!

Jason Ellerbrook – President and Owner – Engage Media Partners