Just wanted to note about some descriptions that really interested me in the publicity for the next Mission Impossible movie coming out in 2023.
The director Christopher McQuarrie said in an interview that he often gets the question from aspiring filmmakers: “How do you know when you’ve made it?” His reply: “You don’t make it. You’re making it. Actively. All the time. May you never make it. May you always be making it.”
It is a wonderful way of putting how to live your life more in the present. The goal of “making it” for the entertainment business is usually about fame, money and power, and “it” is a certain level of achievement. But taking “it” and shifting focus away from those typical aspirations and just defining it as being present, then the idea that you are actively making it all the time, and may you never make it, may you always be making it. Fantastically put.
The other story that stood out was a description of the professionalism of Tom Cruise. It described him in the context of doing extremely risky stunts himself and again it’s the words of McQuarrie: “His level of preparation is exceedingly present and aware. The bigger the stakes, the higher the awareness. That awareness is contagious and enormously clarifying.”
Even though death-defying stunts and meditation seem to be polar opposites, the mentality might be quite close. Be exceedingly present and aware, and it can be contagious and clarifying. Once again, just evokes a feeling of inspiration to continue to practice and advance. May we always be.
