This post may contain spoilers. 
FIND what motivates you and use it to your advantage! We are motivated by different things. To get fit, one could be motivated by the love for exercise, another by the desire to fit into those 24-inch jeans again. To get our own home, one could be motivated by a garden her kids can run around in, or the freedom from renting pitfalls.
In “Kung Fu Panda,” Po the Panda had difficulty learning kung fu. Quite a major setback when the enemy’s on the way. Eventually Master Shifu figures our how to use Po’s passion for food as a motivation to learn kung fu. Chopstick skills improved Po’s dexterity. Steamed buns could only be earned with the proper strategy. By putting together his hunger for food AND learning kung fu, he was able to master the art beautifully (and amusingly).
Admit to not knowing, and then strive to know. Before the foodie-kung fu puzzle was put together, Master Shifu was at a loss. How do you teach a big eternally-hungry lug to be the Dragon Warrior? Po challenged Shifu to answer, to which Shifu said, “I don’t know!”
Humility is a difficult trait to have. Not knowing may make us feel stupid and lacking. It is a matter of mindset however. Don’t be afraid to not know it all. It is better to find out the answers than to assume. Shifu’s humble admission and dedication to looking for the answer paid off in the end.
While we may work best alone, it helps to get along with others too. The Furious Five (Tigress, Monkey, Snake, Crane and Mantis) were already kung fu experts. While each one was strong, they worked well in fighting Tai Lung with their combined moves. Po, being the greenhorn, had trouble fitting in. By patiently building a friendship with them, his stay at the Palace became more comfortable and his training more focused.
There are a lot of things we feel we can do better on our own. Nothing wrong with that. Always remember though that there are people who can help us be more efficient, effective. And hey, it doesn’t hurt to laugh with someone in the middle of a busy day!
Take what is there and make the best out of it. Oogway kept repeating, “There are no accidents.” I still don’t buy this as much because it’s hard to believe everything is solely left to fate. But what I like about this thought is the attitude of being proactive. We could jail ourselves with thoughts of “should’ve been’s” and “what if’s,” but why waste time on that? Take what is present and do the best that you can with it.
I thoroughly enjoyed and loved “Kung Fu Panda.” It’s been a long time since an animated film has me laugh so much. It’s a great film for kids too. I think I’ll watch it again!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am
success is never automatic in this world it can never be achieved without trying.
that’s why i’m working more harder in order to support the needs of my family as well as my needs. thanks toni! i really really loved happy nest!
April 11th, 2009 at 2:11 am
It is always important to get motivated to arrive at a destination. Through motivation, we stay focused and getting into a focus, we create a vision to be fulfilled, to be realized, to be acted upon. Motivation comes in many ways, it varies according to a person’s preference. There are many ways to finally arrive at your destined place, follow your heart, love what you are doing, smile to the world and the world will smile back at you. Say cheese to life.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
[...] What I learned from ‘Kung Fu Panda’ [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
this blog is truly insightful…. may i have your permission to print it in our school’s organ, The Augustinian Mirror of CSA? thanks. Hope you will oblige. thanks.
Oliver
August 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
the movie is amazing!i really enjoyed watching it. at first i thought it’s just another kiddo-nonsense movie but i was wrong. i gain something from this movie really.
two thumbs up!
July 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Toni,
Thanks for your film commentary. Quite honestly, this one had not made my must-see list — now it’s one I want to see. So, thanks.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
[...] What I Learned from ‘Kung Fu Panda’ by Toni [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
[...] presents What I learned from “Kung Fu Panda” posted at Happy Nest, saying, “Inspiration from the film. [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 8:19 am
toni, thanks for sharing! watched the movie twice already and yeap, it’s been awhile since i laughed this hard.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I like the way how Po represent his character in the movie. A lot of mental and spiritual motivation. He was so pro-actively challenged his way just to achieve and to become a great individual despite of his weight and even if others might say about his size. Its how you convince once self and a matter of having positive attitude in life. He loves eating but at the same time thinking that he is a great kung fu fighter. I believe that if we aim something that is beneficial to us, then we gain it then we become successful, right! Nice movie to watch with family and kids…
June 26th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Nice write-up on the movie! I enjoyed it myself and my fave part is the one where oogway said, “Yesterday is History.. Tomorrow is a Mystery.. Today is a Gift, that’s why its called a Present!”
June 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
a movie review? nice that’s great! healthy conversation to that effect. woot!
June 24th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
oogway meant in saying ‘there are no accidents’ is that everything happens for a reason far beyond our knowledge. it is not important for us to KNOW (knowledge) but to UNDERSTAND the flow of things so that we may act accordingly. carpe diem! nice blog and great movie! i will definitely watch it again!
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!! WE WATCHED IT 5X!!! JUST CANT GET ENOUGH!!!
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Food can be a motivating factor. It’s like stimulus-response. Hmm, very psych! hehe
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
what i liked in the movie is the line “there’s no secret ingredient”. we have all the powers and virtues within us in order to achieve our dreams.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Good publicity for the upcoming Beijing Olympics, too. Unfits dont have to be misfits as long as they deliver.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
What i learned from kung fu panda?
there are no accidents (oogway)…. i agree! and coincidence….everything happened for a reason willed by a higher being..
a good movie worth watching again and again
June 21st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
i really like the movie, its funny heheh
June 21st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
yep! i loved the movie too..! especially the wise turtle..
pero, i think it would have been better if pinahabaan pa ang movie.. pero, all the characters were cute and the animation was superb.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I love the movie too
June 20th, 2008 at 9:43 am
i like the movie very much! one of my favorites.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I agree with you, it’s really an fun and inspiring movie.
One point from your article that I never thought of is the point of admitting that you don’t know. It sounds very funny in the movie, coming from both Oogway and Shifu, but it actually also taught us a lesson on admitting that we don’t know and we keen on looking out for the answer.
I got some that I learn as well…
here is my contribution!
What I learn from Kungfu Panda
Hope you like it!
Cheers,
Robert
June 20th, 2008 at 1:27 am
I saw this movie yesterday. I LOVED it and I’m so delighted that it has touched people in the same way it touched me!
I think that says a lot for the American “grown-up” viewing audience. (So far - its only been released in the US).
Maybe there’s hope for us after all.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
there is no secret ingredient… how true.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I love, love, love the movie. So many lessons that may be picked up. Funny too.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Didn’t realize until the above comments from the other readers, that the movie does contain a lot of sayings that are worth remembering.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The saying was, “Yesterday is a history. Tomorrow, a mystery. But today..today is a gift. that’s why it’s called present.”
That was my most favorite line in the movie. Aside from being entertaining, it sure is inspirational too.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I totally enjoyed the moview and it was so funny that Po’s father is not a Panda hahaha
but I like what Shifu told Panda, it goes like this: “The Past is History, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift that is why it’s called Present.”
June 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am
The movie is an awakening! I am greatly motivated how Po was able to transform from a novice to an expert. Thanks to people who are loving enough and open to possibilities that you too can be someone of importance.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I also like the scene where Shifu told Po something about do not be bothered by what had already passed or what the future holds. Just cherish what you have now, that’s why it’s called “present” or something like that.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I had a good laugh during the movie.Surely persistence,motivation, and a dream will go a long way. Hey dream big its free anyway.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
i love this movie too. i especially like the saying, to make something special you just have to think it is special. nice words to live by.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
I think you meant “Admit to ‘not’ knowing” instead of “‘now’ knowing” in the second subject heading…
June 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I totally enjoyed Kung Fu Panda. What I liked most was that bit about there being no secret to success. Sure, there are a lot of ways of doing something, but what works for you may not work for me. Let us find our own motivation, and use that to our advantage.