Every once in a while I watch a movie that resonates deeply with me on a psychological level. The most recent one is called 'The Martian' and it's about an astronaut Mark Watney who is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind on Mars by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself alone with insufficient supplies. So he uses his expertise wit resourcefulness and positive attitude to find ways to live for as long as he can. It was a great cinematic experience but more importantly a brilliant reminder of the human potential. Without spoiling this exciting and inspiring movie by revealing too much of the plot allow me to draw out some of the interesting parts and highlight the most powerful messages interwoven between Mars and Earth through one man's journey.

Here are those stellar schoolings:

> Life will knock us down from time to time. We can choose whether to get back up or take the punches lying down

> How you respond and react in challenging situations can impact not only the outcome but also shapes your character in immeasurable ways

> Mistakes are part of the process and formula of success

> We can learn from mistakes and use failure as a way to grow and succeed

> We gain so much more of an understanding about our power and potential when faced with extraordinary circumstances

> We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for

> Our will and ability to survive and 'stay in the game' is an inborn evolutionary trait that trumps fear or emotional barriers that may hinder our progression

> Whatever our goal or aspiration we will never achieve it without putting in the work and effort required

> Quitting is not an option. Winners all have reasons why they keep at it. Perhaps its personal ambition or maybe it's linked to a higher purpose.

> The blame game is unproductive and keeps us stuck. While it's true that you may not be primarily accountable for some of life's predicaments the sooner you take the reins and assume full responsibility to find fixes (as opposed to faults) the faster you'll arrive at solutions

> Death is one of the most certain occurrences in life. The problem is people don't live the way they could because they look into the face of death way too early by psychologically checking out.

> Through other people's experiences we know that life is precious and often times we take things for granted realising their value only when absent or gone for good. Being armed with this knowledge we should begin nurturing and taking care of all of life's gifts so that we don't have to suffer from future regret.

> We need to learn to ask for help. Focus on what you can do and seek resources from others or delegate what you can't.

> Our belief in our capabilities should be stronger than our insecurities

> Don't forget how many other times you were knocked down and managed to get up again

> Remind yourself of the strength of your character and the traits you possess which have saved you in other situations

> The most interesting stories will be told in the near future about hardships we face

> Our passion to want to survive or succeed should be greater than our fear

> Resilient people are able to see things as they are without exaggerating or minimising situations. They don't allow dysfunctional or chaotic cognitive narrative to drown them by constantly ruminating over the devastation hindering their capacity to move forward

> Keep focused throughout the experience. Yes we should celebrate small wins but getting too confident too early can result in a reduction of effort and loss of concentration

The harsh reality is that hardship doesn't discriminate. It affects everyone to varying degrees so it's important to know how to turn adverse circumstances into developmental experiences. Often times misfortune shakes our core identity since it provokes ideas about controllability and our understanding of the world. We ask questions such as 'why me?' or 'how could I have not known?' Lessons take time to surface. They are usually learned in retrospect through reflection and sharing with others. Glad I could share our Martian's message here with you.

Dr Samineh I. Shaheem is an assistant professor of psychology learning & development specialist and the owner of Life Clubs UAE. Please forward your thoughts/ suggestions for future articles to