Discover the Gift: Transform Your Reality
June 2, 2011 by natalina
Filed under Spirituality, The Unexplained
When it comes to “self help”, I’m always reluctant. Perhaps this is tied into my life long struggle with self esteem and self acceptance. When one doesn’t put a high value on one’s own BEING… “self help” sounds like a waste of time.
When I first heard about the film Discover the Gift, it sounded nice, but I felt that it would probably be the same old same old New Agey stuff that I’ve heard time and time again from countless sources. I was skeptical. I was arrogant. I felt that I already knew everything that the filmmaker wanted to tell me, so I hesitated to even give it a try.
A wonderfully sweet woman named Valerie was kind yet persistent. Every so often I’d check my inbox and she’d be there with a soft reminder that I should check out the film. I would have the best of intentions, but never get around to it.
A few weeks ago, a package arrived at my door. It was from Valerie. In the package was a DVD screener of Discover the Gift. I let it sit on my kitchen table for a while. Finally, realizing that it was simply rude of me NOT to watch it, I popped it into the DVD player and began to watch. I was not prepared for the emotional journey I’d be taking.
Discover the Gift is a feature length inspirational documentary film created and directed by award-winning filmmaker Demian Lichtenstein with his sister, Executive Producer, Shajen Joy Aziz. It debuted during the Sundance Film Festival with special screening events starting in Park City, Utah.
Filmmaker Demian Lichtenstein had become a big time player in Hollywood, directing music videos for people like Sting and Eric Clapton, and making films such as 3000 Miles to Graceland starring Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. What seemed like a charmed life felt somewhat lacking to Lichtenstein. His was a story of a life out of balance, and longing for purpose. He’d been long estranged from his sister, Shajen Joy Aziz, and when he decided to make amends with her, both of their lives began to change.
In the film, their personal narrative of transformation and enlightenment is intersected by lessons from leading speakers, activists, artists, and icons in the worlds of self improvement and personal growth. We receive words of wisdom from the likes of Jack Canfield, Dr. Barbara De Angelis, Mark Victor Hansen, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
What unfolds is a story less about Lichtenstein and Aziz, and more about you. About me. About all of us and our quest for purpose in a world that reinforces the cynical attitude I’d been espousing. It served as a powerful message to my heart; a reminder to my soul that I am alive, I am here, and I am only valuable to this world if I recognize the intrinsic value in my own being.
This is a film that plays as a love letter to the human spirit. It seeks to encourage the viewer to find that gift that we all possess in all cases. Once one discovers that gift, life truly begins. “Life itself is a Gift,” says H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “We need to unwrap the Gift that life has offered to us and discover what is inside of us.”
Demian Lichtenstein and Shajen Joy Aziz
Discover the Gift shed light on my own desire for fulfillment. I realized that I’m already on the path to unwrapping the present, I just didn’t have enough faith in my own abilities to recognize it as such.
Over two years ago, I launched this website, ExtraordinaryIntelligence.com. It was my foray into using a forum that inspires me as a means to inspire others. Encouraging people to look beyond the veil of our five senses to uncover a world of limitless possibilities has always been the mission of this website. And now, I’m prepared to unashamedly say… This is my Gift. This is my purpose manifested before my eyes and before your very eyes as you read these words. Now that I have recognized it for what it truly is, I am more inspired than ever to make it as much a reflection of myself as possible. And I have this amazing journey of Discover the Gift to thank. And, of course, Valerie.
I’ve reviewed quite a number of films on this website. Many of them transformative in one way or another, but never have I been more moved and more motivated than I was walking away from my first viewing of Discover the Gift. The Universal Principles shared are both simple and profound.
If this review has been long on emotion and light on detail, it is only because the film truly lacks definition. It can’t be placed in that “self help” box that I wanted to shove it into. It can’t be described in terms of cinematography and editing. It must be felt. It must be experienced. It needs to be discovered.
Discover the Gift will be available for purchase June 14, both On Demand and on DVD. What’s more, a companion book is now available for pre-order. For all of the details, visit DiscoverTheGift.com.
I have always known writing is one of your MANY gifts. I am happy to hear this film has helped solidify your knowledge of this. Love you, my friend!
I love you too sweet girl. I’m going to watch this film with you. When it comes to gifts, you have been blessed many times over.
Thx Natalina for this great review. I am really inspired by your story to watch this movie. I cannot wait now until June 14 I will probably watch it on demand.
On a personal note, I am glad you have come to the realization that your writing and this website is your gift because I have been a long time reader and I’ve always considered the info you provide to be a gift from you to me. You approach very controversial topics with such an open mind and encourage your audience to do the same. That is invaluable in this world where people tend to be very closed to the wonders that our Universe holds.
Dear Natalina,
It is very rare that someone who is reviewing an expression of art and soul allows their own soul to be so openly and authentically transformed in the Spirit of their own Gift.
My Sister, Shajen, and our family read your review of our film Discover The Gift last night and we openly wept in tears of Joy at the depth of your understanding and the willingness to be an active player in Global Transformation.
We do not pretend to be spiritual leaders, gurus or have some higher level of understanding than anyone else. We do however have a distinct relationship to the Gift itself. We are people, a family, a team and educators in the new paradigm of being.
We are now BIG FANS of you and are honored to be a part of your team.
Blessings,
Demian and Shajen
I am moved by your kind words. I truly was unprepared for how deeply this film would affect me, and has already begun to help me attract positive and lasting changes into my own reality. My family has been through quite a lot of hardship over the past few years, and I am only now learning to look at it from the standpoint of gratitude rather than self pity. Things can only get better!
I wish you boundless success with Discover the Gift, as it reaches more and more hearts around the world.