violently, “hit bottom,” are finally able to let go of their anger,
and eventually empathize with each other. This allows them to
find peace within themselves at the end.
Exercise: Evaluate whether your anger serves you
or hurts you. It does not matter if your anger has
different reasons than portrayed in the movie. What
would need to happen for you to let go of it as
Gavin and Doyle did? Do you need to “hit bottom”
as they had to? Notice what happens to your anger
as you watch the movie and contemplate these
questions.- I could never forgive my partner/spouse if they cheated
on me.
A Walk On The Moon (1999)
Marty got Pearl pregnant and married young. Now it is 1969
and Pearl spends the summers at a cabin in the Catskills with
her mother, daughter, and son. Marty works as a television
repairman in New York and visits on weekends. Pearl feels
caught in the passionless domesticity of their marriage and eas-
ily succumbs to the seduction of a handsome stranger. Her
mother warns Marty, who confronts his wife with his own dis-
appointments. Because of their early marriage he had to give
up college for a life of a television repairman.
Viewing Suggestion:Watch how Marty struggles with his
anger and disappointment at Pearl’s affair. Notice how both
are able to stay with their feelings and communicate well at the
end of the movie, which allows them to come back together.
Exercise: Contemplate whether you are able to stay
with your difficult emotions without acting out
while you communicate with your partner like
Marty and Pearl at the end of the film. If not, how
could you improve your communication?
Communicating well helps you to “step into theNegative Belief Index 91