It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons

It’s A Wonderful Life Lessons: How George Bailey Can Change Your Mindset

By Steve Rizzo, The Mindset Adjuster | It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons

Have you ever felt unappreciated at work, overlooked at home, or stuck in a life that looks nothing like the one you dreamed about? If so, you are not alone. In fact, I talk with business owners, sales teams, managers, and everyday people all over the country who feel exactly the same way. That is why I want to share some of my favorite It’s A Wonderful Life lessons with you today.

For those of you who feel unappreciated and have to come to terms with the limits reality has placed on your dreams, I strongly suggest that you watch the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” as a pick-me-up. This classic film is a perfect remedy for anyone who believes their life is without purpose or meaning. Of course, I am well aware that many of you have seen it many times before. Even so, please watch it again. And if you have never seen it, stream it tonight. Believe me, you won’t be sorry!

Who Is George Bailey and Why Does He Matter?

George Bailey, played by the great Jimmy Stewart, continually chooses to sacrifice his own needs, desires, and dreams in order to help others. He wants to travel the world, go to college, and build skyscrapers. Instead, he stays in Bedford Falls to run the family Building and Loan and protect his neighbors from the greedy Mr. Potter.

So here is the big question. Is this a weakness? I think not.

On the contrary, George Bailey has a quality that allows him to see the short and long term consequences of his actions before action is ever taken. Every thought and decision he makes is based on a clear understanding of the overall effect it will have on everyone else involved. In the business world, we call that leadership. In everyday life, we call it character.

Think about it for a moment. How many leaders do you know who truly weigh the impact of their choices on their employees, their customers, and their community? Unfortunately, not enough. That is exactly why George remains such a powerful role model decades after the film was released.

It’s also why I wanted to do this blog on It’s a Wonderful Life lessons.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons: Why We All See a Little of Ourselves in George

We relate to George Bailey because he reveals the personal sacrifices we have to make and the harsh disappointments we have to endure in our own lives. Perhaps this is why we are so sympathetic to his plight and find his character so endearing.

The truth is, there is at least a little of George Bailey in all of us. He represents the higher qualities that are either displayed by us or lie dormant in us. Furthermore, he encompasses all that is good, with a strong sense of values. He gives for the pleasure of giving, not for the credit or the reward.

This is evident in the overwhelming concern he has not only for his family, but for the personal welfare of everyone in his community. For example, when a run on the bank threatens to wipe out the Building and Loan, George hands over his own honeymoon money to keep his customers afloat. Similarly, he helps immigrant families move out of Potter’s run down rentals and into homes of their own.

The Danger of Negative Thinking

Unfortunately, George gets so caught up in the everyday pressures of life that he loses perspective. As a result, he becomes overwhelmed by the wrath of negative thinking and loses his keen sense of optimism. Eventually, he becomes blind to all of his accomplishments and his worth. He even comes to believe his family would be better off without him.

Does that sound familiar? Sadly, it happens to more people than you might think. In my keynotes, I often say that your mindset writes the story of your life. When your mindset turns negative, the story you tell yourself starts to fall apart.

This is why I urge you to see this movie, regardless of how many times you have seen it before. So often we are unable to see our worth because habitual negative thinking sways us to focus on our disappointments, mistakes, and setbacks. Too often we wallow in what we don’t have. Even worse, we berate ourselves endlessly for what we haven’t achieved.

Needless to say, this type of mindset breeds hopelessness. The hard truth is that you cannot appreciate your life on any level if you are forever directing your thoughts and putting your attention on what is not working.

It’s A Wonderful Life Lessons: What Business Owners and Professionals Can Learn

Now, you might be thinking, “Steve, this is a nice holiday movie. What does it have to do with my business or my career?” The answer is everything.

First, George proves that true success is measured by impact, not income. His Building and Loan never made him wealthy. Nevertheless, it changed the lives of hundreds of families in Bedford Falls.

Second, he shows that relationships are your greatest asset. When George hits rock bottom, it is not a bank loan that saves him. Rather, it is the people he served and supported for years who come running to his rescue.

Third, the film reminds us that pressure distorts perception. When you are stressed, tired, and overworked, your brain naturally zooms in on problems. Consequently, you stop seeing the wins, the progress, and the people who believe in you. Leaders who understand this can protect themselves and their teams from burnout.

Finally, George teaches us that values are a competitive advantage. Customers, clients, and employees are drawn to people and companies that stand for something. In other words, integrity is not just good ethics. It is also good business.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons: The Richest Man in Town

Ironically, at the end of the movie, people raise their glasses, everyone sings “Auld Lang Syne,” and George’s brother Harry makes a toast: “To my brother George, the richest man in town.”

Here is the beautiful part. George Bailey lived a rich life from start to finish. He just never realized it.

Harry didn’t raise his glass because of the money George’s friends donated. Instead, he honored the way George lived every day by his values and his core needs. George had love, compassion, honesty, respect, and a real sense of purpose. More importantly, he finally understood with total clarity that you need nothing more to live a wonderful life.

So let me ask you. By that measure, how rich are you? I would bet you have far more wealth than you think.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons: The Gift You Have Been Given

Clarence the Angel said to George Bailey, “You’ve been given a great gift, George: a chance to see what the world would be like without you.” Guess what? You have been given a gift too. You have an imagination.

Therefore, when you are feeling unappreciated or unfulfilled in any way, I want you to promise yourself you will do two things.

First, take time out to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Allow yourself, if you so desire, to rewind and replay the scenes that touch you personally. Let them sink in.

Second, get in touch with the George Bailey in you. Imagine where your family, friends, coworkers, and everyone you have helped or made sacrifices for would be if you weren’t there to make a difference.

Try This Simple Mindset Exercise

To make this practical, here is an exercise I share with audiences everywhere. Grab a notebook and spend ten quiet minutes with it.

1. Write down three people whose lives are better because you were in them.
2. Next, list one specific moment when you helped, encouraged, or supported each of them.
3. Then, write down five things you are grateful for right now, no matter how small.
4. Finally, read your list out loud and notice how your mood shifts.

I want you to direct your thoughts and truly feel with all of your heart and soul what the world would be like if you had never been born. You see, no matter how much you think you have messed up, I am certain you will find that sometime, somewhere, there was at least one person (probably many more) who benefited or even had a life changing experience because you were there to help or encourage them.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lessons: Build Your Life Around the Good

With that in mind, make a choice to place your thoughts on the good deeds you have done. Place your thoughts on everything you are grateful for. Come on! Put your heart and soul into this!

Hold on to those memories. Hold on to all of the good you have done, my friend, and build your life around it. After all, those moments are the cornerstones that give your life meaning and worth. They are what allow the law of attraction to work in your favor. Above all, they are the very foundation of an attitude of gratitude.

And here is a little secret from a former stand up comic. Don’t forget to laugh along the way. As a HUMOR BEING, I have learned that a sense of humor is one of the fastest ways to shift your mindset from “woe is me” to “wow is me.” George found his joy again in the snowy streets of Bedford Falls, and you can find yours too. It’s just one of the It’s a Wonderful Life lessons we’re talking about.

Final Thoughts on It’s A Wonderful Life Lessons

In the end, these It’s A Wonderful Life lessons are not just for the holidays. They are for Monday morning meetings, tough quarters, long commutes, and those quiet nights when you wonder if any of it matters. Believe me, it does. You matter.

So whether you run a company, lead a team, or simply show up every day for the people you love, remember that your value is not measured by what you lack. Rather, it is measured by the lives you touch.

And that, my friend, shows you what It’s a Wonderful Life lessons are truly about.

Watch the movie. Remember the George Bailey in you. And you will see that it really is a wonderful life!

Steve Rizzo is a Hall of Fame Leadership speaker, former national headline comedian, and author of “Get Your Shift Together” and “Motivate This!” Known as The Mindset Adjuster, he helps organizations and individuals shift their mindset, manage stress, and thrive through change. Learn more at SteveRizzo.com.