Inside Out 2: The Importance of Accepting and Processing All Emotions

Everyone is obviously talking about the movie Inside Out 2 right now, and for good reason! If the first one was wonderful, the second one does not fall behind at all. This sequel continues to explore the intricate world of emotions inside Riley's mind, now a teenager facing new emotional challenges as she grows up.

This movie reminds us of the importance of giving space to all emotions and understanding that we cannot simply expel those negative emotions or situations from our being, as Joy tries to do in the first movie. It's incredible to see how we constantly resist and spend our time creating expectations of how situations should be. This approach shows us that by denying our negative emotions, we miss out on an essential part of ourselves and our experiences.

In Inside Out 2, the character of Riley, who is no longer a little girl, is changing significantly. Adolescence brings a series of new emotions and complex situations that she doesn't know how to handle, leading her to experience an anxiety attack. This portrayal of anxiety is very realistic and resonates with many people who have gone through similar experiences. The movie addresses this theme with a sensitivity and depth that is rare to see in films aimed at a young audience.

One of my favorite moments is when Anxiety sends some little scribes in the brain to create torturous scenarios of everything that could go wrong. This scene is a faithful reflection of how our mind works when we are anxious: we imagine the worst possible scenarios, filling our minds with fears and doubts. It's here that I remember my beloved Michael Singer when he talks about the power of the mind and how, if you ask your mind to look for everything that can go wrong, the mind fulfills that task impeccably; it is a thinking machine. Singer says that, instead of letting the mind control our emotions, we must go to our heart and feel.

In the movie, this message is beautifully illustrated when the emotions embrace each other. In a key moment, Riley's different emotions, including Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust, realize they must work together instead of fighting each other. This symbolic embrace represents the acceptance and integration of all our emotions. By accepting and feeling each emotion, we recognize that they are all part of a whole, of our human experience, and that each one has a purpose and value.

Inside Out 2 offers a valuable lesson on mental and emotional health. It teaches us that all emotions, even the negative ones, are necessary and must be acknowledged and processed. By doing so, we can lead a more balanced and authentic life. The movie is a reminder that true strength does not lie in being happy all the time but in accepting and managing all our emotions with courage and understanding.