About 3 weeks back I had the pleasure of watching “Inside Out 2” with my family, and I must say it’s an amazing film. I love how the movie shows how different emotions affect young people today.

At first, it focuses on simple emotions like Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger, and Disgust, a.k.a. the five core emotions. But as the character goes through puberty, more complex emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Boredom start to appear. Very very relatable, no matter what age you are. At times in the movie, I cried at how sensitively and beautifully the inner workings of our mind were being portrayed on screen. Just marvelous!

I used to tell my clients and almost anyone I know, “life doesn’t come with a How To live Life and handle your Emotions Handbook” almost as a factual observation so as to instill the importance of self discovery and personal development. But now, I usually give the reference of the movie Inside Out as a reference to learn from how to understand your own emotions.

The film’s message is clear: it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions, and it’s a natural part of growing up.

Joy and Sadness go hand in hand

There’s a line from the film Inside Out 2 that resonated with me so deeply. You’re likely to miss it if you don’t pay close attention.

It’s the scene where Sadness shyly asks Joy if she can go down into the memory pool with her. In response, Joy takes Sadness hand into hers and says to her friend, “Of course! Remember Sadness, wherever I go, you go too.”

That statement reminded me of how we like to say that we are afraid of too much happiness(or too much of a good thing) because we know that after the happiness, sadness will follow. Happiness isn’t like that at all and neither can we live in fear like that. Sadness doesn’t follow happiness/joy because they always travel together, side by side, hand in hand. They are part of us.

Joy and sadness are like waves always working together. On the saddest of days, if we look hard enough, and allow ourselves to experience it, there is always some joy to be found. In the same way, on the most joyful of days, like the birth of a child, a wedding, a graduation, a championship, or a promotion, when we remember that someone or something is missing, there will always be that hint of sadness.

So, when we say that we are grateful for life, we cannot just be grateful for the joyful moments, we must be grateful even for the sad parts. We must be grateful for all of it. Joy and sadness carry us (actually we carry them) as we move forward from one chapter of our life to the next.

Well, by now you have understood that I absolutely loved the movie, and it is not just for kids. Emotional regulation and balancing is imperative to our healing journey no matter what stage of life we are in.

5 Healing Life Lessons from INSIDE OUT 2

1. “maybe that’s what happens when you grow up, you feel less joy” said Joy. Ugh, this hit deep. Sometimes it feels like happiness just hides a little deeper when you’re older. But like I mentioned in the beginning of this article, its always within us waiting to eagerly to come out.

2. Anger is NOT just about rage! I never thought of him as the “you got this” emotion before, but it’s perfect. He’s that fire that pushes you to fight for what you want, to be your best self. We all need a little Anger sometimes. Regulated and used in the right way, it can be a helpful emotion. I’ve used this emotion to fire myself up to complete my degrees and never stop learning 🙂

3. Anxiety… that’s the voice that keeps us up at night. Fear might warn us about the dangers, but Anxiety? It whispers all those “what ifs” that make your brain go into overdrive. (Even though you know it’s just trying to protect you, in its own weird way.) And anxiety has been depicted SO perfectly in this movie, its eye opening to watch this emotion in its full glory in the movie.

4. Envy is NOT an enemy, but a mirror. This movie did a great job showing Envy as a neutral force. We all have those moments of insecurity, of comparing ourselves. But instead of letting Envy drag us down, we can use it to appreciate ourselves more. See our own unique strengths and what makes us special.

5. And Sadness…oh, Sadness. Sometimes you just gotta cry it out. Sadness is a part of life, and it’s okay to feel it. Till you dont allow yourself to feel it, it will not pass and let Joy emerge.

In conclusion

Inside Out 2 reminded me that we’re all a beautiful mess of emotions. We wouldn’t be who we are without the whole crew – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Fear, Anxiety, even Embarrassment and Ennui!

“we are all a mix of emotions, and that’s what makes us unique and beautiful”

It’s our mix of feelings that makes us human, and whatever emotion you feel is ok. This is why emotional regulation is something we all should work towards for a calm and happy life.

❓Did you watch Inside Out as yet? What parts resonated with you the most from it? And what do you do to regulate your emotions on a daily basis? Share in the comments ❤

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