The Inside Out of the Win Within
Posted on Jul 21, 2015 5:10pm PDT
Inside Out, the most recent film in the Disney/Pixar line-up debuted this
summer and as is often the case with box-office hits from this franchise
– has resonated strongly with adults as well as the younger audiences
we often think such films are intended for. The reasons for this are many
but each of them interestingly enough, have a lot in common with how we
utilize our emotions to discover, capture and use The Win Within.
Without spoiling the movie for those who haven't yet seen it, Inside
Out invites us inside the workings of an 11-year-old girl's brain,
endeavoring to show how her emotions help her navigate a particularly
difficult time in her young life – her family's move from the
Midwest to San Francisco. These emotions are the stars of the film: Joy,
Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. At first glance, we assume that this
is the story of one prevailingly "positive" emotion –
Joy and her attempt to overcome the seemingly negative Sadness, Fear,
Anger and Disgust. What we learn however, is that nothing could be further
from the truth. The predominant theme throughout the movie, especially
as it relates to Sadness, is that ALL of our emotions serve an important,
vital even, purpose in shaping our lives, our choices and our relationships
with others and the world around us.
This notion that each of our emotions serves an important purpose got me
thinking about The Win Within and how difficult it can be for some people
to find it while others seem to have always been able to tap into it –
at will. So many examples of emotional responses to life situations spring
to mind as I make these comparisons – in myself, in the athletes
I've treated and the many fascinating people I encounter in day-to-day
life. And you know what the common denominator is? When it comes to emotions
– all are welcome.
I can think of countless examples of situations where people faced their
deepest fears to emerge Victorious. Of situations when anger and disgust
fueled great change in the course of someone's life direction. Or
times when sadness helped people connect with one another to triumph in
unimagined ways. And yes, Joy is there too – at the finish line,
the goal line, during touchdowns and homeruns. Perhaps that triumphant
Joy, that Win Within is so sweet for so many because we welcome it with
a subconscious understanding and respect for the other emotions that helped
us get there. Inside and Out – we are all in it together.