Inside Out 2: Tears in My Eyes

Last Saturday, I sat in a movie theater with tears in my eyes. This was the second time an animated film had moved me to such a state (the first 15 minutes of Pixar Animation Studios , Up gets me every time). After about 90 minutes, I just sat there welling up with genuine #gratitude in my heart.

Perhaps it was the beauty of the film’s message, or maybe that I was sitting next to my young teen daughters, or possibly the film’s central message had something for me to process as well—even at age 51.

As with many things, it’s likely all the above and more.

Inside Out 2 connects seamlessly to Dan Goleman’s work on Emotional Intelligence and Paul Ekman 's work on emotions (see Atlas of Emotions). The movie brought to life the complexities of our feelings with smart humor and deep insight. It’s one of those films I keep thinking about, and the message has stuck with me.

Here are three big takeaways for me (spoiler alert!)

First, the movie did a remarkable job highlighting self-awareness. Watching 13-year-old Riley navigate her teenage years, you could see her becoming more aware of her emotions. This aligns with Daniel Goleman 's idea that self-awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. Riley starts to understand her feelings and how they impact her actions, which helps her make better decisions.

Second, empathy plays a significant role in the story. Riley’s interactions with her friends and family showed the importance of understanding and sharing the feelings of others, another significant part of Goleman’s model. Seeing Riley learn to navigate conflict by understanding what others were feeling underscores how powerful empathy can be in building stronger relationships.

Third, and perhaps the most significant takeaway, was that the movie emphasizes the importance of all emotions. Each emotion has a role in human existence. Stuffing away certain emotions (anxiety), ignoring others (sadness), or subconsciously and unrealistically overvaluing another (joy) can be problematic. Honoring the role of all emotions, being aware of our state, and cultivating response strategies when we are out of balance are critical considerations for a healthier existence.

Of course, self-awareness, empathy, and understanding of the value of all emotions are cultivated over years of intentional work. 华特迪士尼公司 's Inside Out 2 reminds us why this work is important for each one of us. If you haven’t seen the film yet, I highly recommend it—it’s a beautiful representation of our humanity. The fact that I had the opportunity to watch it with my daughters was a gift – a memory orb that’s locked in for the long term.

Thank you, Kelsey Mann and the entire team.