Inside Out

I recently watched the film Inside Out. It is a beautiful animation about Riley, an 11-year -old girl who is a happy, hockey-loving girl from the Midwest in America, but her world was turned upside down when she left home with her parents in the Midwest and settled in San Francisco. Growing up can be a bumpy road and it’s no exception for Riley.

Riley’s emotions try to guide her through this difficult time. Her emotions are characters that live in her head. After Riley left home in the Midwest, her emotions of Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness, conflict on how best to navigate a new city, home and school. These emotions inside Riley’s mind advise her through her everyday struggle.   

The stress of the move brings Sadness to the fore. When Joy and Sadness are swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind, the only emotions left in her head are Anger, Fear and Disgust. The film is very clever and effective that it ‘gets in your head’ and you find yourself thinking about it for days later.

Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive while the other emotions conflict on how best help her navigate a new city, house and school. Joy is constantly trying to supress Sadness. But as the film plays out, Joy sees the important role Sadness has played in Riley’s life.

This got me thinking. When we share our sad moments with people who love us, it allows us to feel loved which brings joy back into our lives. Inside Out tries to teach us that Sadness is normal, even necessary in our lives. When we are vulnerable and we share our sadness with those around us, it gives them an opportunity to reach out to us in love. 

(I am vocation director for the Presentation Brothers. If you wish to find out about the life of a Brother, don’t hesitate to email me at the following address; vocation@presentationbrothers.org)