Not by joy alone do we nourish ourselves during our “full” and fulfilling moments.
Psychologist Ryan N. Miemiec, one of the founders of the VIA Institute on Character Strengths, commenting on the film Inside Out 2 in his blog, points out a certain imbalance among the emotions that appear on screen as Riley, the young protagonist, transitions from childhood to adolescence.
In addition to the main emotions featured in the first Inside Out — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust— the sequel introduces Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui (Boredom), and Envy. Joy remains in the minority, the only emotion that is pleasant and “energizing.”
This happens to simplify but also because it serves the film’s message.
But what happens in reality? We are often not far from the script of the film.
We struggle to “feel” what we are experiencing, and when we do, it is a challenge to name it; we hardly go beyond the “what I am feeling is pleasant… or unpleasant.”
We are almost always more incline to focus on the “unpleasant” emotions, as they seem stronger to us. In reality, it mostly depends on habit, culture, and awareness.
(Photo – Robert Collins)
The “pleasant” and energizing emotions are many and powerful; they change the course of our days, our relationships, our encounters. Learning to recognize the emotions that give us positive energy gives us access to the entire palette of colors that give meaning to the single moments of our lives.
Awe, enthusiasm, surprise, gratitude… they are traveling companions that narrate what we are experiencing, and they are connected to our past and present experiences. It is important to recognize and welcome them, make room for them in our life and never ignore them or take them for granted.
Encountering a wolf on a mountain path can certainly evoke fear, a healthy response from our alert system, but it is also an extraordinary, surprising, exciting, awe-inspiring moment… letting all that the present moment offers emerge means giving completeness to what is happening inside and outside of us.
It is a fundamental step toward awareness that allows us to be fully present, focused, and to adopt the right attitude to make the most functional decision.
Training ourselves to recognize and bring out the “pleasant” and energizing emotions helps us complete the picture with the best variety of colours and to recognize the purpose and meaning of what we are experiencing.
It may require a big effort, especially at the beginning, but it is worth it.
It is a rewarding strategy that determines the quality of our lives, our activities, and our relationships. It reduces stress and the impact of “unpleasant” emotions, fuels resilience, and expands the space for our creativity to operate.
Joy is not alone, she is definitely in good company!
