Inside Out 2 is the must watched sequel to Inside Out. These films personify emotions and in the latest film the main character Riley becomes a teenager, she is introduced to Anxiety. A bright orange creature who won’t share the controls, so Riley can’t feel Sadness, Joy or Disgust. She can’t form memories attached to those feelings, or engage in restful sleep with sweet dreams.
Anxiety’s takeover is absolute, taking a stronghold in her imagination. Anxiety forces Riley’s mind workers to create negative hypothetical scenarios for Riley’s future until, Riley’s chief inner belief is I’m not good enough. Her outward behaviour becomes erratic as she makes decisions from a place of fear of the future, experiences panic attacks and over thinks every interaction, fuelling Anxiety to take more actions to protect her. It’s a powerful portrayal of how anxiety can upend life.
And yet — Anxiety isn’t the villain of this movie. I don’t know how to stop Anxiety, a dejected Joy, says at one point in the movie. Maybe that’s what happens when you grow up — you feel less joy. Practicing yoga ripples out powerfully in unexpected ways. Every day we have the power to make choices that are empowering and help us feel our best. Joy may come easy, or be a character you’re dedicated to develop daily with the right practices. Yoga allows is a technology for change. When we practice we shift our state and become more present in the moment, creating space for more Joy.
I have two spaces on my Sunday workshop Jiva (to live and breathe) and joy. Click here for the details. And my weekly class is tonight, 7.30- 8.45pm, click here for details. To broaden your ability to feel a range of emotions and feel empowered over who is on the control panel, check out my transformative yoga teacher training.
Comments