Lessons from the movie, “Inside Out 2”
In this blog, I share my son, Destine’s (Des-tin) journey navigating his emotions from toddler to contemplative teen, inspired by a recent outing to see Inside Out 2. The film's exploration of emotions resonated with me, showing how every experience shapes his empathy and moral compass. Witnessing Destine’s kindness towards others reaffirmed how proud I am of the person he is becoming. I see him navigating life with grace and compassion, embodying valuable lessons in embracing emotions, welcoming life experiences, and leading with empathy.
Top 3 lessons we learned from the movie, “Inside Out 2”:
Embrace Every Emotion: Just like the characters in Inside Out, it's important to acknowledge and accept all our feelings. This is especially crucial for people on the autism spectrum, like my son. Every emotion plays a big role in how we see and react to the world.
From an early age, I emphasized to my son that it's okay to feel, guiding him through discussions about his emotions and suggesting activities like drawing or quiet time to self-soothe. This approach has been instrumental in developing his emotional regulation and communication skills, teaching him that emotions are a fundamental and meaningful aspect of life.
Value Life Experiences: Every experience, whether it's happy or hard, helps shape how someone with autism understands the world. By respecting and learning from these experiences, we help them grow stronger and more resilient.
Initially, I shielded my son from life's challenges, much like the character Joy tries to protect Riley in the movie. Over time, I realized each experience—positive or negative—was instrumental in shaping Destine’s resilience. He faced discrimination and hurtful comments, but our open communication allowed him to share his feelings. These experiences didn't break him; they made him stronger and more compassionate, thanks to the love and support of our family and friends.
By embracing life's lessons and fostering a loving environment, we can empower our children with autism to navigate adversity with courage and resilience.
Lead by Example: The way we act is really powerful. By showing empathy, understanding, and honesty in our own lives, we not only teach our kids with autism but also help them grow into caring people who can make a positive difference in the world.
I've observed how closely Destine watches and learns from me. Initially comforting him on bad days, I later saw him reciprocate my actions, by asking if I was okay when I struggled. This taught me that he is absorbing my behavior, learning how to empathize and support others through how I treat him.
By modeling empathy and openness, we not only foster their emotional growth but also equip them with skills to build meaningful relationships and navigate life's challenges with compassion.
My Story: Recently, during a planned outing to see "Inside Out 2," I didn't expect the deep impact it would have. The movie's exploration of emotions like anxiety and joy vying for influence over Riley's identity served as a powerful reminder. Every experience, whether joyful or challenging, shapes my son into the person he's becoming. After the movie, a simple yet profound moment unfolded as we encountered a man seeking help. While others passed by, Destine showed love by giving him $5. It was a touching display of his deep empathy and moral integrity, shaped by his unique life experiences as an autistic individual. Witnessing his kindness filled me with pride and certainty that he will navigate life with grace and compassion, shining as a light of inspiration in our world.
