Understanding Our Reality Through Emotions: Reflections on 'Inside Out 2'

Have you ever thought about how your emotions shape your reality? Watching Inside Out 2 recently sparked this reflection for me, and I wanted to share my thoughts.

The movie beautifully illustrates how our interactions with the world, combined with our experiences and emotions, shape our belief system and, ultimately, our reality. This process is something I encounter a lot in coaching and therapy.

What struck me most is the empowering realization that by understanding and embracing all our emotions, we gain the ability to reshape our reality. True happiness, as the film suggests, doesn’t come from chasing only the positive—it comes from accepting that every emotion has meaning and purpose.

And what is acceptance? What does that mean practically? How can I use this term in my work? To my understanding, acceptance is the inner acknowledgment that my feelings, whatever they are, are valid. I should always be able to say to myself, “Yes, it's okay.”

Right now, I am angry—it's okay. Perhaps right now, I am sad—it is okay. Perhaps I'm happy—it is also okay, or even it’s what it is... that’s all—simple as that. But it is what it is. By understanding that fact, one can gain peace of mind. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to fix something that bothers me or avoid situations that aren’t good for me. Of course, I should always protect my physical self.

By embracing the idea that it is what it is on a psychological level, I can take a holistic approach to my emotions and truly experience acceptance. However, we often find it easier to accept positive emotions or experiences because they feel good, and we haven't learned to accept the experiences or emotions that give us discomfort or uneasiness.

By doing so, we create a conflict within, which makes the feelings and emotions escalate. Accepting those states—all states, the ones that feel good and the ones that don't feel good as well—means just letting them be without labeling them as good or bad. That’s what acceptance is all about. Many traditions, religions, and even science recognize its importance and the positive health benefits it offers to those who practice it, such as gaining empathy and understanding of oneself and others.

This reinforced my appreciation for emotional intelligence, reminding me how essential it is to honor and welcome every feeling we experience.

What would change in your life if you embraced all your emotions?

Dimitrios