"Inside Out 2": Emotions and Lessons for the Modern Workplace
"Inside Out 2," the much-anticipated sequel to Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Company's beloved film, provides an insightful exploration of human emotions that is both entertaining and deeply relatable. As I watched the movie, I found myself drawing parallels between the characters and the emotions we navigate in our professional lives. Here, I share my thoughts on how each character from the inspiring movie can reflect our experiences in today's modern workplace and the valuable lessons we can apply in our daily lives.
But first, the sequel
(Don't worry, no spoilers here except that I give it 5 stars) "Inside Out 2" continues the journey of Riley as she transitions into high school, introducing new emotions that add complexity to her internal world. This sequel delves deeper into the challenges of growing up, dealing with change, and understanding oneself, making it a relevant and enriching experience for viewers of all ages.
Joy: Celebrating Success and Achievements
In the workplace, Joy represents our personal successes, achievements, and the fulfillment of reaching goals. We feel Joy when we close a sale, receive recognition from our boss, or feel valued by our team. However, it's crucial to understand that external validation can make Joy fleeting. To sustain happiness, we should develop an innately joyful mindset rather than relying on external factors.
Pro tip on Joy
Develop inner joy that isn't dependent on external validation. Celebrate your achievements but remember to cultivate a sense of happiness from within.
Anxiety: Overwhelming Workload and Uncertainty
Anxiety is a common emotion in the workplace, often triggered by a heavy workload, uncertainty about performance, company instability, or fear of technological displacement. The constant pressure and unknowns can lead to overwhelming stress.
Pro tip on Anxiety
Take a step back and breathe. Validate your feelings but don't let them consume you. Seek support, communicate openly, and focus on what you can control. Prepare for success rather than burnout.
Anger: Injustice and Frustration
Anger arises from workplace injustices, such as a coworker taking credit for your work, facing unfair customer complaints, or dealing with office politics. While anger is a natural response, it often exacerbates problems if not managed constructively.
Pro tip on Anger
Use anger constructively by arguing with facts and strategies rather than emotions. Professional maturity involves managing emotions effectively and resolving conflicts through logical, goal-oriented discussions.
Sadness: Disappointments and Loss
Sadness in the workplace can stem from missed promotions, changes in role due to management decisions, or the departure of a close colleague. It can also result from project failures or feeling isolated, especially in remote work environments.
Pro tip on Sadness
Express your emotions through appropriate channels. Build meaningful relationships that go beyond "just work" and show genuine care within your team.
Fear: Job Security and Imposter Syndrome
Fear in the workplace is often linked to job security, imposter syndrome, and the pressure of presenting new ideas. This emotion can motivate us to perform better but also needs to be managed to avoid paralysis.
Pro tip on Fear
Prioritize your well-being and use fear as motivation. Show logical judgment and resilience. Learn from failures and pivot quickly to demonstrate growth and grit.
Disgust: Ethical and Value Conflicts
Disgust can arise from witnessing unprofessional or unethical behavior that conflicts with your values. It's important to address these situations appropriately to maintain a healthy workplace culture.
Pro tip on Disgust
Use teachable moments to communicate why certain behaviors are unacceptable. Involve HR or higher authorities when necessary, and organize Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to foster a better culture.
Ennui: Disengagement and Lack of Purpose
Ennui represents a lack of engagement and purpose in one's work, leading to feelings of monotony and going through the motions without passion or fulfillment. It's those "meh" or languishing moments that make you feel that you're just at work because you need to pay the bills.
Pro tip on Ennui
Fight disengagement by finding personal motivation and meaning in your work. Remember that your value lies in how you enrich your role and contribute purposefully to your organization.
Embarrassment: Mistakes and Vulnerability
Embarrassment from workplace mistakes or vulnerability moments can be daunting. However, handling these situations with grace and humility can lead to personal growth.
Pro tip on Embarrassment
Don't take yourself too seriously. Apologize for mistakes, learn from them, and move on without dwelling too much on what others think.
Envy: Comparisons and Resentment
Envy in the workplace can stem from comparing yourself to colleagues who seem to have more talent, success, recognition and resources. This emotion can be detrimental to your happiness, productivity and true growth.
Pro tip on Envy
Refocus and avoid comparisons. Celebrate others' successes and recognize that everyone's journey is unique. Your time will come, and it's important to stay patient and positive.
In a nutshell
Embrace All Emotions: Every emotion is valid and contributes to our personal growth. The challenge lies in using them constructively.
Sense of Self Matters: Understanding and developing your sense of self is crucial. This journey should be rooted in positive experiences and values.
Default to Joy: While we can't always choose our emotions, we can strive to make joy our priority emotion after processing others.
Looking ahead
"Inside Out 2" beautifully illustrates the complexity of human emotions, offering valuable insights applicable to our professional lives. I hope Disney and Pixar will consider expanding "Inside Out" into a full franchise (borrowing from the success of "Toy Story"), exploring the various phases, stages and seasons of Riley's life since she's just at the tip of the iceberg.
As "Inside Out 2" showed transition to high school, "Inside Out 3" can be about adulthood, stepping out of university and experiencing "quarter life crisis", then Inside Out 4" can be about marriage, family building and parenthood, and finally, "Inside Out 5" can tackle "mid-life crisis", retirement, old age and death; a nod to a full 360-degree moment which is what life and the emotions around it truly mean. As Brené Brown mentioned in her book "Atlas of the Heart", there are 87 emotions in total, so the succeeding movies will have a full ensemble of cast that humanizes (at least through animation) what these essential emotions signify for each one of us.
