Train of Thought #RandomTuesday

I have always loved Disney movies. Always. 

Maybe its because the first movie I ever watched was Cinderella, and watching her, fight the world around her alone, and keep fighting in her own kind but brave way, to end up— happy— gave a lonely, idealistic viewer some sort of hope? 

Or maybe its because she was a pretty princess with a pretty dress and pretty hair and pretty GLASS SLIPPERS. 

I don’t know. 

Nevertheless, I fell, like one falls off a cliff-- dangerously and all at once-- in love with Disney. 

And when I run through my mind, every Disney movie that I have seen, the word ’happiness’ comes to mind. 

Is it the story? The songs? The brightly coloured objects in constant movement? 

All I can think of is ‘happiness’ and all I feel is— happy. Which is why my diet of Disney movies has only increased over the years, to the point of me craving for it— the inexplicable, unfathomable euphoria.  

Which brings me to this one scene from the movie ‘Inside Out’— that shows the emotions of a girl named Riley, come to life— and how each emotion operates. 

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, WATCH IT! NOW! Don’t read any further until you have watched it! GO!

The link to the scene I’m referring to is given below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVoi6HHA92M

What was interesting about the scene was that every emotion— fear, disgust, anger— is trying to do what Joy would do— to make Riley feel better, in Joy's absence, and is failing miserably. This just cemented my belief in the power of happiness or joy and of its importance. I always wondered why Joy couldn't exist alone. 

What was even more interesting is that when one emotion tried to imitate joy, it lead to Riley feeling something different. For example, when fear tried to do what joy would do— Riley became anxious. Which led me to question my wondering of why Joy couldn't exist alone. Sure, anxiety isn't always great, but research suggests there are healthy amounts of anxiety that help people function normally-- and without fear, anxiety couldn't be felt (Upon further thought, fear imitating joy could lead more specifically to arousal-- not necessarily anxiety). 

What was most interesting though is that this occurred to me while doing something I never do— 

Reading the comment section under the video.

A very intuitive gentleman or woman by the name ‘Sonic Ninja X’ brought this out in a comment where he/she discusses the results of each emotion trying to imitate sadness, as they did happiness, in the video. 

This was, at least for me, a revelation— the fact that emotions when combined, or when one tries replacing the other, leads to a related but new feeling or behaviour. Maybe I always knew, and I had this -- epiphany-- if you will, because I saw the movie and examined its context with the innocence of a child.
But emotions cannot exist in isolation— ESPECIALLY joy. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to experience or feel compassion (which I think is sadness+joy) or nostalgia (sadness trying to do what joy does), or vengeance (anger+sadness) or boredom (which I think is disgust trying to do what sadness does) and so on— I'm sure the combinations are limitless. 

Some feelings I’ll admit, one can do without. But others are so important— for reflection, for change, for personal growth. 

I could only think of a few, so I’d love for you to post emotion combinations you think of and their resulting feeling as comments below, along with any feedback! :D