In this post, we’ll break down the powerful themes in Inside Out 2. From the false self’s role in Riley’s life, to the breaking point that leads to her true self. Ready to uncover the messages Pixar hid in plain sight? Let’s dive in.
Pixar’s not just making kid’s movies.
They’re making movies to help heal the Inner child of the kids they helped raise.
The hidden messages in Inside Out 2 are all about the false self.
Well, actually, how anxiety’s ruling your life because you’re still clinging to your false self.
So let’s discuss this Movie with a Message.
A False Self in the making
After the first Inside Out movie, I remember thinking…
How are they going to follow this up?
Riley faced Ego death, the Dark Night of the Soul, and tapped into her vulnerability.
And that’s a lot, especially for a ‘kids’ movie.
But in Inside Out 2, the emotions have a bigger job.
Because Riley’s memories now shape her beliefs.
And these beliefs are creating Riley’s sense of self.
With a catch.
The scene in the movie where Riley’s friend Grace embarrasses herself in class is the first time Riley’s sense of self makes an appearance.
Joy says, ‘I want to help’, while Disgust says, ‘I want to belong’.
And then that’s when Riley’s sense of self steps in.
Causing her to act on the belief, ‘I’m a really good friend’.
Regardless of what she feels emotionally.
This moment shows how pivotal our sense of self is.
The Healthy versus Unhealthy False Self
Joy describes Riley’s sense of self as what helps Riley make ‘good’ choices.
But really, our sense of self helps us to make any choices at all.
It’s how we pass judgment on and interact with the world around us.
A sense of self is critical when it comes to trusting, taking risks, and having high self-esteem.
So when Joy said making ‘good’ choices.
I didn’t think much about it until I saw what happened next.
The Foundation of Riley’s False Self
Riley talks with her parents about hockey camp, and a fearful memory pops up.
She admits that she’s afraid of messing up again.
But her parent’s first instinct is to say hey, don’t think like that.
Well-meaning, but then Joy does something interesting.
She takes all the memories that weigh on her and sends them to the back of her mind.
Yep, Joy is back at it.
But this time she’s sorting out what memories are “good” and what’s “bad” based on everyone else around Riley.
And this selective filtering?
It’s shaping Riley’s beliefs at a core level.
Building a version of herself that thinks, ‘I’m a good person’.
But there’s another scene that gives off the same energy.
When Riley’s team faces consequences for her goofing off at hockey camp, her anxiety kicks into high gear.
Joy’s in over her head because she lives in the present.
And the present doesn’t feel good or make sense.
And when that happens, where does our focus go?
That’s right! The future.
And that’s Anxiety’s specialty.
So Anxiety’s validated when her plan works out!
And they give her more control.
But then, Riley faces another decision.
But what Anxiety wants conflicts with her sense of self.
So, what does anxiety do?
She rips out Riley’s sense of self and makes an impulsive decision that secures Riley’s ‘safe’ future.
Joy Cultivates Riley’s Healthy False Self
Suddenly Anxiety’s creating a whole new Riley.
So, she suppresses the old emotions and brings anxious memories to Riley’s root level.
This creates an inner identity crisis for Riley.
Torn between the ‘good’ person Joy curated and the version Anxiety wants to craft to keep her ‘safe’.
But what do these scenes teach us?
Well both Joy and Anxiety are cultivating Riley’s False Self.
Joy handpicks memories she thinks are good for Riley.
Usually, based on what Riley’s learned is good and bad from others.
Which creates Riley’s healthy false self.
Your healthy false self helps you to function socially and politely.
Even when you’re emotionally conflicted.
It helps us operate in our day-to-day lives.
For example, you wouldn’t want to trauma dump on the stranger who just asked,
“How are ya?”.
Most people’s false selves would just say.
“I’m fine.”
But when the false self starts shifting its beliefs to fit in?
That’s where we have problems.
Anxiety Pushes Riley’s Unhealthy False Self
Anxiety, on the other hand, is cultivating Riley’s ‘unhealthy’ false self.
Your unhealthy false self comes from the same foundation.
But these beliefs have become twisted around ‘ifs’ and ‘shoulds’.
It’s a version of self built for survival, not authenticity.
Riley gets trapped in this cycle of overperforming.
Until her sense of self starts looking unrecognizable.
The Pressure of Overperforming
Riley knows her best friends won’t be at her high school next year causing Anxiety and Envy to tag-team Riley’s life.
Tightening the grip of Riley’s unhealthy false self.
In Riley’s anxious pursuit to not be alone, she starts to feel even more isolated and anxious.
Leading her to make desperate decisions.
If you’ve ever felt that weird emptiness that comes from trying to be everything to everyone, you know what’s happening here.
It’s weird that even when carefully constructed, living through this false self disconnects you from who you are.
Inside Out nails this with that scene in Imagination Land.
Instead of the fun, creative place it was in the last movie, Anxiety’s turned it into a sweatshop of fear.
Where they’re cranking out nothing but worst-case scenarios.
Playfulness? Gone.
It’s just pressure 24/7.
You see anxiety shutting down Riley’s other emotions. Thinking each step she takes will finally be enough. But it’s never enough.
Even when she’s with the Firehawks, and they genuinely like her, she can’t accept it.
She needs to find the coach’s scorebook to see if she measures up.
She can’t just match Val’s score record, she has to beat it.
With Anxiety in charge, Riley’s sense of self crystallizes around the belief,
“I’m not good enough.”
Breaking Point: When the False Self Crumbles
The problem with the false self?
It’s exhausting to maintain.
But you feel like you can’t live without it.
You’ll start to believe it’s the only part of you that’s worth anything.
You believe that the false self is the reason you achieve all the success, and gain all the praise.
So what’s the point of being authentic?
Like the scene where Joy’s trying to figure out how to get back to headquarters and she breaks down.
She feels like Riley doesn’t “need” them anymore.
That moment is short but loaded.
Why would Riley need to authentically express herself if she’s doing just fine?
So, at this point, the false self has taken over.
Anxiety’s amped up and calling all the shots.
Riley’s checking all the boxes, not even sleeping the night before the scrimmage.
She’s overperforming to the point where she’s not even a good team player. And another penalty sent her to the box.
Where she has a massive panic attack.
This is the breaking point.
So what does the movie suggest you do?
Cultivating Your True Self
At Riley’s lowest point, she’s consumed by her false self.
But then something shifts.
Her suppressed emotions, begin to break through.
They release her from the grips of her panic attack.
But what happens next is crucial.
The emotions try to restore Riley’s healthy false self.
But they quickly realize that’s not what she needs.
Anxiety tells Joy they can’t just choose who Riley is anymore.
And the emotions break away the old sense of self.
Here, they witness Riley’s true self emerge.
And the most critical part?
They all show it some love.
Choosing to love the parts of yourself that feel unfinished or even unworthy? That’s where the magic happens.
Once Riley chooses to cultivate her true self, things start to shift.
Instead of acting on emotional impulse, or letting anxiety call the shots.
Riley starts making choices from a place of grounded self-awareness.
The Message Behind Inside Out 2
In a way, Joy was right.
Riley doesn’t need the emotions to define her.
Because now she gets to choose which ones to experience.
Like when the control panel lights up for Joy?
That’s Riley’s true self calling the shots.
Instead of letting the emotions control her.
Riley’s journey shows us that when we let go of the false self and start showing love to the real us, it is so worth it!
If you liked this, find more here.
Bye!!
Resources Linked
Understanding Dr. D.W. Winnicott’s True Self & False Self Theory
The True-Self, The False-Self and the Ego
Your Emotions Are Not Your Identity
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