Emotions and the Wonka Movie

I was coaching a teen a few weeks ago who had just seen the Wonka movie. It served as a perfect backdrop to talk about emotions.

Isn't it interesting how we do everything in our power to not feel negative emotions? Yet, the main thing that makes us think a movie was AMAZING was how strongly we experienced emotions while watching it. The higher the highs AND the lower the lows, the better. We love a movie that basically takes us on an emotional rollercoaster. Fascinating, right?

This was my experience with Wonka. I kept having to remind myself to relax my shoulders during all the times of adversity, uncertainty, and unfairness. But I laughed out loud and was deeply touched by other parts. Emotions are amazing! Having a full human experience means feeling the whole spectrum of human emotion. Only after having times of deep sadness are we able to recognize periods of intense joy.

The second thing we talked about was how Wonka's thinking made it possible for him to do courageous things. What was teenage Wonka thinking that made him brave enough to stand in the middle of a shopping center and share his chocolate? This was his life's work; something he was more proud of than anything in the entire world! And they all might hate it. They might laugh at him, ridicule him, even hate him. (And some of them did.) 

But Wonka wasn't focused on the negative possibilities; he was busy focused on his DREAM! He was thinking about sharing something that brought him JOY. He was driven into action by feelings of excitement and possibility. He experienced so many challenges and disappointments, but his dream kept him moving forward.

Our teens (and we) can have anything we want if we are willing to experience negative emotion. Just like we embrace the rollercoaster of emotions while we are watching a movie, we can remind ourselves that negative emotions won't kill us. They often feel uncomfortable and inconvenient; but we can just let them flow through us while staying positive, maintaining focus, and taking (sometimes anxious) steps forward. Every day, a little closer to our goals and dreams.