The Aspirations of the Heart: What Inside Out 2 Teaches Us About Love, Growth, and Becoming
Every great story is, at its core, a journey of transformation.
We watch characters struggle, learn, and evolve—not just because it makes for a compelling narrative, but because it reflects something deeply true about our own lives.
We are shaped by the people we love.
We are inspired by the ones we admire.
We are pulled toward something greater by the desires that live inside us.
And as the Oscars celebrate the best of storytelling, one film stands out in its ability to capture something profoundly spiritual—Inside Out 2.
At first glance, it’s a movie about emotions, about what happens inside our minds as we grow.
But beneath that?
It’s a story about transformation.
It’s about what happens when our understanding of ourselves expands.
It’s about how love, aspiration, and connection shape the person we’re becoming.
It’s about the tension between who we are now and who we long to be.
And that?
That is the essence of the spiritual journey.
Who We Admire Shapes Who We Become
One of the most fascinating ideas in spiritual and psychological growth is that our desires reveal our becoming.
The people we admire—our mentors, our heroes, the ones who inspire us—aren’t just random figures we respect.
They are mirrors of the qualities already growing within us.
We are drawn to them because, at some level, they reflect the kind of person we want to be.
The teacher who sees something in us that we haven’t yet discovered.
The friend whose kindness calls us to be more compassionate.
The hero whose courage makes us wonder if we, too, could be brave.
These connections aren’t just admiration.
They are invitations—pulling us toward the next version of ourselves.
Inside Out 2: What Happens When We Expand
The first Inside Out movie introduced us to Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—the core emotions inside Riley’s mind.
But in Inside Out 2, we meet new emotions: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Nostalgia.
Why?
Because as Riley grows, her emotional world expands.
Her identity is no longer simple.
Her desires are no longer clear-cut.
She is stepping into the messy, complicated space between childhood and adolescence—where who she is and who she wants to be don’t always align.
This is not just psychology.
It’s spiritual transformation.
Because at every stage of growth, we go through the same thing:
A version of us is dissolving.
A new version of us is forming.
And in between? There is uncertainty, longing, and tension.
Just like Riley, we have moments where Anxiety takes over.
Moments where we feel embarrassed by who we were, unsure of who we’re becoming.
Moments where nostalgia whispers that things were easier before.
But the discomfort of change?
That is where growth happens.
Because transformation isn’t about discarding who we were.
It’s about making room for who we are becoming.
The Spiritual Power of Love and Aspiration
One of the most beautiful ideas in both spiritual teachings and storytelling is this:
Love pulls us forward.
Not just romantic love, but love in all its forms—
Love for the people who inspire us.
Love for the ideals we believe in.
Love for the life we hope to create.
When we admire someone, it’s not just appreciation.
It’s aspiration.
We are drawn toward them because something inside us recognizes what we, too, are capable of becoming.
And this is why love—real love—is never passive.
It calls us upward.
It makes us want to be worthy of the people who believe in us.
It challenges us to live with more integrity, more purpose, more courage.
It reminds us that becoming our best self isn’t about pressure—it’s about aligning with the love that is already calling us forward.
This is the spiritual journey.
Not perfection.
Not arrival.
But the constant unfolding of who we are meant to be.
What This Means for Us (and How We Grow)
If we pay attention, we can see this pattern in our own lives.
So today, ask yourself:
1. Who Do You Admire (and Why)?
Think about the people who inspire you.
Not just famous figures, but the ones in your everyday life.
Who do you find yourself drawn to?
What qualities in them do you admire?
How might that admiration be a reflection of what’s growing within you?
Sometimes, the people we look up to are simply mirrors of who we are becoming.
2. Where Are You Feeling Stretched?
Growth always comes with tension.
Just like Riley in Inside Out 2, we all experience moments where:
We feel the pull toward something new.
We struggle with anxiety, doubt, or uncertainty.
We look back at who we were with a mix of nostalgia and embarrassment.
This discomfort doesn’t mean something is wrong.
It means something new is emerging.
And that?
That is worth embracing.
3. What Love Is Pulling You Forward?
Growth isn’t about forcing ourselves to change.
It’s about aligning with the love that is already shaping us.
The love of a mentor who believes in you.
The love for a dream that won’t let go.
The love for the kind of person you know you can become.
This is the spiritual journey.
Not striving.
Not chasing.
But responding to the love that is already leading you forward.
Becoming Is a Process, Not a Destination
At the heart of Inside Out 2, of every great story, and of every spiritual tradition is this truth:
We are always becoming.
We are always being stretched, called, and shaped by the things we love, the people we admire, and the aspirations that whisper to us in quiet moments.
And if we embrace that—
If we trust that love will lead us forward—
If we lean into the tension instead of resisting it—
We become something greater than we ever imagined.
Not because we forced it.
But because we finally listened to the love that was calling us all along.
Shareable Thought:
"Who we admire, what we long for, and the love that moves us forward—these are the signposts of who we are becoming. Pay attention to them." 🌿 #Becoming #LovePullsUsForward #InsideOut2
For more reflections on growth, transformation, and spirituality, visit genequiocho.com.
