In my spare time I read a lot of articles on sites like Thought Catalog and Buzzfeed. Every so often I come across posts that talk about the unrealistic expectations Disney gives young children on life. While I often agree with many of the points being made, I think there are still many valuable messages you can take away from Disney movies at any age. These are simple lessons and mantras, most of which we've all heard in some form before. As with most things in my life; however, I personally believe Disney always says it best.
1.
It's natural to pass judgement on a person based on their appearance; however, this doesn't mean you should give up the opportunity to get to know them. Sure there are people who you don't necessarily mesh with, but I don't think you should automatically turn down a friendship just because somebody doesn't look like you do or dress the same way. It's when we are exposed to new people and new experiences that we grow and learn, and it's hard to do so if you confine yourself to just one type of group or individual.
2.
In my personal life I typically go out of my way to avoid being involved in any kind of drama (or at least the offstage type). I've learned recently though that even if you try you're hardest to run from those dramatic situations, sometimes they inevitably come to you. When that happens, all you can do is be classy, polite, and put an end to the problem before doing anything you may regret.
3.
This philosphy is simple: View the glass half full, and your days will be brighter. View the glass half empty, and you might as well nickname yourself Grumpy. I've written posts on appreciating the little things, and staying positive in general, and I really try my best to take my own advice and live as happily as possible on a regular basis. People often question my consistent, positive attitude, wondering how I seem so happy all the time. The truth is, I do my best to filter out any negativity that comes my way, and as a result I have a life that I'm excited to wake up to most of the time. You can't blame your problems on other people, and feeling sorry for yourself never gets you anywhere. Everyone has the power to put a smile on someone's face, as well as their own. You hold the key to whatever life you want. Some doors may be further than others, but the best things in life rarely come easy.
4.
Thumper's famous words are simple, yet easier said than done. It can be easy to make a negative comment or gossip about someone without realizing you're doing so. It's one thing to put someone in a negative light who has done something to betray your trust, such as cheat, steal, or put you in danger. Putting someone down though for no reason though, always does more harm than good, to both yourself and the person you're talking about. When I look back at comments I've made about people that aren't necessarily nice I usually feel guilty and bad about what I've said. Think about the feeling you get when you compliment someone, or boast about a friend you're proud of. Those feelings definitely trump the aftermath of gossiping and saying mean things about someone else. Even when a mean comment can be arguably warranted by the person of interest, it's usually more productive to shut out what you can of it and move on with your life. Nothing valuable ever really comes from saying bad things about other people, so why do it?
5.
Running away from your problems is rarely the solution. Life is a series of trial and error. Think of your hobbies, interests, things you learn in school - most of the skills you acquire usually take work, and are rarely perfected the first time around. Sure, you're going to encounter difficult situations and disappointment from time to time, but you can't let those things take over forever. Everyone is presented with challenges both big and small throughout the course of their lives. Those who are able to overcome those challenges and make it to the other side are usually the ones with the best stories and the strongest souls.
6.
It's easy to compare what you have to what somebody else has, but consistently yearning for the life of somebody else is never healthy. There's a saying I love that I think goes along with this lesson very well: Saying you shouldn't feel sad because someone else has it worse is like saying you shouldn't feel happy because there's someone else who has it better. There will always be people who are wealthier, smarter, or appear to be luckier in life than you are. Sure, it's important to set goals and high standards for yourself. It's even important to be somewhat competitive, but only to an extent. There's a point where being competitive can turn into being envious and jealous of others, instead of appreciating how far you've already come. Appreciating the life you have is not time consuming. Just taking a minute or two at the end of the day to acknowledge the life you do have is enough. If you are lucky enough to have a roof over your head, food, a loving family, a job - or even just one of those things - know that there will always be somebody out there who would do anything to be like you.
7.
This obvious lesson on honesty from Pinocchio is key. When you tell a lie, it's often the first step to digging yourself a never ending grave of trouble. If your intention is to spare somebody pain or cheer someone up with a lie, I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. For instance, if somebody tells me I look great when I'm sick I'll probably assume that they're lying. It still makes me feel a bit better though knowing they're only trying to cheer me up and make me feel better. In general though, and to the people that matter most to me, I try my best to tell the truth. Though it is often the more difficult decision at the time, telling the truth is almost always the easiest and best decision in the long run.
8.
I mentioned above how I think those with difficult pasts or problems are the ones with the best stories and lives when they make it out on the other side. I think that it's often a greater challenge to find the positivity in a bad situation, but when you are able to it is even more rewarding. When I'm having a bad day, even so much as a hug makes me feel a million times better. I think we all love to hear about underdogs scooping up gold medals, and people who have fallen of the tracks making comebacks. Challenges and difficulties in life have the power to create some of the strongest, and most driven individuals.
9.
Friends are a crucial part of a happy and healthy life. Good friends are the ones who believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself. When you lose sight of who you are you need to have people in your life who are able to help you get back on track. I'm on the other side of the country from most of my family, so when I need someone I typically rely on my friends here in Toronto for help or comfort. I feel like I could call up any of my friends at three in the morning if I really needed someone, and they would be there for me regardless of what they were doing. I try my best to be a positive, friendly, happy person, and I can confidently say that I have a large group of people in my life who are like-minded and encouraging in that sense.
10.
Think of something your good at - a sport, an art, a hobby, anything. Now think of when it first became a part of your life. It takes work, but you can acquire almost any skill you want to if it's something you want bad enough. When I was in high school I joined the cross country team. When I first started, I didn't think I could run for more than a half hour. By the end of the year I had run two 10K races, and was comfortable running for over an hour. Though I don't run as much anymore, I'm fully confident that I could run a race of any length with a couple months of training. We often underestimate the power we as human beings hold, and how easily we can expand our minds and strengthen our bodies. All you need is a little bit of faith, focus and confidence. Believe in yourself, and you can do anything you set your mind to.
With love,
Ciara
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