Riley and I are not so different. I moved lots, and my childhood mantra was "Don't worry; Be happy." I have dealt with and continue to deal with the challenges of maintaining mental health. Here are a few things that I was reminded of while watching Pixar's Inside Out.
there are no shortcuts to happiness/healing--abstract reasoning, imagination station, train, etc.
Be patient.
the speed at which the islands fall apart seems shocking; it really happens slowly and then all at once (you don’t notice something’s wrong until the all-at-once happens). Islands can be rebuilt. Don't lose hope.
pay attention to what emotions are missing from headquarters. why? What do you need to do to get them back?
when sadness starts touching all your memories, dig a little deeper into why (stress? are you allowing yourself to feel? pay attention to your emotions.)
there is a place for sadness (encouraging imaginary friend & waking up Riley). Don’t disregard it. Riley's parents didn't know what she was feeling because she hid her sadness, assuming that she needed to be happy for her parents' sake. Sadness has an important role to play, but ensure you have support systems around you like Riley’s hockey team, parents, and friends. It’s okay to have core memories that are sad.
Which core memories have shaped you?
What are your primary islands? Have you let any slip lately? What do you need to start to rebuild and heal?
