20 Dec Important Life Lessons Learned from Our Favorite Disney Princesses
Besides adopting potentially rabid animals as cute new pets (I’m looking at you Cinderella and Pocahontas), Disney princesses have taught us how to be independent, brave, and dreamers. Many people recall the lessons learned from these classic films when they need to weather tough times or endure hardship.
I mean, let’s be honest: if Rapunzel could work up the courage to say farewell to her tower and Cinderella demolished that shitty list of chores so she could attend the ball, then why do we think our own dreams can’t come true? Seriously, sometimes these princesses really put us to shame.
Whether they’re from old-school originals or they come from the more new-age films, we can learn a lot from Disney princesses. For example, life is infinitely better when people randomly break out into song (and others just accept it). Oh, and if everyone is magically dancing the same choreographed routine – that’s legit my dream world.
All kidding aside (which there was none), here are some killer life lessons we could all use a dose of – courtesy of our beloved Disney princesses.
Mindfulness and Appreciation…As Told by Pocahontas
Meditation and mindfulness (a.k.a. focusing one’s awareness on the present moment) have become mainstream staples of a healthy self-care regimen in recent years. Who knew Pocahontas was a purveyor of mindfulness before it really hit the masses and became trendy?
Rather than try and milk the world for all it’s worth like you were a Dementor sucking the life out of Harry Potter, Pocahontas urges us to appreciate Mother Earth and all its beauty. She imparts this wisdom onto John Smith, emphasizing the uselessness of material wealth and riches. The real gift is living in the moment and cherishing the world around us.
There’s no place for selfishness and greed and we must treasure what the universe decides to give us right this very moment. We also have to respect that life can be peaceful and still or chaotic and unpredictable. So, appreciate what you have, be present, and remember that value can be synonymous with many things – not just money and possessions.
Don’t Succumb to Negativity…As Told by Cinderella
Cinderella wasn’t dealt the best cards. She was exposed to the toxic abuse of her stepmother and stepsisters day in and day out. She truly is a patient, kind soul. Rather than allowing the negativity and straight-up vile nature of her stepfamily consumer her, she simply let it wash over her.
We could all benefit from this lesson. It’s easy to cave under the weight of negativity. Whether someone is jealous and trying to crush your success, you give in to peer pressure and bully others, or you simply let anger rule your emotions and dictate your behavior, don’t take the bait. Rise above these occasions, just as Cinderella did. You can choose to be hopeful…choose to be happy…choose to be positive – you’re in control, not anyone else.
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover…As Told by Belle
This is a classic, but it rings true (and people tend to forget – especially on the internet). There can be a lot more to someone than just appearances. And that goes for physically or how they choose to portray themselves on social media. Someone may slay their selfie-game on Instagram and seem to have it all, but behind closed doors, they’re struggling.
In Beauty and the Beast, Belle first sees the beast as angry, intimidating, and just plain mean. Through their interactions, however, she learns that his actions stem from a place of loneliness and fear. She simply needed to peel back a layer or two to reveal who he is underneath his outward facade. It was because of Belle’s patient and understanding nature that the two were able to form a real connection.
We could all use a little more patience and understanding. We should also be open to letting others in – that’s how true bonds are formed, healing can begin, and barriers can be bridged.
Finding Yourself Sometimes Means Stepping Outside Comfort Zones…As Told by Mulan
In searching for her identity, Mulan really takes a leap of faith and puts herself out there. She pushes past boundaries (even if it may be uncomfortable) because she knows that her surroundings are limiting her aspirations. When you challenge yourself, you can truly discover the breadth of your capabilities and find what brings you joy.
Believe in Yourself…As Told by Moana
Boy, do I love this movie. I can’t even type straight because I’m singing “How Far I’ll Go.” This whole movie was epic, but the real lesson begins to blossom towards the end of the film. For the bulk of the movie, Moana was incredibly confident in herself. Like to the point that we should all be jealous over how unfazed by others this chick is.
However, she comes to a point in her journey where self-doubt washes away her poise. She chased her goal with unwavering conviction, but she reaches a plateau where she begins to lose belief in herself and her abilities. When she comes face to face with her foil, Te Fiti, Moana finally grasps the importance of never giving up.
When you lose sight of who you are, you encounter true failure – in Te Fiti’s case, you spiral into a black hole of darkness and destruction. If only Te Fiti trusted in her ability to cultivate leafy pastures and stunning fields of flowers. But, instead, she chose negativity and doubt, transforming her into a force that damages and ravages the earth.
Moral of the story: you are what you believe.
Open Yourself Up to Other Perspectives…As Told by Jasmine
Being shut away in a lavish palace sounds pretty sweet to me. For Jasmine, however, she felt virtually enslaved within those walls. After sneaking out, the princess receives a heavy dose of realism when she discovers the outside world can be cruel and arduous. It wasn’t the “free” lifestyle she envisioned.
Like Jasmine, we get immersed in cycles of self-pity, believing others have it better than us. We crave what we can’t have, or we become envious of what we think is someone else’s reality. As humans, we often lose perspective on life and forego gratitude as we continuously crave “more” or “better.” (Btw, wanting more looks different for everyone).
Why do we forget to appreciate what we have? We get so caught up in our own lives that we become selfish and ignorant. Think of all the people who don’t have a roof over their heads or can’t put a meal on the table.
As Jasmine comes to a moment of understanding, seeing her own ignorance for the first time, she is finally able to open up her mind to new perspectives and possibilities. After being exposed to all the hardships and problems people are facing outside the walls of her palace, she realizes she has the power to implement positive change and make a true difference.
Don’t Hold Back…As Told by Elsa
🎵 Let it goooo. Let it gooo. 🎶
Besides being the movie that gave us the most lovable snowman ever (why can Olaf be real?), Frozen is all about being unapologetically you. Elsa once cringed at the mere thought of her power, cowering in fright over all the possible things that could go wrong. But, truthfully, she was her own biggest obstacle – holding herself back from freely and confidently wielding her power.
Like Elsa, we need to push our fears aside, focus on the bigger picture (or goal we’re trying to attain), and let our abilities surge to the surface. Will we fail? You betcha. But the greatest successes are always a result of the lessons we learn after a mistake or something we totally botched. It happens. Life would be boring if there were only ups and no downs.
Hard Work Pays Off…As Told by Tiana
Admittedly, The Princess and the Frog is not one of my favs, but Tiana is someone I admire. Out of all the Disney princesses, she is the only one ready to get her hands dirty and partake in the gritty, often mundane, work required to make a living. It’s incredibly relatable. Sure, there are a lot of lazy people out there. But for the motivated folks, you know it’s a grind day in and day out, especially when trying to fulfill a dream or goal.
We can’t all save a country or be wise beyond our years and score recognition as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, but we can make an effort to give it all we got. Dreams don’t just manifest into reality. Twiddle your thumbs all you want, but it takes hard work and dedication – just ask Tiana.
Guess what? We can all be princes and princesses. Maybe not in the legitimate sense, like you’re sipping tea on an ordinary Thursday afternoon with the British royal family, but in how you treat yourself and others. If these Disney princesses can do it, so can we. It just takes courage, optimism, and dedication.
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