During the Olympic Games in Paris, an athlete confided in me that he wanted to control his emotions even more during competitions. He mentioned that he didn’t want to feel a certain way when specific situations arose. As we discussed this, I shared one of my usual strategies for explaining how emotions work—or rather, how they don’t.

We were standing by the Seine in the Olympic Village, with athletes and staff members from other countries passing by. I asked him if it was truly possible to control emotions, and then suggested we do a little test. I told him to turn around on my signal and fall in love with the first person he saw. Before he even turned around, he said it was impossible—one can’t just fall in love with someone on command.

And he was right. We can’t simply choose to fall in love because emotions aren’t something we can control—whether that’s fortunate or unfortunate. With this example in mind, he realized that it’s just as impossible to control how we feel during competition as it is to control whether or not we fall in love.

But what does this approach have to do with a movie? Honestly, not much. It’s just one way I help athletes understand that we can’t control our emotions. And that’s where the movies come in—Inside Out 1 and 2 do a fantastic job of explaining how emotions work. You might think these movies are just for kids, but I’d say they’re just as valuable for adults. They offer a delightful and insightful look into the world of emotions, making complex psychological concepts accessible and relatable to everyone.

​Inside Out​ takes us inside the mind of a young girl named Riley, introducing us to her core emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. These characters represent the different feelings that guide Riley through life’s ups and downs. The movie brilliantly illustrates how emotions interact and balance one another, showing that even emotions like Sadness, which we often try to avoid, play a crucial role in our well-being. It teaches us that all emotions have value, and understanding them can help us navigate life’s challenges more effectively.

Last week, I watched ​Inside Out 2​ with my kids. This sequel continues to explore Riley’s emotional world as she enters her teenage years, introducing new emotions like Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment, and Envy. The movie deepens the message by showing how emotions evolve as we grow, highlighting the importance of embracing emotional complexity rather than fearing it. It’s a gentle reminder that emotional maturity comes from understanding and accepting our feelings, not from trying to control or suppress them.

What’s especially relevant for athletes is that Inside Out 2 revolves around Riley being invited to a hockey training camp. The movie explores emotions tied to the need to belong, to show competence, and to make autonomous decisions in training and competition—all of which are critical aspects for athletes. As I watched, I couldn’t help but think, “I have to recommend this movie to everyone I work with when it comes to dealing with emotions.”

There are so many great, descriptive, and funny scenes in these movies. If you haven’t done so yet, I highly recommend watching them as they are wonderful resources for anyone looking to better understand their emotions or explain emotional functioning to others in a way that’s engaging and easy to grasp.