"Inside Out": How films help us better understand our inner emotional world (and that of our children).

Imagine there's a control center in your head. At a giant control panel sit different characters, representing your emotions. Sometimes anger takes command, sometimes fear steers, and sometimes it's pure joy.

The Inside Out films 1 & 2 are far more than "just" animated films. They are a visual representation of modern pedagogy and family coaching. They vividly show us what happens in fractions of a second in

what happens inside us.

The film vividly illustrates how profoundly phrases, experiences, and people shape us over time. The sequel beautifully demonstrates how these experiences give rise to "belief systems." Statements like "I'm not good enough" or "I have to please everyone" can become ingrained and take over our lives.

These phrases often accompany us throughout our lives. They make us doubt ourselves and sometimes treat us with little respect. That's why it's so important to recognize, even in childhood and later during puberty: Who is speaking to me right now? Is this truly my core self, or is it an old experience trying to protect me from a perceived danger?

Understanding that we are made up of different parts, each with its own needs, changes everything. The film gives us a language for this:

• Making them visible: Feelings are given a face and a color.

• Recognizing needs: Every emotion, even the supposedly "negative" one, has a positive purpose.

• Self-leadership: We learn that we can regain control of our control center at any time.

Children and teenagers, in particular, are incredibly open to getting to know themselves in this way. When we begin to draw these aspects, name them, and talk about them, we give them the space they need without them overwhelming us.

My tip: Watch the films together. Use them as a conversation starter.

Ask yourselves afterwards: "Who was at the controls with me today?" It's the first step towards a deeper connection with yourself and with each other.