Growing up is often viewed as a daunting task. The idea of leaving behind the childhood that we have been accustomed to can be terrifying. But what if we told you that growing up does not mean losing the magic of our younger years? That there is a way to mature and still keep the spark of youthfulness that we love. One of the biggest steps in growing up is learning how to communicate effectively. Fortunately, we can look to some of our favorite Disney characters to learn how to communicate in a way that is mature, effective, and still full of magic.
Let’s start with Belle, the book-loving heroine from Beauty and the Beast. Belle is known for her intelligence and her ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. In the movie, she has a conversation with Gaston, who is determined to marry her despite her lack of interest.
Gaston says, “It’s not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas, and thinking…”
Belle responds, “Gaston, you are positively primeval!”
This small conversation shows how Belle is able to stand up for herself and communicate effectively to someone who doesn’t understand her point of view. Belle demonstrates that maturity is not only about being able to communicate effectively but also about being confident in your own thoughts and ideas.
Next, let’s look at the character of Rafiki from The Lion King. Rafiki is the wise old monkey who plays an instrumental role in helping Simba learn about his destiny. Rafiki’s famous line, “It doesn’t matter; it’s in the past,” is a valuable lesson in communicating effectively. When Simba is racked with guilt over his past, Rafiki reminds him that dwelling on the past is not productive.
Simba asks, “But it still hurts.”
Rafiki responds, “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or… learn from it.”
This conversation shows how effective communication does not always mean agreeing with what the other person is saying. Sometimes it means helping them to shift their focus to more constructive thoughts.
Moving on to the classic character of Mary Poppins, we can see how effective communication often requires a touch of magical thinking. Mary Poppins is known for her unique ability to connect with children in a way that no one else can. In one scene, she helps the Banks children to clean up their nursery in a fun and exciting way.
As they begin to clean up the room, Mary Poppins sings, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and… snap! The job’s a game!”
This conversation shows how effective communication sometimes requires a little bit of creativity. By making the task of cleaning into a game, Mary Poppins is able to keep the magic alive while still getting the job done.
Lastly, let’s look at the character of Woody from the Toy Story franchise. Woody is known for his leadership skills and his ability to rally his team together. In a particularly memorable scene from the first movie, Woody takes charge when the other toys are feeling scared and lost.
Woody says, “Okay. A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.”
This conversation shows how effective communication often means being a leader and helping those around you to feel supported and valued. Woody’s words of wisdom are comforting to the other toys and help them to feel less alone.
In conclusion, growing up does not mean losing the magic of youth. In fact, effective communication can often be more magical than we think. By following the examples of characters like Belle, Rafiki, Mary Poppins and Woody, we can learn how to communicate in a way that is mature, effective, and still full of magic. These characters remind us that communicating effectively is not just a skill that can be learned; it is a mindset that requires creativity, confidence, and compassion. Like these characters, we too can use our own unique abilities to communicate effectively with those around us and keep the magic of our childhood alive.
Growing up doesn’t mean losing the magic of youth. Belle, Rafiki, Mary Poppins, and Woody demonstrate effective communication through creativity, confidence, compassion, and leadership while still maintaining the spark of youthfulness.
“Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.” – Walt Disney
