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Inner Turmoil

At the heart of the story is Riley's internal conflict as she grapples with the challenges of adolescence, a major life transition, and the complexities of her emotions. Thorughout the film, Riley experiences conflictinf emotions and desires, such as longing for her old life in Minnesota versus her attempts to adapt to her new life in San Francisco. In the YouTube video above, we see that Riley, controlled by Fear, Anger, and Disgust, actually attempts to move out of her home and travel back to Minnesota.  The inner turmoil she experiences is depicted through her actions much like what is shown in the video. 

The personified emotions -- Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust -- also experience internal conflict as they compete for control over Riley's actions and decisions. Each emotion represents a different aspect of Riley's psyche and often finds themselves at odds with one another. Throughout the film, Riley and her emotions must confront and resolve their internal conflicts in order to achieve emotional balance and well being. This often involves acknowledging and accepting the full range of emotions, including sadness, rather than trying to suppress or ignore them. The resolution of internal conflicts leads to character growth for both Riley and her personified emotions. By confronting their inner struggles and embracing vulnerability, the characters are able to navigate life's challenges with greater resilience.