COLD AS ICE!!! My Take on Disney's Frozen and its Powerful Analogies to Real Life

I’ve heard so much talk about Disney’s Frozen from adults that it piqued my interest. For one, I’ve only heard adults talk about it, I mean, isn’t it a kids movie? What was the big deal? Then someone else told me that it’s worth watching because of the powerful messages it had. I just finished watching it and I am amazed. Disney really hit it on the head this time! I decided to do my own take on the movie, what it meant to me and what we can take from it.

Elsa, the main character in the movie is a beautiful queen with a serious problem. Everything she touches turns into ice. She’s had this “gift” her whole life but was scarred as a child when she accidentally injured her sister, Anna while they were playing. That incident among other occurrences caused her to become extremely insecure about her ability to freeze things. It became so bad over the years that she had to distance herself from everyone for fear of hurting them. Her perception of herself caused others to see her that way to the point where she ran from her own kingdom and isolated herself in the woods, surrounded by her self-built ice kingdom, all alone.

Elsa is not a bad person, but she was definitely perceived that way. Why? Well, for one the incident with her sister as a child was a doorway for an insecure seed to be planted. I don’t know about you but I can definitely relate with Elsa. Things happen in childhood that can affect us for the rest of our lives – if we let them. Of course she didn’t mean to hurt her sister, she felt terrible about it and never got over it. The guilt stemmed into insecurity which stemmed into other unhealthy habits that affected how she felt about herself. Unfortunately, that’s where a lot of bad seeds are planted – in childhood. We’re not old or mature enough to handle it properly and it establishes itself in our emotions, personalities and mindsets. Elsa’s fears, self-doubt and insecurities had literally build a monster to keep people away – even the ones she loved!

Over the years, many unhealthy seeds grew in me and they never really manifested themselves until it mattered – in relationships. My friends, family and even co-workers were affected by my insecurities because the end result was a negative, defensive attitude. At times I isolated myself and didn’t even know how I ended up there. I didn’t mean to, but I knew it was a matter of me making a decision to reconnect. But before doing any of that, I had to deal with the walls I had put up over the years. I had grown so comfortable with them; they were my security blanket. No one could hurt me and no one could say I hurt them. Very destructive and dangerous to be this way. Like Elsa, I had to make a decision to let go…and stop being so cold!

When it comes to negative vibes and victim mentality, no one wants to be around you after a while. Elsa’s problem got so bad after a while she lost complete control of her freezing capabilities. She froze the entire kingdom and a permanent winter had set in, making everyone miserable as the struggled to stay warm. Her negativity had that much power. It got to the point where they wanted her to die for the destruction she was causing. The bad part is, she didn’t even realize how much damage she’d done! Elsa was so caught up in herself, her misery and what was going on with her she didn’t realize that the entire kingdom was suffering at her expense. This is what isolation does and the effects are detrimental. Is it worth staying upset with someone? Is it worth reminiscing over and over again about something that happened to you as a child and how it made you feel? I believe everyone has the capability to overcome that barrier. I was once there; I couldn’t get past certain events in my life, nor could I get over the hurt I felt when it happened.

Whether you talk it over with God, get it down in writing and/or get counseling for it, at some point you HAVE to look within. Yes, things happened to you early in life, but it doesn’t define your life journey – at all! Yet we drag these memories everywhere we go to the point where it affects innocent people. Not to make this a self-beat up session, but the reality is everyone is where they’re at today because of decisions they made along the way. Whether you’re in a great place or trying to fight things you’re struggling with, at some point you have to acknowledge your role in your pit falls. It wasn’t easy for me to accept my responsibility in failures and setbacks, but I did. I took what I did and learned from it – and I try my best to make sure that no one pays for something that has nothing to do with them. This is where I will take a minute to talk about Elsa’s sister, Anna. She was definitely the more free-spirited, open sister. She didn’t over think things before making decisions. She wasn’t afraid to step out and take a chance. She definitely had her disappointments though. She fell in love with someone who didn’t love her back. Did that stop her from having hope? Nope. She didn’t hold the failed relationship against anybody. Her open heart definitely paid off for her!

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One of the songs performed during the movie, couldn’t have been more fitting for the take-home message. We can go along pointing fingers at people or situations, feel sorry for ourselves and expect everyone else to do the same. The fact of the matter is that’s not going to happen; for one it won’t change the misery you’re in and it won’t change what has already taken place. Let it go. You’ve convinced people for years that you’re a permanent victim. Believe it or not they’re starting to get tired of it and don’t have the energy to continue feeling sorry for you. Start a new chapter. Heck, in some cases don’t even turn the page; just throw the book out!

Again, I know for a fact that it is not easy. You’ll take a few steps of progress and then – a setback happens. That is okay. Don’t let that hold you back. You are entitled to start over and learn from mistakes. Elsa had to let go of the pain. Enough had been enough. So much damage had been done, she chased away people that she loved, and they ended being struck by her self-destructive behavior. There’s a scene where Elsa’s anger causes her to accidentally strike her sister again – this time in the heart. Her sister starts to die slowly from the ice that has taken over her heart and freeze her entire body.

Folks, be careful of how much you let anger fester. If you don’t let go, it starts to affect everyone and it’s not worth the pain – or the loss. Elsa almost lost her dear sister Anna because she wouldn’t let go. Fortunately, she realized she did have control over her emotions, and because of an act of love, she wasted no time starting over.

As Elsa is being chased down by the kingdom’s authorities, her relentless sister, Anna is trying to reach out to her sister before it’s too late. Mind you Anna was dying from her icy condition, yet was still out in the forest looking for her beloved sister. Suddenly, Anna sees one of the armed men coming after her sister to take her life. Anna immediately musters up the little strength she had to run in between the guard’s sword and he sister – but the sword doesn’t strike Anna because she’s turned frozen solid at this point. The ice had taken over her body completely as she stood frozen in between the point of the sword and her sister Elsa – she had saved her sister’s life! Elsa didn’t know what to do with herself. She was completely broken by the act of love her sister had just displayed. She hugs the cold, icy statue of her sister and breaks down, moved by her sister’s unconditional love. What does this do – heal Elsa from herself! But the flow of love doesn’t stop there. The same hands that accidentally froze her sister’s heart are the same hands that brought her back to life through a warm, loving embrace!

Yes, Anna’s love broke Elsa, but it was up to Elsa to receive that love and be set free. In the end she was able to realize she had the power to let go and make a difference for the better. She healed herself, then healed the kingdom from its frozen misery.

This cartoon wasn’t that far-fetched from real life. It isn’t until we chose to let go and make room for love we’ll be miserable and not get very far in life. The fear, self-hate and insecurity can be healed by an act of love. Not just from someone else, but by you. Step “out of yourself” and make a difference in someone’s life. Let go of the painful past and forgive. Once your heart opens, other amazing doors will be open for you as well.