The Surprising Psychological Genius Of The Lion King

Summary

This video script delves into the profound life lessons of 'The Lion King,' mapping out seven pivotal phases for personal growth. It explores the journey from innocence to self-discovery, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's inner kingdom—comprising feelings, dreams, and soul. The narrative illustrates how societal pressures can lead to self-abandonment, but ultimately, it's through reconnecting with our true selves that we can live authentically. The script serves as a guide to overcoming life's challenges, aligning our inner and outer worlds, and achieving personal sovereignty.

Takeaways

• 👑 The Lion King is a metaphor for personal growth, portraying the journey of an individual's development into a sovereign self.
• 🌱 Simba's story represents the stages of life, from innocence and self-discovery to taking responsibility for one's 'kingdom', which symbolizes one's inner self.
• 🏠 The 'kingdom' is a metaphor for one's inner world, encompassing feelings, dreams, body, heart, and soul, which one must rule with self-awareness.
• 👶 Childhood innocence is characterized by an uninhibited expression of self, which must be tempered as we learn to navigate social norms and expectations.
• 🚫 Socialization often involves suppressing natural responses to fit in, which can lead to a loss of authentic self-expression and a sense of belonging.
• 💔 Traumatic experiences can lead to a belief that we are the cause of negative events, fostering an inner critic that undermines self-worth.
• 🏃 The decision to abandon one's 'kingdom' is a common response to overwhelming consequences, leading to a period of self-imposed exile and a search for a new identity.
• 🤝 Social negotiation in exile involves adopting behaviors to fit in and meet needs, often at the cost of suppressing one's true feelings and dreams.
• 🔄 The 'all good' philosophy is a coping mechanism that helps avoid negative experiences but can lead to emotional detachment and internalized pain.
• 🔮 The 'Dark Night of the Soul' is a period of introspection and withdrawal, necessary for reconnecting with one's true self and preparing for transformation.
• 🌟 The process of remembering one's true self involves facing and accepting past pain and self-criticism, leading to a renewed sense of authenticity and purpose.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script about The Lion King?

The main theme of the video script is the exploration of The Lion King as a metaphor for the development of a sovereign individual, going through various life phases and ultimately reconnecting with one's true self.

What does the 'kingdom' represent in the context of the video?

In the video, the 'kingdom' represents an individual's inner world, including their feelings, dreams, body, heart, and soul, rather than a physical territory or inheritance.

Why do children initially express themselves without shame according to the script?

Children express themselves without shame because they are born innocent and accept every part of themselves, acting out their feelings and dreams instinctively without concern for social judgment.

What is the significance of Simba's exile in the video script?

Simba's exile symbolizes the process of individuals abandoning their true selves and entering a world of social negotiation, where they suppress their authentic feelings and dreams to fit in and avoid negative experiences.

How does the video describe the formation of life philosophies during the phase of social negotiation?

The video describes the formation of life philosophies, such as people pleasing, achieving, or rebelling, as a coping mechanism to avoid negative experiences and to maintain social acceptance.

What is the 'Dark Night of the Soul' as mentioned in the script?

The 'Dark Night of the Soul' refers to a period of withdrawal and introspection, where individuals confront their inner selves and the persona they have created to avoid their true feelings and experiences.

Why is the encounter with the 'self' or 'soul' significant in the transformation process?

The encounter with the 'self' or 'soul' is significant because it marks the beginning of reconnecting with one's true identity and inner wisdom, leading to a transformation that aligns the individual's inner and outer worlds.

What does the video suggest as a way to deal with the inner critic during the transformation process?

The video suggests embracing and accepting uncomfortable feelings, rather than running from or arguing with the inner critic, as a way to deal with it during the transformation process.

How does the video script connect the process of self-discovery with the story of The Lion King?

The video script connects the process of self-discovery with The Lion King by mapping the character's journey, such as Simba's, to the seven pivotal life phases that individuals go through, from innocence to self-acceptance and transformation.

What is the role of 'truth' in the process of aligning one's inner and outer kingdoms according to the video?

In the process of aligning one's inner and outer kingdoms, 'truth' plays a crucial role by encouraging individuals to acknowledge their true feelings, accept their innocence, and make authentic decisions that reflect their inner wisdom.

Outlines

00:00

🦁 The Lion King's Life Lessons

This paragraph introduces the concept that 'The Lion King' is not only an entertaining animated movie but also a profound guide to living a meaningful life. It outlines the movie's portrayal of the hero's journey, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and self-discovery. The narrative of Simba's life is used as a metaphor for the development of a sovereign individual, highlighting the stages of life from innocence to self-awareness and the challenges of socialization and self-expression. The paragraph discusses how societal expectations and the fear of consequences can lead to the suppression of one's true self, drawing parallels between Simba's experiences and the internal struggles many people face.

05:01

🌱 The 'All Good' Philosophy and Its Pitfalls

This section delves into the common life philosophy of avoiding discomfort by adopting an 'all good' attitude, which, while adaptive, can lead to the suppression of negative emotions. It discusses how this approach can result in emotional detachment and a lack of authenticity. The paragraph uses the example of men who might lose the ability to cry and women who might suppress their anger as a result of this philosophy. It also touches on how external factors, such as relationships or health issues, can disrupt this coping mechanism and force an individual to confront their repressed emotions, leading to a period of introspection and potential transformation.

10:01

🔍 The Journey to Self-Rediscovery

The final paragraph explores the process of reconnecting with one's true self, often facilitated by a period of withdrawal and introspection. It discusses the importance of facing and accepting one's inner critic and the uncomfortable feelings associated with self-abandonment and past betrayals. The paragraph emphasizes the realization that at the core, individuals are inherently good and innocent, and that accepting this truth is crucial for healing and personal growth. It concludes by highlighting the renewed sense of purpose and authenticity that comes from embracing one's inner wisdom and aligning one's outer life with one's inner values, suggesting that this alignment can lead to a more fulfilling and authentic existence.

Keywords

💡Sovereign Individual

A sovereign individual is someone who is self-governing and autonomous, embodying the idea of personal sovereignty and self-reliance. In the context of the video, Simba is born to rule a kingdom, which is a metaphor for each person's 'inner kingdom'— their feelings, dreams, body, heart, and soul. The video suggests that everyone is born to rule their own inner kingdom, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and personal growth.

💡Hero Archetype

The hero archetype refers to a character type that emerges in narratives across different cultures, embodying universal traits like bravery, self-discovery, and the journey from innocence to experience. In the video, Simba's journey represents the hero archetype, illustrating the human experience of growth and self-discovery. It's used to map out the seven pivotal life phases that guide viewers on how to live a life well-lived.

💡Self-Expression

Self-expression is the act of conveying one's thoughts, emotions, and desires through actions, words, or other creative outlets. The video discusses how children naturally express themselves without shame but learn to suppress these expressions to fit into society. It's a central theme in the narrative of personal growth and the reclaiming of one's authentic self.

💡Socialization

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors of their culture. The video script describes how socialization can lead to the suppression of one's natural tendencies to fit in, which can result in a loss of self and the adoption of behaviors that are deemed socially acceptable.

💡Inner Critic

The inner critic is an internalized voice that judges and criticizes one's own thoughts, feelings, and actions. In the video, the dialogue between Simba and Scar is likened to the conversation between one's innocence and the developing inner critic, which can lead to self-blame and a belief in one's own inadequacy.

💡Self-Abandonment

Self-abandonment refers to the act of giving up on one's own needs, desires, or sense of self to meet external demands or expectations. The video discusses how individuals may abandon their sense of self to fit into society, leading to a disconnection from their inner kingdom and a loss of authenticity.

💡Exile

Exile, in the context of the video, symbolizes the period where one has left their 'inner kingdom' and is living in a state of disconnection from their true self. This can be a metaphor for the time in a person's life where they are not living authentically or are disconnected from their passions and dreams.

💡All Good Philosophy

The 'all good' philosophy is a coping mechanism where individuals dismiss or reframed negative emotions to avoid dealing with them. The video describes this as a common approach to life that helps people avoid negative experiences but can lead to a buildup of unacknowledged emotions and a sense of emotional detachment.

💡Dark Night of the Soul

The 'Dark Night of the Soul' is a period of intense spiritual and emotional turmoil that precedes a profound transformation. In the video, this phase is described as a necessary withdrawal from the outer world to reconnect with one's true self, often involving confronting and integrating the aspects of oneself that have been avoided or denied.

💡Inner Wisdom

Inner wisdom refers to the intuitive knowledge and insight that comes from within, often associated with one's true self or soul. The video suggests that reconnecting with one's inner wisdom is essential for personal transformation and living a life that is authentic and aligned with one's inner kingdom.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity is the state of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character. The video emphasizes the importance of living authentically by reconnecting with one's inner kingdom and expressing oneself in a way that is genuine and not influenced by external expectations or pressures.

Highlights

The Lion King is a guide to a life well-lived, outlining seven pivotal life phases.

Simba's journey represents the development of a sovereign individual.

Your 'kingdom' is your inner self, including feelings, dreams, body, heart, and soul.

In childhood, we learn to fit in to meet our needs, which can lead to suppressing our true selves.

Socialization teaches us that there are consequences for not controlling our behavior.

Simba's guilt over Mufasa's death mirrors our own feelings of responsibility for negative life events.

We often vow to change our behavior to avoid negative consequences, leading to self-suppression.

Exile from our 'kingdom' involves adapting to social norms to fit in and meet our needs.

Adopting an 'all good' philosophy helps us avoid negative experiences but can lead to emotional detachment.

The 'Dark Knight of the soul' is a period of withdrawal and preparation for transformation.

During the dark night, we confront the death of our old persona and reconnect with our true self.

The process of transformation is often supported by an inner or outer wise guide.

Accepting our innocence and inherent goodness is a crucial step in the transformation process.

Reconnecting with our inner kingdom allows us to make authentic changes in our outer world.

Living with the authenticity of a child and the wisdom of an adult is a goal of this transformation.

The process of remembering who we are is ongoing and involves aligning our inner and outer kingdoms.

The video aims to stir something within the viewer and encourage continued self-discovery.

Transcripts

the original animated Lion King movie is

genius not just because of the fun

[Music]

songs but because it is literally a

prediction and guide to a life well-

lived it's a story of the development of

the sovereign individual it's a hero

archetype so in this video I'm going to

walk you through the seven pivotal life

phases The Lion King lays out how to

find out where you are in those phases

and how you can use that map to grow

faster than 99% of people and live up to

your full

potential Simba is born to rule a

kingdom so are you so is everyone on

this planet that Kingdom isn't Pride

Rock or any piece of land nor is it

whatever inheritance your parents leave

you your kingdom is your inner Kingdom

it's your feelings your dreams your body

your heart and your soul no consensus

vote is required for you to feel and

express these things because you are the

king going to be a mighty king enemies

bew and we act this out instinctively

when we're small we cry when we're sad

rage when we're upset we dance when we

hear music and we embrace our dreams of

being being an astronaut despite the

statistical improbability we don't ask

for permission or check if anyone rolls

their eyes when we say these things

because we're born without shame we

accept every part of ourselves but in

this innocent period we also have to

learn to fit in to get our needs met we

learn that hitting our sister to get the

toy that we want makes mom put us in

timeout and that throwing a tantrum

might be tolerated when we're two but by

the time we're in school that same

behavior will get us socially isolated

you don't belong here and through this

process of socialization sometimes it's

gentle sometimes very harsh we Stack Up

experiences that tell us that if we

don't control ourselves there is a price

to be

paid eventually our self-expression

brings down consequences that overwhelm

us they can be as common place as mom or

dad getting exasperated at a tantrum

that's it go to your

room

now or as severe as chronic neglect and

abuse these consequences aren't even

really caused by us they have much more

to do with the people that are around us

and what they're going through and

that's reflected in the case case of

Simba as he wasn't the one who really

caused his father's

death long live the

king but in our naive we believe

ourselves to be the cause of everything

that we live through we think I made Mom

and Dad break up I made dad angry at me

I'm the reason that bad things happen

and the dialogue between Simba and Scar

after Mufasa's death can be seen as the

dialogue between our innocence and our

developing inner critic what have you

done it was an accident I didn't mean

for it to happen but the king is

dead and if it weren't for you he'd

still be alive it's at this point that

each one of us makes a vow technically

there's several vows at many points in

our lives we vow to never again do the

thing that made us lose love and since

the loss of Love Came From innocently

being ourselves we've about to stop

doing that we start hiding ourselves

Because deep down we believe believe

that I'm broken I'm wrong and I am bad

and so we abandon our sense of self our

kingdom often with the encouragement of

those around us what am I going to do

run away

Simba Run run away and never

return when we leave our kingdom we

enter the world of social negotiation

I'll be whoever helps me to fit in and

get my needs met we stop singing or

dancing to avoid being laughed at we

stop saying that we want to be an

astronaut because people think that's

stupid and we become extra helpful

around the house to keep mom or dad

happy with us or just to give them less

reasons to argue with one another and

it's not only our dreams and actions

that we change but the entire feeling

that might give rise to those actions

like the feeling of sadness before

crying or the unchecked connection with

our gut when we're honest about our

dreams those things go mute so when did

you abandon yourself and if you're not

sure just sit with this question who did

I have to be for mom or dad what feeling

was not okay to feel

after the initial Terror of abandoning

ourselves Exile can be kind of great

sure we aren't really being ourselves

but we have a way to fit in and to avoid

getting hurt we just need to control our

self-expression we stop crying and we

stop getting bullied we stop getting

angry and Mom stops withdrawing from us

we learn to love the sport that our dad

loves and we Excel so that our peers

respect us and now we're well-liked we

might even be able to attract a date and

this drive to fit in is necessary in a

world full of different people but the

issue is that much of the fitting in

that we do happens unconsciously so we

aren't simply choosing to curb our

emotional expression we're actually

losing contact with the source of that

expression for instance many men lose

the ability to cry don't cry don't cry

don't cry don't cry don't cry and many

women lose the ability to get ragul mad

well that's not very nice to say is it

and it's at this point that we form our

life philosophies some people become the

people pleaser well that's me people

pleaser 24/7 others the achiever and

still others the rebel but one

philosophy that deserves special

recognition because it is so common so

subtle and it happens to be the one you

know best from The Lion King

is

a it means no worries for the rest of

your days that means rejecting or

immediately reframing anything that

makes us feel worried or uncomfortable

the modern name that I'd give to this

philosophy as I've heard it expressed by

many men is all good this philosophy is

highly adapted it helps us avoid

negative experiences and encourages

people to want to be around us but there

are downsides and they always show up in

time namely that the numb feelings of

hurt anger and shame don't actually

Disappear Completely they just build up

in our unconscious and we have no way of

releasing that and if you listen

carefully you can hear people give tells

of this unconscious buildup of negative

emotion they use phrases like I know I

shouldn't be angry but or I don't care

and of course all good followed by a

break and eye contact and a palpable

sense of emotional Detachment are you

crying

no yes people remain in this functional

yet detached state of the all good

philosophy

until I'm not certain about women but I

can say that for men that I know it's

almost always the feminine that shakes

them out of their coping patterns what's

happened to you you're not the Simba I

remember you're right I'm not now are

you satisfied no

just disappointed it can be a flesh and

blood girlfriend or a wife that

threatens to leave if we don't change I

hate you you were just some boy who made

me laugh at a party once and now I love

the side of you in my case it was the

pain of a breakup that felt way worse

than I imagined it should I stopped

really enjoying so many of the things in

my life that I used to enjoy and it can

also be a breaking down of the body

after driving oneself too hard or a

numbness in the heart that is no longer

tolerable either way the signal that we

can't keep running from ourselves gets

louder and louder and our heady

responses that worked for so long get

thinner and thinner listen you think you

can just show up and tell me how to live

my life you don't even know what I've

been through this is a difficult time

because our all good strategy isn't

working like it used to but we don't

have another way yet and this

begins The Dark Knight of the soul is a

period of withdrawal from the outer

World in preparation for a radical

transformation it's the beginning of

reconnecting with your true self except

it often doesn't feel so great it feels

like a for boing of the inevitable

encounter with the death of who we have

believed ourselves to be the death of

the Persona that has kept us safe

accepted and validated and we've become

so identified with that Persona the all

good guy that we feel this metaphorical

death as the end of everything and it

sucks well this sucks depending on when

I start counting I experienced somewhere

between 2 and six years of this for

boing that a dramatic transformation was

coming I'm tired of Charisma videos at

this point my life was going to change

and I couldn't use my old tricks to

bargain my way out of it it corresponds

with me stopping making videos and

retreating from responsibilities in my

life as a ton of my energy went to what

was occurring inside of me and many

times even though I'm not a Christian I

thought of Jesus in The Garden of

Gethsemane on the night before his

crucifixion and I thought about his

prayer

father if it is

possible may this cup be taken from me

and I wished for the same thing if this

doesn't have to happen please don't let

it happen and when we're in the Dark

Knight of the soul that option to keep

running away is always there we might

even take it a few times I know I did

but we will also be given as many

chances as we need to consciously face

what we've been avoiding in ourselves

and if you're in it now I hope that this

video Moves you one step closer to

leaning in so that you can emerge into

the next phase I'm done

running in The Lion King it's a short

scene but the Tangled Chase through the

unconscious can last a long time like I

said mine has been several years and I

don't even know that I can say I'm fully

through this process is often supported

by a wise one mainly it's your inner

wise one who knows the possibility of

transformation who can see past the fear

and the shame and who will help guide

you and if you're lucky you may also

receive outer support from a person who

has made this journey in their own life

and can help Orient you their support

will challenge you and facilitate this

process you can either run from it or

learn from it ah you see in modern times

this can be a therapist or a coach or

just someone older that has lived

through their own Dark Night of the soul

and come out the other side

do or do not there is no try they will

support you in developing Your Capacity

as a king by helping you to see what you

have avoided seeing that's not my father

it's just my reflection

no look

hard and this clear seeeing is one of

the primary activities of the king

archetype which you are becoming and as

you gain the courage to look more

steadily and unflinchingly at yourself

something arises there was no other

way Simba looks up and suddenly he's not

in a marsh and there's no Pond he's

standing in an open field this is

symbolically Simba encountering what has

many names cun called it the self I

prefer to call it your soul whatever

word you like it's your inner wisdom and

it speaks a very similar message to all

of us Simba you have forgotten me no how

could I you have forgotten who you are

and so forgotten

me look inside yourself Simba you are

more than what you have become we left

behind who we were we must return to our

kingdom and we must take ownership of

our divine right if we protest the

solution is simple how can I go back I'm

not who I used used to be remember who

you are so we begin to remember and in

this process we cannot go around but

must go through the worst things we have

learned to believe about ourselves now

this process is a bit counterintuitive

and it's not perfectly represented in

the Lion King as we take stock of our

inner World our inner critic will pile

onto us but we don't need to run from

argue with nor accept as true what that

critic says we embrace the incredibly

uncomfortable feelings and welcome them

with love so we're feeling The Emptiness

of self-abandonment for social gain the

grief for the dreams that we left behind

and the pain of the outer betrayals that

we said all good to we feel shame for

not having returned home sooner all of

this is felt accepted loved and moved

through tell them who is responsible for

Mufasa's

death I am and through this process we

learn an essential truth we are not

broken we're not wrong we're not bad bad

we never were the deepest part of us is

innocent and inherently good it's not

your fault deeply accepting your own

innocence is really hard it means

letting yourself feel waves of anger and

grief for the pain you didn't deserve

but are nonetheless responsible for

healing it means releasing control that

you've gained from hiding aspects of

yourself from your loved ones and the

world and it means acknowledging how

your coping mechanisms have negatively

impacted others I'm sorry

Anakin for all of it

but the payback for all of this

suffering and pain is that you get to

rest in the goodness of who you are at

your core it means that you can come

home to your inner Kingdom and begin to

live a life with the authenticity of a

child but the wisdom of an

[Music]

adult our renewed connection with the

inner Kingdom inspires us to make

changes in our outer world we might

leave a job that is contrary to our soul

draw boundaries on a relationship that

isn't right for us or start a side

project in line with our creativity and

our dreams we begin to act with

authority as kings of our own kingdom

and if we've gotten in the habit of

allowing others free reign of our

kingdom perhaps by denying our feelings

demanding our time or controlling how we

live this outer restoration may involve

conflict no

murderer no simple please tell them the

truth truth but truth is in the eye of

the B the good news is that the mature

options that weren't available to us at

earlier stages will start to present

themselves we can take a healthy

responsibility of our relationships and

reject the unhealthy responsibility of

totally managing someone else's feelings

we can feel what success really means to

our soul and live it without requiring

anyone else to sign on or to get it this

part of my

life this little part is called

Happiness we can create boundaries for

behavior that doesn't feel good to us

without losing touch with our love for

the people acting out those behaviors

these choices begin to bring our life

into alignment our inner and our outer

kingdoms start to reflect one another

more and more as we feel more secure in

who we truly are now to be clear life

and its problems don't just stop here I

still struggle with the tension between

responsibility to others and authentic

self-expression but as I become more

conscious of my inner Kingdom I see more

possibilities to satisfy both sides of

that tension for instance making this

video feels like a service to myself and

hopefully to you as well so I hope that

this video stirred something in you and

let me know if it did in the comments so

I know that I'm actually satisfying both

sides of that mention either way I hope

that you continue the process of

remembering who you are I hope that you

enjoyed this video and I'll see you in

the next one