Today, I’m sharing 4 ways to learn how to let it go from Elsa along with the song lyrics that tie in with her personal growth journey. I first saw the movie ‘Frozen’ as a parent, so I was worried more about them spilling popcorn than learning how Elsa went through so much and remained resilient. Now, however, upon rewatching for the 209th time, all I see is that Elsa faces grief, challenges, and isolation, but she gets through it. Yes, it’s fictional, but there are still lessons to learn from her approach. I mean, we learn a lot about red flags and dating from Anna too, but that’s for another post.
1. Embrace your feelings
As we learned early on, trying to suppress and hide feelings only made her power uncontrollable. She was essentially denying part of herself. Once Elsa learns to embrace her powers and feelings, rather than hiding them, she allowed herself the grace to process those emotions. The lyrics could sum up hiding a secret power or just feeling awkward about who you are.
“Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well, now they know”
As she sings these lyrics, we can all relate to the sense of masking our true selves to please others (parents, peers, society,…), but at what cost? At the end of the movie, thankfully Elsa learns that her emotions don’t rule her or her power. She lets go of the expectations and pressures of others and learns to listen to her own inner voice. Of course, the love of her sister who accepted her for who she was gave her strength. Accepting and embracing her true self, rather than trying to hide or change who she is is one of the key messages of the film, alongside sisterly love.
2. Gain perspective
Having a rare power to create ice in an already cold kingdom would seem less useful than other powers, but she made it fun as a child. Only when she accidentally hurt Anna did the gravity of her power weigh on her. This was also when she was encouraged to keep it secret and then she lost her parents. Safe to say, Elsa had a tough few years. That isolation may have stalled her healing and grief journey, bringing it all to a boiling point (or freezing point as it were) when the film takes place. She never had any distance or counseling to help her make sense of it all. Ultimately, Elsa learns to focus on the present and not get caught up in her fears about the future or regrets about the past. This helps her to find peace. She chooses to see her powers as a gift rather than a curse, which helps her to feel empowered. The song tells of her emotional journey and the turning point with:
“It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all.
It’s time to see what I can do”.
3. Surround yourself with support
Tucked away in a castle in a coastal kingdom without parents would make anyone feel alone. Alone in every sense. After years of keeping her powers hidden and feeling isolated, Elsa finally found people who accepted her for who she was and were willing to stand by her. This emotional support helped Elsa feel more confident and empowered, knowing that she wasn’t alone in her struggles.
“Not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation”.
Surrounding herself with supportive people, like her sister Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf (not Prince Hans) helped Elsa to develop a sense of purpose and agency. By encouraging Elsa to use her powers for good and helping her to see the positive impact she could have on others, Anna and Kristoff gave Elsa a sense of direction and motivation. This allowed Elsa to channel her powers in a positive way, rather than feeling like a burden or a source of shame. When Elsa needed help stopping the eternal winter that she had inadvertently caused, Anna was there to provide the courage and determination needed to confront the situation head-on. Personally, I loved that the true love’s kiss was from her sister Anna! They had been through so much shared trauma, but separately.
4. Learn to let go
Easier said than done, but the message is timeless. Letting it go is a first step in cultivating a sense of self-acceptance and self-compassion. Elsa learns to let go of her past and her fear, and this allows her to find peace and happiness. “Let It Go” as a song and as an approach encourages a sense of empowerment and freedom. In the final verse, it lays it out for us,
“I’m never going back, the past is in the past”.
Of course, at the start of the film, ‘never going back’ feels like she won’t return to her life in Arendelle, but by the end of the film the meaning is clearly that she is not returning to the isolation and fear that held her captive so much of her life. The ability to let go of things she couldn’t control and focus on what she could change is a good one to have in any queen’s mental health tool kit.
It’s easy to become self-critical and judgmental when faced with the worst of life’s stumbling blocks. But tapping into your true self and letting go of the fear holding you back, creates a void that can be filled with a sense of control over your life. This helps you feel more capable of handling whatever challenges come your way and all the little things you can’t control you just have to let it go.
If you enjoyed this post and want to read more articles by me [that aren’t travel, recipes, and crafts], go check out my business’ blog, Anchor and Bee. Over there, I share posts on writing, storytelling, productivity, and motivation. Anchor and Bee is a small independent publishing imprint that also creates bespoke content on a freelance or contract basis.
