Riley, the main character, is a thirteen year old girl entering a summer hockey camp with her friends. The film follows her as she begins puberty and begins to experience new emotions. Each emotion is played by animated characters living inside her mind. Old, familiar emotions battle with new and unfamiliar emotions for control of Riley's mind. Joy, Anxiety, Disgust, Fear, Anger, Sadness, Envy, Grace, Ennui*, and Embarrassment all vie for control of Riley's behavior as she navigates social interactions at hockey camp.

*(Merriam Webster defines "ennui" as a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction.)

Just before camp, Riley experiences a wave of different emotions. Anxiety arrives on the scene, and while Anxiety means well, it can ultimately hurt you by holding you down today in exchange for worrying about tomorrow. Matthew 6:27 says, "Worrying does not do any good; who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying?"

Sometimes emotions can take over. Riley's mind is hijacked by anxiety and her familiar emotions are locked up in a vault (suppressed). There in the vault, her newly suppressed emotions meet up with other characters from her childhood. Bloofy the Dog and Pouchy are reminiscent of her childhood and Lance Slashblade of her pre-teen years. Meanwhile Anxiety had taken over, ignoring Rileys values and placing a focus on overthinking and striving. Riley is at her breaking point.

God doesn't abandon us in these times. God sends others to help us. Riley's old friends see her in trouble and comfort her. Proverbs 12:25 reminds us, "The weight of worry drags us down, but a good word brightens our day." Galatians 6:2 reminds us how we were made for community. "Shoulder each other's burdens, and then you will live as the law of the Anointed teaches us."

Riley feels the weight of how she treated her old friends while trying to impress new friends. She apologizes and asks for their forgiveness. She lets go of her burdens. Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 1 Peter 5:7 "Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries."

As Riley lets go of her burdens, Joy returns to the forefront. Riley returns to enjoying playing hockey with her friends. Jesus can calm the storm within you and you can be filled with the joy of His presence. Romans 15:13 "I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit."

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