Brother Bear, An Example Of Personal Growth

Personal growth occurs throughout life, constantly and on many occasions regardless of the will of the person. On the other hand, although it is a progressive process, in which experiences count a lot, the progression is not usually linear, small and large advances are combined with small and large setbacks.

On the other hand, the passage between childhood and adulthood is a challenging process. It is characterized by a paradigm shift, especially marked by the assumption of responsibilities. To exemplify this process, we will take the animated film Brother Bear.  We will delve into it below.

Brother bear , the story of a man

Brother Bear was an animated film released in 2003. It tells the story of young Kenai, who is about to become an adult. During his entrance into adulthood ceremony, Kenai hopes to receive a wooden totem. This totem, assigned by the great spirits, will indicate to Kenai that trait that will guide his actions for the rest of his life.

However, Kenai is greatly disappointed when the meaning of his totem is revealed to him. It was carved by the Great Spirits as a bear, and represents love. Kenai hoped to receive a totem of bravery, following in the footsteps of his brothers. His brother Sitka’s totem represents guidance, while his brother Denahi’s totem represents wisdom.

Angry and frustrated, Kenai chases after a bear that has just eaten the village fish. Sitka and Denahi follow him, but an accident occurs and Sitka dies. Kenai wants revenge, so he hunts down and kills the bear. However, the spirit of Sitka intervenes. The magic of the Great Spirits turns Kenai into a bear.

Kenai, turned into a bear, finds himself alone and disoriented in the forest. There he will meet the little bear cub Koda, who lost his mother. Kenai and Koda must go on a journey together to Salmon Falls. In that place is located a mountain in which the Great Spirits touch the earth. Only there can the spell be broken and Kenai can return to being human.

During this journey, Kenai will understand the true meaning of family. In addition, you will assume the responsibilities of an adult, such as taking care of the youngest. Kenai will strengthen the relationship with his brother Denahi. At the end of the movie, Kenai decides to continue being a bear. He considers that between his two brothers, Denahi and little Koda, it is Koda who needs him the most.

The journey of personal growth

Several films show the personal growth of their characters in the context of a long journey of adventures.  Brother Bear is one of those movies. These great journeys rarely happen in everyday life. However, personal growth can easily be compared to a trip.

It is a long-term project that has no end. This project is made up of a series of goals and objectives. Some of these goals may be set early in the journey and others may emerge throughout life. Personal goals vary according to our abilities, capabilities, and interests.

Life can be compared to a long and exciting road. As time passes and we move along the path, we begin to add possibilities. These possibilities, in turn, will modify our path, going through  moments of sadness, but also moments of great happiness and satisfaction.

Learn along the way

Our path widens as different people come together and we accumulate experiences.  Many young people think that being an adult is a static classification with certain fixed characteristics. Although being an adult carries with it certain given social responsibilities, these are not the only characteristics that define an adult. Thus, adulthood is a state of constant learning.

The inner growth of the adult is focused on improving their quality of life. As we grow, we realize that our actions lead to certain reactions from our environment.  It is about identifying the stimuli that generate certain responses, so that our actions win when they are consistent with what we hope to obtain.

In part, being an adult implies understanding that each person has their own processes and challenges. The most important thing is to analyze our own actions and thoughts to identify our motivations. If we act according to what motivates us, we will be able to establish vital goals and objectives that are consistent with our values ​​and expectations.

The importance of the support network for personal growth

A support network is the group of people with whom we maintain a relationship over time, a complicity and a trust. This group of people is emotionally significant to us and is willing to support us. A support network provides help in difficult times, so that with the help of the people who make it up, difficult times are not so difficult.

A support network can be made up of family and friends. The members of our support network have our absolute confidence. In an effective interpersonal relationship, we are part of the support network of each of the members who are part of our network. Thus, collaboration is reciprocal and bidirectional.

To establish functional support networks, communication is the most important part. Communication allows us to understand the behavior and motivations of other people. In this way, a support network must be based on communication and trust. Communication allows the support network to adapt to the personal growth of each of its members, as the goals and abilities of each change.

Growth occurs progressively, not as a sudden act. Thus, the passage from childhood to adulthood is a gradual process. During this process, family and friends act as pillars on which the individual can lean in case of need. It must be remembered that each young person must go through a period of self-knowledge and reflection.