21 Highly Relevant, Totally Legit Life Lessons from Disney Ladies 

Awww Oh, Snap! Quiz Retro Silly Whoa Yum

21 Highly Relevant, Totally Legit Life Lessons from Disney Ladies

The hundreds of hours we’ve spent watching Disney movies have given us more than just joy and a deep reverence for Alan Menken. We’ve been secretly learning the entire time, too, and it was Disney ladies who imparted all those lessons. Here are the ones that hit closest to home:

Use your voice to stand up for what’s right. Get in the habit of making Esmeralda’s battle cry of “Justice!” your own. If you don’t, who will?

It’s important to know yourself and what you want, but it’s also important to learn to see things from others’ perspectives. That’s how you grow (and how you avoid turning your mom into a bear).

Don’t let other people’s expectations for you color the way you see yourself. They don’t know what sort of incredible things you’re capable of, and you were born for so much more than a provincial life.

Surround yourself with good people, and all the best things in life will follow, because you’ll always have someone looking out for you. After all, we’re pretty sure friends are just fairies in disguise.

Hold yourself and the ones you love to high standards. You might be surprised how powerful of a motivating force your example can be, whether or not you’re specifically motivating someone to come back to the kingdom and challenge his uncle.

Don’t become so singlemindedly dedicated to one specific goal that you forget what’s most important in your life. Channel Tiana, dig a little deeper, and remain balanced in all things.

You don’t have to do things a certain way just because that’s how they’ve always been done. Be fearless like Jasmine; challenge tradition and keep moving forward.

Your voice is priceless; don’t give it up to any sea witches or because of any external pressure to fit in. The things that make you unique—your thoughts, opinions, and values—are the things about yourself you should cherish most, and the things other people will love the most about you.

You can be motivated by fear, or you can be motivated by love. Almost every decision you make comes down to one of those two things, and you should always, always choose love over fear. It’s never too late to start, either; Elsa unlearned years of fear, and you can too.

Jealousy is a waste of energy that never gets you anywhere. It won’t get you what you feel like you’re missing, and it might isolate you from other people. Learn from Tink’s mistakes here and focus your energy on doing something that builds you up.

Embrace the opportunity to lead others, like Elizabeth does. Don’t get hung up on the possibility of making mistakes. You’re just as competent as anyone else, and you have skills and smarts that are uniquely yours. Just go for it.

You’re capable of more than you might realize. Just because you’ve never done something before, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it now. The only way you’ll know is by trying, so leave your tower and find out what you’re made of.

Protect your people. Your family, whether they’re related to you or not, loves you most. You should send all that love back to them as fiercely as you can.

Don’t underestimate the value of simply being kind to everyone around you. It’s extremely powerful, and remember: you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.

Be bold, be brave, and never, ever give up. You won’t know if the next time you try something challenging will be the time you finally succeed unless you go for it. Look at problems from different perspectives, like Mulan, and you’ll get to the top eventually.

Keep an open mind and explore new worlds. You have no idea what’s out there waiting to be discovered. With a curious mind and a gentle heart, you can find the beauty in anything.

Be kind to everyone, even the smallest of creatures, and even those who aren’t kind back to you. That kindness is the most beautiful thing you can send out into the world, and it will eventually make its way back to you.

Trust yourself. Facing the unknown is scary, but if you want something bigger than what you’ve already dreamed, the unknown is your only option. Venture around the river bend and find out what’s waiting for you.

You can’t stop the people you love from making mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s good that they do, because mistakes help you grow. All you can do is keep loving them through it.

Trusting other people and loving everyone you meet are beautiful qualities; there’s no doubt about that. But don’t be naive, either. It takes time to learn if someone’s a Kristoff or a Hans. Let that time pass. If someone’s a Kristoff, they’ll still be around after it does.

Being odd is much more fun than being ordinary, so let your imagination run wild and think as many impossible things as you can. That’s how you create a world of your own that you love.

What’s your favorite life lesson from a Disney lady? Tell us below!

Tagged as: Aladdin (1992), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Brave (2012), Cinderella (1950), Frozen (2013), Mulan (1998), Peter Pan (1953), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Pocahontas (1995), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Tangled (2010), Tarzan (1999), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Lion King (1994), The Little Mermaid (1989), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Poll: What’s Your Favorite Disney Animated Classic?

Quiz: How Many Disney Animated Classics Have You Seen?

What Disney Movies Taught Us About Girl Power

Quiz: How Many of These Things Can You Cross Off Your Disney...

Get the latest Disney news, quizzes, and more fun stuff delivered straight to your inbox with the Oh My Disney Newsletter!

These Disney Facts Will Make You Feel Old, Part 3

Quiz: Can You Match the Voice Actor to the Disney Character?

9 Sacrifices Disney Fans Make on a Daily Basis

25 Beautiful Photos That Will Make You Want to Go to a Disney Park Right Now

If You’re a Traitor and You Know It, Clap Your Hans

quiz: can you match the disney movie with the year it opened?

hilary duff proves she still has lizzie mcguire style

sofia carson welcomes you to her wicked world in this “rotten to the core” rework

big movies, only shorter: producer aimee scribner talks frozen fever and tangled ever after

walt disney animation studios shorts transformations from concept art to final frame

bea miller’s “perfect picture” shows a different side of the fiery singer

watch the first clip from the lion guard and find out who’s taking on the roles of simba and nala

© Disney. All Rights Reserved. Disney Lifestyle