I went to see Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, with a French friend also living in Japan who is a big fan of Marvel movies. This film marvelously concludes the Infinity Saga, which began with the first Iron Man movie released in 2008. At three hours long, the movie’s runtime felt anything but lengthy while watching it. As today marks the last day of the year, I found it fitting to close the year with a movie that encapsulates the end of a decade of storytelling across 22 Marvel films.
A Personal Approach to Media Reflections
My everyday posts aren’t intended to be detailed critiques of the media I cover, especially for something as monumental as Avengers: Endgame. The film itself is brimming with topics worthy of discussion, not to mention the entirety of the Infinity Saga. To keep these posts digestible within a few minutes, I must cherry-pick my focus, and I understand that sometimes my choice might differ from yours.
Tony Stark’s Humanity: A Deep Dive
In this post, I want to reflect on the character Tony Stark/Iron Man and how his humanity, at its deepest level, is brilliantly portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. After the catastrophic events of Avengers: Infinity War, where half of all life in the universe is erased, Tony experiences profound loss. One of the most poignant moments for him is witnessing Peter Parker turn to dust in his arms.
When Tony is eventually rescued and reunites with his team, particularly Steve Rogers, the encounter is bitter. Past conflicts have caused a significant rift in their relationship, contributing to the current dire situation. The loss of Peter Parker, whom Tony had grown to see as a mentee and even as a surrogate son, weighs heavily on him. This loss is magnified by Tony’s own strained relationship with his father.
Despite these struggles, Tony finds the strength to let go of the past. While forgiveness doesn’t always mean forgetting, he reconciles with Steve and refocuses his energy on what truly matters—moving forward to help humanity.
Emotional Intelligence: Insights from Science
Understanding and working on emotions has become a crucial area of study. Recent neuroscience highlights that emotions are processed in the right side of the brain, and we now have tools to better navigate them. For example, Andrew Huberman’s podcast featuring Dr. Marc Brackett on “How to Increase Emotional Intelligence” sheds light on practical ways to enhance emotional insight.
A particularly useful exercise involves identifying our emotional state by dividing emotions into four quadrants:
- Low energy to high energy
- Pleasant to unpleasant
By locating ourselves within these quadrants at any given moment, we gain self-awareness of our emotional state. This awareness allows us to respond intentionally rather than react impulsively.
Tragedy as a Catalyst for Growth
Tragic events often spark introspection, allowing us to understand and process our emotions more effectively. For Tony Stark, letting go of the past—without necessarily forgiving everything—was key to embracing his purpose. In the movie, this shift enables him to move forward and fulfill his role as a hero for humanity.
I believe many of us also require an epiphany to truly connect with our emotions. Cultural and family differences heavily influence how emotions are perceived and expressed. To ensure individuals feel a sense of belonging in society, education around emotions should be adjusted, fostering acceptance of diverse emotional experiences.
For me, acknowledging my feelings was the turning point that led to the creation of One Daily Tale.
Your Turn to Reflect
How do you navigate your own emotional landscape, and have you ever experienced a moment that reshaped your understanding of your purpose? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective!
#tales-posts
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