Toy Story is a Movie about Self-Awareness and Self-Deception

Recently, in an attempt to watch the 100 highest audience scored movies on IMDB, my family and I watched Toy Story. It was striking to see a familiar pattern in the characters that I had seen in my counseling practice - a lack of self-awareness.

When Buzz Lightyear arrives on the screen, he lacks the knowledge of an incredibly important element of his personhood - that he is a toy. Now, despite whatever connotations being a toy has, my purpose here is to address some of the major themes in the movie that are true in real life with people who are self-deceived.

At first, it is aggravating to deal with people who are not self-aware. Woody is frustrated with Buzz for multiple reasons, but one of the main reasons Buzz is so frustrating is because he believes he is a space ranger. Not coming to terms with who he really is makes it even more aggravating to deal with the fact that he is now Andy's favorite toy. Woody is not only frustrated by Buzz's inability to recognize that he is a toy, but further, that all the other toys seem to be buying into his delusion. Buzz has created a false narrative and lived it out so convincingly that most everyone believes him - or at a minimum - plays along. This is now a threat to Woody in multiple ways; First, Buzz is Andy's favorite toy in reality, but Buzz doesn't even appreciate

his true status because he is so delusionally busy chasing his false status. Second, Buzz is bringing everyone around him into his delusion, making it impossible to wake him up from it. Third, his delusion is dangerous as it poses a threat to order and a steady (smooth) transition to the new house to which Andy and all his toys are moving. So Woody can't really even talk it out with Buzz or discuss his frustration because Buzz is not rational and Woody is too prideful to admit that he losing. Woody is losing in popularity to another toy who has better attributes, but doesn't know reality. This poses a threat to the community they exist in, not to mention Woody's personal feelings of indaquecy and anger at being thrown off of the top of the dominance hierarchy he has grown to enjoy. So what to do? Woody gets to a dark place (for a kids movie) -- he decides to whack him mafia style.

After Woody's attempted murder of Buzz, they are thrown into an adventure together to get back to Andy before he moves to the new house. Buzz maintains his posture that he is not a toy but an actual space ranger that needs to get back to his home planet, despite the sincere and desperate attempts of Woody to wake him up and make him realize this false narrative. To no avail, Woody begins playing into Buzz's false narrative in order to mobilize him to action and manipulate him toward a way of life that is good for both Woody and Buzz, but most importantly good for Andy.

The Dangers of Self-Deception: Lessons from Woody and Buzz

Watching this movie I realized that Woody represents both the part of a person who wants to see reality, and the people around a person who has no self awareness. A person who doesn't see themselves rightly can be annnoying and consumed with the wrong thing. They can be gifted and popular, but be blind to how to wield that responsiblity. They are a threat but don't seem to notice how dangerous they are and therefore are more dangerous because of their naivity. When Buzz first declares that he is a space ranger Woody points to things about him that inidcate he is not -- false things he is believing. Things like the fact he can't fly. Buzz then goes to prove Woody wrong and by pure chance is able to accidently get around the room without any effort further convincing himself and those watching that he can indeed fly. Often people who are self deceived will act out on a false narrative and be able to prove that they are on the right track, making the right choices, and heading the right direction based on clues and evidences that they can demonstrate. Despite the fact that the clues are weak, the evidence petty, and the circumstantial evidence is just not there they march on gathering people who will cheer on their self delusion because it is somehow exciting, fun, or beneficial to them. A self deceived person heading the wrong direction in life can often be a person who delights in being a victim and others delight in being the hero to that victim. In this case, the self deceived Buzz Lightyear thinks himself an out of place hero and those around him enjoy the newness and confidence of such a leader.

As Woody fails to wake Buzz from his stupor more and more toys become increasingly annoyed that Woody won't buy in and start to despise Woody for his attempts at bringing Buzz into reality. This is common in a family dynamic where a person who is self-unaware or self deceived has convinced everyone they are fine or at least convinced everyone that they are doing the right thing by playing along. When one person steps outside that one dimensional dynamic role the entire family turns on them. What was once a great member of the family who knew their place is now a despised member who is "ruining everything."

This is Woody. The story plays out a basic relationship between two people when one is living out a false narrative. Not having self awareness is problematic and can be hurtful and dangerous to those around you. This is why Woody is both the reality of those around a person who is not self aware, and the part of a person who is understands and perceives reality but is too afraid to pursue it. Often, it is the case that those who are living a false narrative in life will feel or intuatively know, something isn't right. It might possibly even be the reason they come to counseling. But they have no reason, or ability to change. They are stuck with a path and it is clearer than whatever they might encounter if they listen to that other voice - the voice of Woody. So they carry on forward toward trying to reach star command when a community of people serving Andy is offered to them.

The Significance of Andy as the God Archetype in the Movie

Andy, although barely in the movie, is referenced regularly. Andy is the God character in the movie and the highest archetype. For Christians, those who serve God and love Him are more in touch with reality than others. Becuase to serve God means that we come to terms that we are finite beings, who are spiritually dead, naturally immoral, unethical, self serving, and lost. We are create. We belong to someone. We find our meaning and purpose in pursuit of that someone and service to Him. God is our overarching narrative and the reason we exist. Without Him there is no meaning and purpose. And despite our self delusions, "star command" (the thing we pursue instead of God) willl never satisfy -- it might not even exist. The importance of guiding people to a God who rules over all cannot be overstated. Our soul finds rest in God and is restless until we know Him who created us and loves us. We need an over arching theme and reason for being and there is none greater than Christ. So orienteing ourselves to Him can be a straightening to our path, and also keep us from self delusions. But this isn't full proof as many Christains are self-unaware believing that they are different than what God has stated in the Bible or that they deserve something better than what they have been allotted. Being self unaware is not just a non-Christian attribute and simply believeing on Jesus Christ is not a fix for it. However, without Christ, without God above, there is no clear direction at all with which to coordinate efforts of recalobration. God is like our satellite with which we coordinate our GPS so that we can locate ourselves in time and space. Without Him we are lost without hope. But with Him we have at least a starting place from which to move forward.

The Awakening of Buzz Lightyear: A Journey from Self-Deception to True Purpose

As Buzz and Woody go along on their adventure and Woody plays into Buzz's delusions, he gains Buzz's trust. This turns out to be how Buzz will discover the lies that he has been believing. Upon their alliance, Buzz follows Woody as they try to escape Sid's house (the bad kid in the movie). As they seek to escape, the dog chases them and causes them to split up. Buzz happens upon a room where he sees a commercial for Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is his realization that he has been believing a lie. Perhaps his life's goal is futile and Woody is right? So he goes out for one last desperate attempt to prove he is what he has been believing. He tries to fly out the window, discovers he cannot, and in a tragic scene falls to the bottom of the staircase and loses his arm. The overhead shot of this broken toy, having been crushed both in spirit and body, is the picture of the person who has woken up, entered into a contemplative stage, and is beginning to realize something must change. But this is not pleasant. The next scene we see Buzz sitting in the little girl's room having tea, broken and talking out of his head. Typical for those who have woken up out of their self-deception and self-unawareness. It's totally unexplored territory and usually makes you act out weirdly and awkwardly. After all, you can't trust yourself anymore, so what do you do but try the next thing in front of you and for some act out wildly because your narrative has been shattered. You are lost, you are directionless. So we watch as Buzz goes through the stages of becoming aware of himself and what he truly is. He is awkward, weak, sad, depressed, isolating himself, and without purpose. It isn't until Woody comes to him and reminds him he has a greater purpose than Star Command that he realizes what to do next. What Woody has been saying all along doesn't sink in until the false narrative is played out and Woody concedes and uses Buzz's narrative to move him forward. Then, once realized, it is Woody who has to point Buzz to his real purpose for existing - Andy. Andy is a greater purpose and a greater existence than Star Command.

Being a toy is a good thing if you will realize it and head in that direction. With this clear purpose, the toys are now in sync and can purposefully move toward their goal of getting back to Andy. They can handle each problem together because they are united in their purpose. Particularly, they fly for real because they are singularly focused in reality -- the beauty of people operating from self-awareness.

As they fly through the sky, Woody yells out, "You're flying!" to which Buzz responds, "This isn't flying - this is falling with style." A callback to Woody's criticism of Buzz when he was deluded and showing off his "flying skills" earlier. Now Buzz is able to talk about his limitations openly and even humbly pick on himself because he no longer has his identity in those things. As they continue to fly, Woody announces, "You missed the truck!" to which Buzz responds, "We aren't aiming for the truck!" A statement that Buzz now truly gets it - not even the righteous Woody has kept his aim high and clear enough. Buzz knows why he exists and where his place is - and he is bringing Woody along with him.

Awakening to Reality: The Journey of Self-Awareness and Intervention

The encouragement we take from such a picture is that with the right goal, patience, and time, a person can become self-aware and wake up to reality. The route to this is often in working within the false narrative the person has created and leading them out through a common goal. This common goal can evolve into helping them see the ultimate goal which was Andy for them, and God for us. Acknowledging the danger and difficulty there is in dealing with someone who is self-deceived or unaware is the first step in helping them as it may seem like you are a bad person when interrupting their narrative, but truthfully, if you can see a person you love or are trying to help as a counselor, heading down a path that will hurt them (spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, or in any combination), we are doing the highest good by interrupting them.

To serve along with someone who is self-unaware is to live out Galatians 6:1-10

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load. 6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.