Like most kids in the 80’s I grew up watching, listening, and loving all things Disney – including the Disney Princess movies. I personally have always been drawn to the villains in the movies. We have Ursula, Jafar, Captain Hook, Cinderella’s Stepmother, Scar, Shere Khan, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Evil Queen, and of course Maleficent – my personal favorite. I can’t get enough of them. They are so bad… but so bad for a reason. I truly believe that most villains are only villains due to circumstance – but that is another post completely.
I never paid much attention to the princesses since I was so busy focusing on the villains. Then a friend who was working on and article asked me – what Disney Princess I connect with and what do I like about her. I really had to think about it. I had no idea where to start so I sat down and did a little research. She wanted my top 3 Disney Princesses and the traits that I liked about them. I came up with 5 to begin with.
Favorite Disney Princess Traits
I found that each of the following Disney Princess (es) possess at least one quality that I want to have. From determination to courage to optimism, each princess finds their way through adversity in their own way. I want to be a little like each of them!
Tiana – Determination
My kids were younger when The Princess and The Frog came out. I do remember taking them to see it in the theater (and spending half of the movie in the bathroom with one or the other of them) so she was one that I never connected with – until now. Tiana’s dream was to own a restaurant in New Orleans. Instead of giving up through the hard times (no money, being turned into a frog) she persevered through it all and got her dream in the end. It may not have been the way that she expected but her dream come true. She knew that when life gives you lemons you make a big old glass of lemonade! Tiana knew she deserved respect and refused to be treated any less. DETERMINATION gets you where you want to be!
Quote: The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination. – Tommy Lasorda
Mulan – Courage
(Go ahead – get your stones ready!) Mulan was not my favorite Disney movie. I know, people love this movie. In fact my son named his flour baby (for school) after the sauce that McDonald’s released to coincide with this movie – 1986 McDonald’s Mulan Szechuan Chicken Sauce. Mulan had the COURAGE to prove that strength of character has nothing to do with you being a man or woman. It is what is inside of you that counts. You do not have to be big and tough to have COURAGE.
Quote from one of my favorite books of all time: “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Merida – Brave
Just like Merida, I grew up with a specific path that had been set for me from day 1. My life was planned for me – school, meet a nice boy, get married, have a gaggle of kids, and support my husband in all of his aspirations while not having many of my own. Once I was BRAVE enough to live my own life and be authentic to myself (instead of worrying about what others would think) and follow my own path I found true happiness. I never would have been happy living the life that anyone else chose for me.
I remember very clearly taking my girls to see this movie. I sat and cried at the end with my 8 year old sitting on my lap crying along with me. We both “felt” so much after this movie. Merida spoke to our hearts.
Quote: There are those who say that fate is something beyond our command. That our destinies are not our own. But I know better. Our fate lives within us. You only have to be BRAVE enough to see it. – Merida
Anna – Optimist
Anna is special. Rather than getting angry and giving up on her sister she is (annoyingly) optimistic that her sister will learn to love and accept herself (as Anna does) for her unique characteristics and abilities. Anna never wavers – she sees the bright side in everything. This is a trait that we all need to adapt into our own lives. The world is not over because X-Y-Z. Try to find the positive in everything and being the OPTIMISTIC voice in the room!
Plus she loved unconditionally. That is a trait that the whole world needs to learn.
Quote: A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. –
Elsa – Fierce Love
You may disagree with me on this one – and I will totally understand if you do.
First, Elsa was so afraid of her powers that she shut herself away for years to protect her sister. She thought that she was doing the right thing to protect the ones that she loved. In spite of Elsa’s anger/pent up frustrations and wanting to “Let It Go” the strongest part of herself is her FIERCE LOVE for her sister, a trait that gives her the ultimate motivation to go home and save Anna and the rest of the kingdom.
Quote: Love yourself. It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out. – Jenn Proske
These are just some of the Disney Princess traits that I have decided that I need in my life. There are so many more that I want to touch on but they will have to wait for another blog post.
What Disney Princess do you share traits with?
