Extraordinary: 5 lessons about mental health from the 2017 film

Yesterday, September 29th, Globo broadcast the movie "Wonder," sparking public interest in learning more about the film, given its strong emotional content. 

And it's no coincidence. The film addresses extremely necessary issues that for a long time were considered minimal, but are actually very important, such as the impact of judgment, the difficulty in accepting who we are, the evil we can do – or receive. 

The film is inspired by RJ Palacio's book and broke box office records upon its release. Even some time after its peak, it continues to be applauded by those who watch or read it. 

Still focusing on the mental health aspect, in this content you will read:

• What is the movie Wonder about?
• How can judgment affect our mental health?
• 5 lessons about mental health from the movie Wonder.

What is the movie Wonder about?

The movie and book Wonder tells the story of Auggie, played by August Pullman, a 10-year-old boy born with a rare disease that deforms his face and makes it difficult for him to breathe and eat.

To address these health issues, he underwent numerous surgeries, but even so, he continued to look different from other children, which ultimately caused him insecurity when appearing in front of people. 

Therefore, most of the time when he is in public, he is wearing his astronaut helmet, which makes him more comfortable to "expose" himself without the other children being frightened by his appearance. 

The scenario

Given this context, the story takes place when he is in the 5th grade, and he needs to deal with different issues arising from this phase of life: friendships, adventures, school activities, since he will finally be attending school. 

Until then, he had been studying at home with guidance from his mother.

Having to deal with so many different situations is quite a challenge. And I'll stop talking here to avoid spoilers. 

How judgment can affect our mental health. 

The fact is, understanding the story, you can already imagine how difficult it is to be a child in Auggie's shoes. Healthy on the inside, but different on the outside. Constantly judged before he can even say a word. 

Does this story sound familiar to you?

Today, this situation is even more intense, after all, we end up exposing ourselves even more through social media.

Auggie, as you will discover by reading the book or watching the movie, was a normal child. However, he had to face numerous challenges. 

Most of us, with our "normal" faces and bodies, are impacted daily by a beauty dictatorship imposed by influencers and cosmetics companies, and end up feeling on the margins of what is "correct" or "normal." 

And this applies to the other side as well: how many times do we judge people we don't even know because of the clothes they're wearing, some specific trait, their body, or their skin color?

This type of attitude needs to be reconsidered as soon as possible, because people are getting sick because of it. 

5 lessons about mental health from the movie Wonder.

And that's why the movie Wonder is so relevant and moving: it shows how we, in different situations and with different appearances, need to learn to live in this world that has very hostile parameters. 

The last two years, during which we've been dealing with this pandemic situation, have taught us many things, and one of them is how much our mental health needs our attention. 

Choosing to watch movies like Wonder, besides being very enjoyable, helps us incorporate very important lessons into our lives in a subtle and interesting way. 

Below are 5 lessons from the movie Wonder. 

Don't judge someone by their appearance.

There is a very basic premise regarding judging someone's appearance, and it is as follows:

And what's the reason for that? Perhaps someone just finished lunch and has a piece of lettuce stuck in their teeth: let them know. 

Perhaps the label on the blouse is sticking out and she didn't notice: inform her. 

Perhaps there's a little bit of dirt she hadn't noticed: it doesn't hurt to be kind and point it out. 

All of this takes less than five minutes to change, right? Now, the other extreme:

"Wow, you've gained so much weight!" – Is it any of your business? No! Then...don't say anything. 

And this applies to changes in hair, cosmetic procedures or the lack thereof, and anything else that CANNOT be changed in five minutes. After all, will telling someone they've gained weight contribute to their life? It will probably only make them more insecure about themselves. 

Just as we feel extremely annoyed when someone expresses an opinion we didn't ask for, we can't do that to other people. 

Teach children about the dangers of bullying.

Because they lack this filter of what is morally right or wrong, children can end up being cruel. 

It is the parents' responsibility to teach what is right and wrong, and how a child who suffers bullying can be affected.

Take responsibility for your mistakes.

Perhaps that's the hardest thing for human beings today: to admit their own mistakes, to take off the mask and acknowledge: I am flawed, I didn't mean to, but I made a mistake and I want to improve. 

Admitting one's own mistakes is one of the greatest acts of courage a person can have. 

Face your fears.

In Wonder, Auggie was forced to deal with numerous situations he wasn't used to. He was scared. 

How many times in our lives have we felt bad, insecure, afraid of the unknown – or even the known – and wanted to give up?

It's that old saying: if you're afraid, go ahead anyway!

Always choose to be kind.

And so, always choose to be kind, for each of us faces a silent battle. 

Did you enjoy the content?

So, are you going to read the book or watch the movie? Take the opportunity to read as well. Round 6: 5 financial lessons from the new Netflix series.

Nathalia Silva

Journalist, writer, and lover of words.

September 30, 2021