Every firstborn; be it the first child, first son or first daughter can relate to a little something we call pressure. Your parents are everywhere except their own business. 

From birth, they sing praises of battles you haven’t fought yet. Battles that you may have zero plans of fighting. But of course, the narrative of “it’s all in your best interest, and we love you” are chanted many times to justify this pressure put on us. 

Luisa is a great example of what that Pressure can do to you. In Luisa’s case, her Abeula wanted her ‘strong’ granddaughter to carry so many weights on her shoulders. Metaphorically and literally. 

If there was a villain in Encanto, I think Abeula would be the perfect depiction.

 Luisa’s power was super strength, she could lift just about anything and anyone. But Abeula was fond of testing the boundaries of her powers. 

How much more can she carry? 

Just a little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more and the cycle goes on and on. 

In her song, Surface pressure, we can see that she proclaims herself to be the ‘strong one’. It’s a recurring theme throughout the animation that each person’s powers precede them to the point where they are nothing without them. 

Their value lies so much in what they can do for the family, for Abuela, and for the town. 

A lyric from surface pressure says;

🎶 ‘I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus’🎶

 What a fun way to describe how she felt. Aside from the fun picture painted with the words, It’s also very accurate. It makes me wonder how long she had sat with this feeling of pressure that she could so accurately describe it. 

That high above the ground, your anxiety levels are spiking, your chest is pounding, and you’re sweating more than usual, it all feels surreal like you’re close to death but still a tiny bit far away from it. 

But you have to put on a calm and relaxed exterior for the audience seated inside the tent awaiting the circus show. 

🎶’I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of service.’🎶

A few minutes after I got to work on this post, I was texting a friend and he said something profound. He said as humans we are service animals, born to make the life of someone else easier. 

I took a bit of time to ponder on that and found the meaning behind that. We just generally have this urge to serve people or those around us.

🎶 ‘What breaks the camel’s back is pressure like a drip, drip, drip’ 🎶

I find the allusion to a camel quite intriguing. Any other animal could have been used but why was it specifically camels?

 Based on research and hours spent watching the nature channel, we know that camels are extremely resilient animals and can go weeks without drinking water in the desert. 

The average camel can go up to 2 weeks without water and this is due to their humps which are water houses [storehouses for water, Pun intended]

 What is even more interesting is the analysis in which pressure is portrayed so it doesn’t creep up overnight, a steady drip of water has the potential of overfilling the bucket, and steady amounts of pressure over time can break anyone. 

🎶”Give it to your sister, your sister’s older, Give her all the heavy things we can’t shoulder.’🎶

I often make a joke about how lastborns have it easy. No one expects much from you anyways. The bar is set so low and that is exactly why they can venture into anything they chose and be successful. 

You aren’t the first child who is wondering about the family and taking up all the responsibility. You aren’t the pacesetter running at the forefront, you can come in last and still get a lollipop, a nice pat on the head and a participation trophy. 

But it’s the lack of pressure that fosters that inner child and creativity to excel. 

🎶’Wait if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations, Would that free some room up for joy or relaxation or simple pleasure?’🎶

The obvious answer is yes it would. I don’t know how to stress this enough but you don’t need to live under this constant pressure because anyone who truly cares about you would be able to look past a couple of setbacks that you face along the way. It’s insane what people are doing for fame, recognition and riches. 

The pressure has pulled them under. But even with all that social media won’t keep quiet or relent with their snide remarks and comments so I ask you, 

Is it worth all the pressure you’re putting on yourself? 

Mirabel said it best when in a face-off with her grandma, 

‘Isabella will never be perfect enough, Luisa will never be strong enough.’ 

And that’s how the world is, nothing is ever enough. 

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