Four Powerful Mental Health Lessons from Pole to Pole with Will Smith
Recently, our family has been enjoying the National Geographic series Pole to Pole with Will Smith. It’s such a great family show and even my kids love it. While it unfolds as a breathtaking journey across all seven continents, what surprised me most is how much deeper the show goes. As Will Smith ventures to the literal edges of the world, the series also explores the edges of the human mind, with a modern lens on mental health. Pole to Pole highlights the transformative power of vulnerability, leaning into discomfort, and the importance of human connection.
One of the strongest mental health takeaways from Pole to Pole is the importance of mental endurance over physical strength. The environments portrayed are extreme, unpredictable, and often hostile. Yet what consistently determines success is not brute force but mindset. This reflects what many of us experience in daily life. Stress, burnout, grief, and anxiety rarely come from a single overwhelming moment. They accumulate. The show reminds us that resilience is built through small, repeated acts of perseverance rather than heroic bursts of effort.
The show also highlights the necessity of emotional regulation in high-stress situations. Fear, frustration, and doubt are ever-present companions. What stands out is not the absence of these emotions but the ability to acknowledge them without being consumed. This is a core mental health skill. Suppressing emotions often backfires, yet letting them dictate our actions can be destabilizing. Pole to Pole models emotional awareness paired with self-control, a balance many of us strive for in our personal and professional lives. For instance, in one of the scenes he jumps off a bridge, he feels the fear and does it anyway.
Here are 4 key takeaways from the show:
1. Finding Freedom in Vulnerability
One of the most interesting aspects of the series is the dismantling of the "invincible" persona. Smith openly discusses the pressures of his career and the toll of maintaining a perfect public image.
The Lesson: True resilience doesn't come from suppressing fear, but from acknowledging it.
Takeaway: By being “like a sponge,” receptive and honest about his anxieties, Smith shows that vulnerability is not a weakness but a prerequisite for growth. For viewers, it is a reminder that we cannot heal what we refuse to feel.
2. Happiness as a "Right Relationship"
In the episode set in Bhutan, the show explores Gross National Happiness (GNH). Unlike Western metrics of success, GNH prioritizes spiritual and psychological well-being.
The Lesson: Happiness is often found in the "right relationship" with nature and other humans.
Takeaway: Mental health thrives on high-quality interactions. Smith reflects on how his singular focus on "winning" in the past made him miss the "beautiful movements of life" , the small, joyful connections that actually sustain us.
3. The Growth Found in Discomfort
The series leans heavily into the idea that "God placed the greatest things in life on the other side of your worst fears." Whether diving under Arctic ice or facing "creepy crawlies" in the Amazon, the physical challenges serve as metaphors for psychological hurdles.
The Lesson: Constant comfort can lead to emotional stagnation.
Takeaway: "Relaxing in fear," the ability to stay grounded while under duress, is a vital skill. Intentionally stepping out of your comfort zone builds a sense of "invincible spirit" that can be applied to everyday stressors.
4. Let Go of the Need for Control
Antarctica serves as a humbling reminder that "Mother Nature is in charge." This theme of surrender is central to the show's mental health narrative.
The Lesson: Much of our anxiety stems from trying to control the uncontrollable. Anxiety may view control as a sense of preparedness.
Takeaway: Peace comes from accepting impermanence. As the monks in Bhutan explain to Smith, attachment to specific outcomes (fame, money, or perfection) is a primary source of unhappiness. Learning to "surrender" to the present moment reduces the friction of living.
Pole to Pole is a visual masterpiece, but its true value lies in its advocacy for the "inner journey." It teaches us that to understand the world, we must first be willing to understand ourselves. It suggests that while we may be a "tiny part of a vast world," our internal state dictates how we experience that vastness. Also that money and fame isn't everything and the only way to get to happiness, there’s so much more to it. Will Smith had money and fame and still was not happy.
Ultimately, Pole to Pole is a reminder that mental health is not about avoiding hardship. It is about learning how to move through it with intention, compassion, and resilience. The poles may be distant, but the lessons are deeply familiar.
Until next time, take care of yourself!
<3 Massoma Alam
