As the world anticipates the return of the Millennium Falcon and Han Solo, let’s reflect on the wisdom of the Jedi, The Force, and the Sith Lord himself, in order to glean nine lessons Star Wars teaches us about life.
1. Commit to the life you want to live – and live it!
“Do or do not… there is no try.” – Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back We can spend our entire lives debating this and that, frozen in fear, fighting uncertainty. However, in life, nothing is certain. We can either waste precious time in limbo or make a decision and stick with it!
2. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and believe in you.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” – Darth Vader in A New Hope There is absolutely no reason to waste your time and energy on people who bring you down. Rather, fill your life with the believers and doers, people who inspire you and bring positive energy to your life. Otherwise, you may resort to the dark side…
3. Don’t lie to yourself. We usually already know what the right thing to do is.
“Already know you, that which you need.” – Yoda Listen to your heart, The Force, and your conscience. Listen to that Yoda voice you hear as you fall asleep or the nagging thoughts that simply won’t go away. Though the road ahead seems perilous, the solution is within.
4. Don’t let impossible odds hold you back.
C-3PO: “Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.” “Never tell me the odds.” – Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back Even if an asteroid field is hurling towards you and your odds of success are 3,720 to 1, don’t let this daunting ratio prevent you from following your heart.
5. Often success stems from overcoming failures.
“Strike me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” – Obi- Wan Kenobi in A New Hope Success cannot flourish without hard work. It is found only through trial and error, profound dedication, and the ability to see setbacks as stepping stones towards later victory.
6. Don’t let fear guide your life.
“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda in The Phantom Menace Fear cripples us from doing what needs to be done. It prevents us from becoming the people we’re meant to be. It isolates us from others and makes us scared of those we do not understand. Historically speaking, fear has fueled many wars, genocides, persecutions, and riots. Clearly, Yoda was onto something.
7. Humor goes a long way.
(as garbage compactor closes in) “One thing’s for sure, we’re all gonna be a lot thinner.” – Han Solo in A New Hope When things get tough, it’s natural to freak out. However, freaking out isn’t the most productive or efficient way to solve a problem. Humor lightens the mood and allows everyone time to regroup and reassess the situation. It also keeps spirits high, enabling people to do what needs to be done. Plus, girls dig a guy who can crack a joke every now and again.
8. Our thoughts and actions impact our future.
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” – Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace. What we spend our days thinking about, and actively pursuing, directly affects our future (for better or worse). Considering this, we should invest our time and energy into the things and people we’re passionate about, and the dreams we have, rather than focusing on the negative or filling our lives with empty distractions.
9. Sometimes we just need to let it go.
“Let go of your hate.” – Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi There is no room for hate, fear, and regret in our lives. Often, we just need to let it go so that we may finally be free. Featured photo credit: What’s Your Favorite Star Wars Poster?/ Ant-Man via flickr.com
