“You must unlearn what you have learned.” – Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back)
I’ve been writing weekly articles on The Good Men Project since May of 2016. My articles are primarily around transformation and personal development. Many thousand words. And I’m a little surprised I’ve haven’t dropped some Yoda wisdom before. That ends this week.
This week, I’d like to write about trust and faith in the face of doing big things with your life.
Y’know, kinda like I’m right now…
In this scene where I pulled that quote, Luke Skywalker is challenged by Yoda to get his sunken X-Wing out of the swamp at Dagobah. In the previous scene there, Luke had been using The Force to move around stones, but he doesn’t have the confidence to move the giant spacecraft out of the swamp.
And as was young Luke’s wont, he was more than a little whiny about the whole thing.
In my mind, this is one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.
LUKE
Okay, I’ll give it a try.
YODA
No! Do. Or do not. There is no try.
I have a buyer for my house in Alabama. She wants the house and she wants to pay cash. No financing!
And I am set for a closing. But would you believe that there have been snags?
I’d go into detail if I understood what happened. All I know is that a legal snag hit when the realtors and lawyers were drawing up paperwork. Something about a family trust that didn’t get resolved after my grandmother died.
Martha Ivey died in 1983! I was six years old! That’s a long time ago! Many of my Accomplishment Coaching teammates weren’t even born!
Can you tell I’m a little salty about this? Yes, Coach Ryan is well-seasoned.
This is a time of transition in my life. I prepared for a closing on February 22. It’s a little annoying living out of boxes.
Keep in mind, I’m about to load a truck and drive from Alabama to New York. That’s like sixteen hours plus. And no, I won’t be taking the trip in one sitting. No way!
My faith and trust have waned this past week. My wellbeing took a nosedive. My sleeping patterns weren’t so much patterns but blips. And my eating was all over the place.
I felt alone, abandoned, and lonely.
But I got some amazing advice from an amazing friend. She kept hammering the idea of trust. Trust! Trust!
I wanted to believe it, but I couldn’t really internalize it. I believed it intellectually, but maybe not cardiologically.
Cardiologically: the concept of believing something with one’s heart.
I know I just made that up, what your point?
But eventually it started to sink into my skull. And when something starts to sink into my skull, it flies right past my heart and down into my gut.
And when I trust that gut, that’s when I’m able to create anything I want to create.
By the way, I have lost over 50 pounds off that gut in the last five months. Just wanted to throw that out there. #notasubtlebrag #transformationnotchange #nomorehashtags
You’ve got the power to do anything. You can create anything. You can be anything. Exactly as you are right now.
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My point is this: you’ve got the power to do anything. You can create anything. You can be anything. Exactly as you are right now.
By the way, I’ve got a Star Wars theory that might agitate a few midichlorians. With the notable exception of the Droids, I believe that all living creatures in the Star Wars Universe can use The Force.
I’m not saying that Chewbacca could become a Jedi or anything, but it’s possible.
Think about it, all Yoda does is support Luke in strengthening his personal faith that he can use The Force for good. It’s not like he taught Luke how to use The Force.
Consider that when I talk about faith, I’m not talking about faith in a higher power, The Universe, or the God of your understanding…necessarily. I’m talking about a belief that you can be and do whatever you want to be and do.
From using telekinesis to lift an X-Wing out of a bog, to leaving the only home state you’ve ever known for pure possibility; you’ve got to believe. You’ve got to have faith.
I’d love to be a Yoda in your life. I mean, I’m younger, taller, and far better looking. I’m just sayin’ though…
Shoot me an email at [email protected] and let’s connect.
Remember, belief and trust in yourself can carry you to great heights. As the iconic college football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant famously said:
If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride – and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.
Side note: Yoda would have made an incredible life coach. He didn’t teach Luke anything. He supported him. But Luke had to do the work.
Photos by JD Hancock and Ryan Hall