The Mind Trick

May the Fourth be with you! With most of the world in varying states of lockdown, it may feel like the walls are closing in on you. The trick your mind may be playing with you right now is varying states of self doubt and despair.

The Star Wars Jedi Mind Trick was first used in the aptly titled A New Hope and later referenced in Return of the Jedi. The Mind Trick is roughly defined "as an ability to influence thoughts of those affect to the users advantage.."

Let's play around with how this idea may be useful in boosting your self awareness, and a healthy mindset to forge forward in the middle of the storm we are in. In this way, using the mind trick on yourself.

Your mind can be your best friend or your worse enemy in times of challenge. The ability to persevere through seemingly insurmountable circumstances is something we have to daily reinforce to forge forward.

1. "Your focus determines your reality " - Qui Gon Jinn

You decide what you will or wont think. You are what you think. Positive thinking is good, proactive optimism is better.

Develop a sense of self awareness to identify negative thought patterns you’ve had in the past and be sure the internal responses in your neural pathway is proportional to future behaviours. Do not just avoid them but find an active solution to address the root of the thought and reprogram yourself.

When you are stuck in a loop of negative thinking with ideas, try to consciously redirect your thoughts to more desirable possibilities. Do not just evaluate the "what if" of the negative but also the possibilities of "What if this idea does work ". Picture and feel this outcome instead of something much less desirable. How about if you feel you’re the only one who can save a project and that thinking causes you undue stress, then decide to involve others. Delegate where possible. Etcetera.

You dictate your thought-life, so be mindful about avoiding negative thoughts that undermine the strength of your will.

2. Believe in Yourself First then Others.

“That’s why you couldn’t do it. You didn’t even believe it was possible.” Yoda

Master Yoda is able to pull out Luke's Ship from the Swamp when Luke begins to and fails when his mind lets his abilities down. It was not that he couldn't. He didn't believe it. Self Talk is your ally. Reinforce, re-engage and remind yourself. You can do it.

And when you have mastered that....believe in others too and take the time to help build them up.

3. Build Momentum

Sir Isaac Newton understood that staying in motion was important. But it is the kind of motion and the direction that matters. When we are going through rough times, then negative momentum can take us back with the pull of our own mass. Yikes!

The best way to break inertial immobility is to achieve a small win for yourself and then build on it. Make a new commitment, set a goal, connect with positive but realistic influences and/or learn something new. Do something that will build you.

Plan, Do, Check, Reward - repeat with new and build momentum.

This acknowledges successes that will advance you through adversity when everything seems to be falling apart.

Success is a habit that is intentional and based on doing Work (you get the pun!).

This empowers you to focus beyond the current situation, increase your self belief and build confidence in your abilities. Trust me your resilience gets a huge boost. Ask Luke.

4. Mentorship Matters

Self esteem is ironically not just about self. It's about having a circle of people cheering you on, and sometimes critiquing you in ways that build and challenge you. And role models to look to in times when we need a little support to draw strength.

A mentor/coach, family and friends are crucial to shaping your life, professionally and personally. They form the core to illuminate the path of Light when the Dark tries to overwhelm. Always remember Newtons 3rd Law- so as you have been mentored, pay it forward and pass along what you know.

Yoda is probably the most beloved of Mentors in the Star Wars Universe. The power of a mentor may be seen in these quotes. Life is also full of learnings. Pick yourself up when you fall, take the lesson and move forward.

“Do or do not... there is no try.” — Yoda

“Patience, you must learn patience!” — Yoda

“Pass on what you have learned.” — Yoda

and so many more...

So keep dreaming, keep encouraging yourself and keep seeking. While you may never require the kind of mental control to destroy a planet size space station like the Death Star, a little refocus of thought and intentional development may be the mind trick you need.

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