Originally posted on JediLiving.
1. Stay True to Your Word
“Easy it becomes to be false in big things, if false you are in small ones.” – Yoda
Do what you say you will do. It is really that simple. Don’t promise anything you aren’t comfortable with. If you really don’t want to do something and feel you won’t follow through (making plans to hangout, helping someone move, whatever) then don’t say you will do it. Say what you mean and do what you say. In this you will build a solid reputation and honor to your word.
2. Don’t be a Bystander
“Courage was something a Jedi did not think about. It was simply the will to do right. It was the discipline to move forward.” – Qui-Gon Jinn
It can be scary to stand-up for what is right. Equality, fairness, not to allow bullying. The silent observer is much safer and certainly has a time and place. But if something feels wrong it is okay to say something. Don’t stand on the sideline of your life. Don’t allow fear to make to accept hurtful and unfair behavior. The way we make changes and stop such things is by standing up and saying something. Showing that we will not allow such behavior to go unchecked.
3. Make a Change for the Better
“Must relax…reach out with my mind…reach inside…through the pain…renew!” – Ki-Adi-Mundi
Look in the mirror and commit to a positive change. Be willing to sacrifice who you are for who you want to become. You want to be a Jedi? Then be a Jedi. Commit to the practices and philosophy. Live it and understand that it will change how you see and approach life. This goes for all things. Make the effort to be better. At school, at work, in your social relationships, commit yourself to working pass the obstacles, fears, and pain, and being the best version of you possible.
4. Focus on Problem Solving, Not Problem Blaming
“If all who faced adversity surrendered to it, nothing of value would remain.” – Plo Koon
It doesn’t matter where the fault and blame lies. What matters is finding a solution and resolution to the problem at hand. We can point fingers and pass blame all we want – but it doesn’t matter if it was our fault or someone else’s. Focus instead on fixing and oslving the problems. Fault might be necessary for stopping an issue at its root, but don’t get so caught up in blame that you miss the core fixes and ways to avoid the similar problems in the future.
5. Act Now Not Later
“Use your time. You’ll find one day that you have too little of it.” – Qui-Gon Jinn
The best place you can apply this in chores and tasks and homework and all that stuff that most people want to put off. Forget that. Play the Nike slogan- Just Do It. Better to get it done and out of the way now and use the time later on for fun things. Focus on responsibilities, get them done and out of the way so you can enjoy what time you have left. Focus on the here and now. Handle your responsibilities. When asked to do something – stop, take care of it right then, and get back to doing things you’d preferring to do. This also applies to number 2. Don’t wait until things are out of control or too late. Act now, get it done, solve the problem, move forward.