It is serendipitous that May 4th marks the launch of this journal as it would be considered a blasphamas mockery by any of the original masters. Life is different now and we must adjust to the societal norms of the lives we now lead. While the Jedi code is still at the core of my thoughts (There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.), my daily focus is concentrated into to four simple principles. I look forward to sharing this knowledge with my comrades and evolving the heart of the Jedi order.

The voices of masters, mentors, and antagonists tend to shape the language we use in inner dialogue. These powerful lessons shape and mold our character and path, but we must maintain a connection to self. There are three judges I have continued to count on during this introspection:

1. The 8 year old – The child in all of us is always present beneath the programming, training and development. At the core, we should still have synchrony with the purity of our youth.
2. The 80 year old – How will the future version of me judge the decisions I have been making? What can I do to better align to the wiser, developed version of myself?
3. Me, tomorrow – When you reflect on what was accomplished in the previous day, am I energized? What habits am I forming or extending with my actions today?

Ending with a lens that is grounded in the present ensures that we don’t live too far beyond the current state. Youth and wisdom are guides, but the span of control is in the moment. There are definitively those who may show appreciation, pride and a vested interest in the individual they see; but the three stakeholders above will typically generate the cleanest reflection of progress and misalignments.

“You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself,” 

There’s a great lesson that is introduced early in training that compares cows to buffalo when a storm is approaching. Cows see the storm approaching and walk/run away from it; trying to avoid the pain. Buffalo will strategically walk into the storm knowing the sooner the inevitable is faced, the sooner it will pass. One will spend more time in the storm while the other cuts the time in half by embracing the difficulty ahead. They act with intension which avoids the prolonged suffering that their counterparts experience. Being intentional in the face of difficulties can have a material impact on the experience and outcome.

I have found one of the most difficult areas to teach young padawans is how to navigate the untruths that our brains may feed us. The fact remains that our brains are predictive machines and not necessarily truth machines. It actively predicts and anticipates future events based on past experiences and current sensory input. This predictive tool was developed in ancestry and has been passed to newer generations as part of the survival gene. What was once crucial for survival and efficient decision-making, can sometimes lead to inaccuracies or illusions in our current realities.

The new danger is using this cognitive bias as a truth in day to day life. In compiling corrupt code in the operating language we use to interact with a non-static environment. The blind spots can hinder objectivity, reinforce stereotypes, and impact sound decision making.

Critical thinking is mandatory; young Jedi must seek diverse perspectives, consider alternative outcomes, and be open to change.

“Confirmation bias is twisting the facts to fit your beliefs. Critical thinking is bending your beliefs to fit the facts. Seeking the truth is not about validating the story in your head. It’s about rigorously vetting and accepting the story that matches the reality in the world.” 

I had the opportunity to mentor a young padawan that was stuck in a mental state of failure after some preliminary Jedi trials. The frustration was blinding them to their true path and potential. It’s not an uncommon stage in development and can hamstring even the most talented prospect. My message is always the same… “your future is not the culmination of what you have done, it is the sum of what you practice daily”. It’s a reminder that today is the most important day in who you will be in your future state. Our minds are constantly rewiring themselves based on experiences, thoughts, and the habits we practice. By practicing specific thoughts, behaviors, or skills, you can actively shaping your brain and its connections, reinforcing desired outcomes. Practicing positive self-talk and focusing on your strengths can erase the negative thought patterns that create stagnation. In each of us, there is a deep power that we can only access through repeated efforts and focus.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.’

Two words that I mediate on daily as they are deciding factors in how we choose to live our lives. A quote from one of my favorite books reads  “… Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to.” In the same breath, we must never dwell and ruminate over the past. You win or you learn.

The past can be a powerful motivator for developing discipline. By experiencing the negative consequences of a lack of discipline, Padawans can be spurred to make changes in their behavior and adopt a more disciplined approach to their lives. This can involve learning to delay gratification, setting clear goals, and developing routines that support those goals.

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

The greatest battle most of us face is conquering ourselves. if this battle lost, so is the path. There are no shortcuts as it is built on daily habits; on daily commitments to the vision of our optimal future state. It is more powerful than motivation and frees the mind juxtaposed to darker alternatives.

Success and regret both result from small daily habits repeated consistently over time. Success comes from positive, disciplined actions, while failure stems from repeated neglect. Each path compounds gradually, eventually leading to significant outcomes—either great achievements or irreversible setbacks.

In today’s society, it’s easy to lose track of the now in pursuit of the future. The playbook for success will push you to sacrifice your best years for the well-advertised promises of tomorrow. Money and possessions have become the measure of success foregoing the beauty of complete presence. I pass no judgement to the why but pose the “when”. At what moment does the present reveal its value? In 40 years, you would likely trade all the money you have to come back to this moment. To have the youth, strength, and more time with those you had lost along the way. I challenge each of you to take a 15 minute walk today to appreciate the present. Do not look for a perfect moment… take this moment and make it perfect.

Carpe momentum.

We are half way through another year full of external distractions and constant change.   Another cycle where personal goals and progress can easily vanish from focus.   It’s a great time to audit monthly progress and make the small adjustments that will deliver the experiences and/or outcomes we intended for this cycle.  

Here are four questions a mentor shared with me to provoke action?  

– What did I do this month that directly created results (Not just busyness/activities)? 

– What uncomfortable task did I avoid and what did it cost me?

– What part of my identity held me back (“just how I am” is a death sentence… get uncomfortable if needed)

– If I live this exact month 6 more times, how will I live up to my intentions? 

Ask these of yourself on a monthly basis and make the adjustments that address the answers you don’t like. 

An old Jedi Master was teaching his grandson about life and the force within.

He said, “A fight is going on inside all of us,” he told the young boy, “a fight between two wolves.

The Dark one is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The Light Wolf is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you grandson…and inside of every other person on the face of this earth.”

The grandson ponders this for a moment and then asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?“

The Jedi Master smiled and simply said, “The one you feed”.

As you reflect on your week, which wolf are you consistently feeding and how will the words you speak manifest into your life force?