Happy Monday. For many reading this, this is the beginning another long work week.

For some, this means heavy goal setting and impressing ourselves. For others, relentless work including: letters, proposals, brainstorming, massive paperwork, countless  emails, calculations, heavy lifting, exceptional customer service. Those in need of work are likely on the job hunt: revising resumes, pressing outfits, other self-sellings. College students are back from spring break, probably stacking notes and outlines toward their semester finals. Also for many US citizens, that tax deadline is faster approaching.

In times of stress, we could use a motivational iconic figure. Someone, whose wisdom comes from a galaxy far away. He could say something wise and wonderful, out us on track, ready those cover letters, develop solid thesis statements, place those exact numbers on charts, straighten our ties, make smiles effortless.

Seek Yoda, the wise and powerful Jedi from the Star Wars franchise.

Yoda says wonderful things about life:

“Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.”

On faith and leaving room in mind for the impossible:

“(Luke: I don’t..don’t believe it) Yoda: That is why you fail.”

On stress management:

“Control, control, you must learn control!”

On grim outlooks:

“Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future”

On goal setting:

“Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”

On negative behavior:

“Don’t give in to hate. That leads to the Dark Side.”

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”

On education progression and necessity:

“Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.”
“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”

On motivation:

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”

So there you go, all from a wise wizard elf-man, as quoted from a few Star Wars films (mostly Empire Strikes Back). Think, for the next forboding moment. What would Yoda do, say? How would he handle a troubling situation or stress buildup? His calm demeanor and self confidence produced heroes, helped win wars, organize large groups, and kept him looking good for over 900 years.

Couldn’t hurt.

The picture above, is a life-sized Yoda statue on a water fountain (photo by me). You’ll can find the entrance to the Lucasfilm Ltd. corporate headquarters office in San Francisco, within the Presidio area, very near to the famous Palace of Fine Arts. For the exact location, click here.