Let your feelings guide you to wealth and fortune

"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter," says Yoda as he pinches the right arm of Jedi apprentice Luke Skywalker.

Few people, including among the most fervent Star Wars fans, suspect the extent to which George Lucas has revealed a great number of powerful, mystical principles that can enrich one's life (financially, intellectually, emotionally, etc.).

The bi-trilogy, in fact, chronicles the emotional journey of two specific human beings: Anakin Skywalker adn Luke Skywalker.

Both have had to endure hardships early in life. Both Anakin and Luke were ambitious fellows who wanted to explore the world as star pilots, but both were "chained" socioeconomically to their place of birth.

It is fair to say they were both frustrated. Add to this the fact that Anakin was aware of his status as a slave and the murder of his mother by beastly creatures, and the fact that Luke's adoptive parents (his aunt and uncle) were murdered by Imperial troops, and you get the basic ingredients for the unfolding of galactic drama.

However, while they both experienced the same pain, frustration and anger (if not hate), they each choose a different emotional path. Anakin moved from "frustrated" to "angry" to "despair" (this is illustrated by his dark dreams and premonitions about the death of loved ones) to "hate" to "rage."

Luke, for his part, moved from "frustrated" to "hopeful" to "believing" and finally to "knowing" (as a complete Jedi Knight).

In other words, Luke moved "up" the emotional ladder to a bright place where he felt empowered, whereas Anakin moved (slipped?) down the emotional ladder toward the dark side.

In fact, in my opinion, there is no "dark side." It's only a place where people forgot to install a light bulb! :-)

(I was about to write, "How many Jedi knights does it take to change a light bulb..?")

My point is that so much can be achieved in life, IF we are aware of where we are on the emotional ladder. Once we know where we are, emotionally, we can then aim to move up one step at a time.

For example, if you feel depressed, then the next step is to become "angry." Being angry releases your energies and allows you to regain control and some power. Being angry gets you OUT of depression, so that's a step "up" the emotional ladder. (Just let me get out of the room before you get angry, alright?). :-)

However, if you're frustrated, don't get angry because that would be a lower step on the emotional ladder. Rather, try to focus on the positive aspects in order to feel "hopeful."

Then, from "hopeful" try to keep having marvelously positive thoughts and powerful visualizations in order to move to a state of "believing."

The bottom line is that happiness is a perpetual focusing effort. In other words, to be joyful and happy and feel empowered, you need to master the art of mental focus. It's called an art because it requires practice. It's all about your skill at noticing all the positive aspects of anything and anybody.

This is why they say that "the better it gets, the better it gets."

It is also why "the rich get richer, while the poor get poorer." In other words, the rich get richer because they see wealth all around them and "feel" rich all the time, hence they notice (more than poor people) all the business and wealth-creation opportunities all around them. Donald Trump put it best: "I only see solutions. I don't see problems."

And what do poor, struggling people see? Bills to pay. Lack of respect at work. Lack of this or lack of that. Their minds are focused on "lack." They don't realize their "luck." The awesome luck of being alive!

In the next post, I'll write about this mysterious and powerful statement (see if you can decipher it!): "The better it gets, the better it gets. Therefore, it better get better real fast, or it ain't going to get better any time soon!"