dailydatewithgod

As a Star Wars fan I enjoy and see value in Yoda’s perspective on things.  He formulates his wisdom in quirky and forthright word plays which catch you off guard but most importantly catch you to stop and think.  One of his most well-known phrases is , “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” As someone inclined to the pitfalls of trying to be a perfectionist, I can use this to stop me in my tracks faster than you can spell Yoda.  There is actually great value in being willing to try especially if we are committed to doing it.  The attempts we make are action which moves us in the direction we are trying to go.  We may not know if it will get us there but if we are committed to moving, it is in fact the attempt which is the doing.  I think what he meant is do not just say you will, actually do.  Trying can sound like have a fail-safe in place to save face in case you fail. This is what most perfectionists try to create and can spend most of their action on the creation of the fail-safe leaving little energy for the attempt.  If our focus is on the value of the attempt however, the trying becomes the doing because it is in action not just words.  When we access the courage within our hearts we have the energy to make all kinds of attempts.  If the attempts are driven from the truth of who we are they will be successful in strengthening our connection with ourselves.  If our concern is being successful by outside standards then the world will only see us trying and perhaps failing.  The power of love within our hearts adds the intention of our attempts to grow into more fully realized messengers of God for which we have been designed.  Attempts of the heart are driven by the desire to be the truest expression of ourselves.  If in so doing we are seen by the outside world as failures, so be it.  No one besides me and God knows the depth and intention of my heart that leads me to attempt all kinds of things in my life.