“Do or do not, there is no try.” – Yoda, Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Now, that’s just a silly sentence. It’s partially true, but it’s pretty incorrect. I mean, you can’t DO anything until you make the conscious decision to attempt to do it. That’s the very definition of trying. You try, and wind up doing or not doing. So there most definitely IS a try.
But the thing that Yoda was correct on is that considering things in the extreme form can help.
There’s the old cop movie cliché that the world isn’t just black and white – there are shades of gray. And sure, even in either-or situations, there are usually more than two options. But the more choices we have, the more our actions and decisions can become muddled. Saying you want to do something, or that you plan to do it, or even that you might do it isn’t enough. Like Nike says, just DO it.
The power of personal conviction and strong self-esteem is vital to success. Whether you believe in self-fulfilling prophecies or not, there’s something to be said for going gung-ho with a concept. If you’re already of the belief that something will happen, you’re more apt to take the steps necessary to make it a reality. if you think something might happen, it isn’t as critical, nor does it seem more than an idea. By going full-force, you turn a concept into something tangible, even if it hasn’t been accomplished.
So maybe what Yoda should have said is something more like, “Try all you want, but make sure that done, your task is.”
