The Force and Studying for the Bar Exam
Happy Star Wars Day!
Today, May the 4th, is the day that Star Wars fans, like myself, rejoice and celebrate all things in the galaxy far, far away.
Why today, you ask? The date is a pun on “May the Force be with you” a phrase rebels used to send well-wishes and a way to show that there was still hope for the galaxy.
While the phrase was first said by Rebel General Jan Dodonna in A New Hope in 1977 as he was briefing the fighter squadrons on the newly acquired Death Star plans, the iconic phrase has sometimes been incorrectly attributed to Obi-Wan Kenobi as the first person to say the line. But his version was much different when he spoke to Luke through the Force. Kenobi actually stated, “Remember, the Force will be with you … always.”
But what is the Force?
According to StarWars.com, “The Force is a mysterious energy field created by life that binds the galaxy together. Harnessing the power of the Force gives the Jedi, the Sith, and others sensitive to this spiritual energy extraordinary abilities, such as levitating objects, tricking minds, and seeing things before they happen. While the Force can grant users powerful abilities, it also directs their actions. And it has a will of its own, which both scholars and mystics have spent millennia seeking to understand.”
Not into Force?
Well, neither was Han Solo, at first. Remember this exchange in A New Hope?
Luke Skywalker: “You don't believe in the Force, do you?”
Han Solo: “Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other; I've seen a lot of strange stuff. But I've never seen anything to make me believe that there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. Anyway, it's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.”
But 40-plus years later, in The Force Awakens, Han changed his tune. When Rey questioned him about Luke, Han replied with a point of view we wouldn’t have expected: “It’s true … all of it, the Force, the Jedi, it’s all true.”
Aspects of the Force relate to mindfulness and meditation. For example, when Luke began teaching Rey about the Force in The Last Jedi, he simply said, “Just breathe.”
It’s no surprise then, on this date, that Star Wars and Headspace, the mindfulness app, has teamed together and released some new breathing exercises voiced by Star Wars characters and designed “to help you focus, get your best sleep ever, and relax your mind like a Jedi.”
You can join Yoda, BB-8, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 in breathing exercises to clear your mind. You can also fall asleep to the sounds of porgs as if you’re camping on the islands of Ahch-To.
What are the benefits of meditation and mindfulness exercises?
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
Mindfulness exercises can be helpful as you’re preparing for the bar exam. Studying for the bar exam can be physically and emotionally draining. It can also make you more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Practicing mindfulness exercises can help you direct your attention away from this kind of negative thinking and self-doubt and help you engage with the world around you. Other benefits include increasing attention, decreasing burnout, and improving sleep.
There are several free and low-cost premium meditation and mindfulness apps.
Some top-rated premium apps, all with some period of free trials, include Headspace, Calm, Peloton, and Ten Percent Happier.
Rather read? Check out Star Wars: The Jedi Mind—Secrets from the Force for Balance and Peace.
