I recently saw the latest Star Wars film, Rise of Skywalker. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed.
I grew up as a HUGE fan of Star Wars. I remember my Dad taking me out of school early to see Return of the Jedi when I was only 10 years old. This was a special memory for me, since I don’t have a lot of positive memories of my father from childhood. Since then, I’ve enjoyed a strong emotional connection to the films.
As a boy, I collected the toys such as the Millennium Falcon and the giant AT-AT walker. I ran around pretending I was Luke Skywalker and I was going to save to the universe!
In 2017, I took my daughter to see the Last Jedi. Just like I was in 1983, she was only 10 years old at the time. I set the stage for her by sharing the special story of me and my father. Now you can understand why my expectations were way too high! Isn’t it ironic that any time we set really high expectations it is really tough for the experience to measure up?
It’s time for a confession. I am still going through Game of Thrones withdrawal. I still can’t get over the fact that Jon Snow saved the world and his reward was being sent back to The Wall so his siblings could simmer in victory. Whatever happened to honoring those who did all of the hard work? Okay Craig, let it go…
One of the things I have learned in life is to practice a bit of Zen and never get too emotional. I have learned to accept things I cannot change. This has been a challenge for me. As an Italian-American, I am a very passionate person. I have learned to develop and measure my expectations. Take the good with the bad. Sure, Star Wars could have been better. Yes, Jon Snow should be ruling from the Iron Throne. Life throws us some curve balls, but I have learned to deal with it and move on.
In the book, 365 Tao, there is a passage that reads,
Fire cools. Water seeks its own level.
No matter how extreme a situation is, it will change. It cannot continue forever. Thus, a great forest fire is always destined to burn itself out; a turbulent sea will become calmer. Natural events balance themselves out by seeking their opposites, and this process of balance is at the heart of all healing.
This process takes time. If an event is not great, the balancing required is slight. If it is momentous, then it may take days, years, even lifetimes for things to return to an even keel. Actually, without these slight imbalances, there could be no movement in life. It is being off balance that keeps life changing. Total centering, total balance would only be stasis. All life is continual destruction and healing, over and over again.
That is why, even in the midst of an extreme situation, the wise are patient. Whether the situation is illness, calamity, or their own anger, they know that healing will follow upheaval.
I keep this passage close to me at all times. It is a helpful reminder to keep calm, remain patient, and not to take things too seriously. Everything has a way of working out.
Craig Cecilio is the CEO and Founder of DiversyFund, Husband, and Father to three daughters. Craig’s mission is to break down the barriers that keep most Americans from investing like the wealthiest 1%.