Life in the Outer Rim of the galaxy can be pretty tough. Between harsh environments and hostile inhabitants on the many planets, you never know who (or what) you might encounter.
But when life starts to feel a little broken, you don’t need the Force to help you put things back together.
Take these five lessons from the newest series, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian,” and apply them to your own encounters or situations here on Earth.
1. Stay strong in a crisis
The Mandalorian, a hardened bounty hunter named Din Djarin, became an orphan at a young age after the Empire killed his parents. He was taken in by the Mandalore people and raised in a culture where dealing with crisis is a way of life. Mando instinctively learned how to stay calm and collected under pressure and, as a result, was prepared to handle any situation he encountered.
In the midst of a crisis, it can be hard to make decisions. To stay strong, ask yourself what advice you’d give a friend, then follow it. This will help you look at the situation objectively and see beyond your emotions — at least for the moment. You can sort out your feelings later.
Training to respond in a crisis can provide you with valuable survival skills, as Mando can attest. When life throws you a curve ball, or you find yourself in an emergency, rely on your inner strength to get you through the immediate crisis. You’re probably stronger than you think.
2. Rely on your friends and family
Throughout Season 1 of “The Mandalorian,” Mando makes it clear that he’s a loner and seems to prefer it that way. However, once The Child (aka “Baby Yoda”) enters his life, everything changes. If he wants to protect the little one, he has to rely on the help of others such as Kuiil, Cara Dune, Peli Motto, and Omera to ensure Baby Yoda’s safety.
When life gets you down, you don’t have to solve all your problems on your own. Throughout each episode’s adventures, we see Mando progress from living as a traveling recluse to learning how to trust other life forms and accept help when he needs it. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others; you’ll find most people want to help. This can be a great lesson to master in life.
3. Get a handle on your finances
Mando lives his life as a bounty hunter. It’s a dangerous job but a lucrative one. After he secures Baby Yoda, Greef Karga pays him a significant amount in the form of the precious metal beskar. He then immediately brings it back to the Mandalorians so it can be used to create new armor and help support the community. One thing Mandalorians understand is the importance of being careful with their valuables.
To succeed financially, you’ll want to be equally savvy with your money by developing a financial plan and establishing a good credit score. If you check your score and find it a little on the low side, you can work to raise your credit rating. Once you do, you’ll enjoy increased access to loans, be offered better interest rates, and place yourself in a stronger financial position overall.
4. Don’t be too dependent on tech
While tech plays an important role in our lives, relying too much on it diminishes our ability to depend on our natural skills. For example, the Mandalorian has an array of cool gadgets he can turn to as he travels through the galaxy. However, he isn’t dependent on the latest and greatest tech. In fact, he flies the Razor Crest, a pre-Empire ship. He also harbors a strong distrust of droids, to the point where he even forbids Peli Motto’s pit droids to help repair his ship after it’s attacked.
Relying on tech isn’t always the best approach. When it falls short, Mando depends on his wits and his instincts. You can do the same thing here on Earth. For instance, it’s important to be able to do basic math without using a calculator and to understand how banking works even though it can all be done with the click of a few buttons. Life is possible (and, dare we say, better) without being helplessly dependent on technology. Tech can be a strategic tool, but it’s never a replacement for knowledge.
5. Protect what’s important at all costs
Mando turns his back on the Bounty Hunters’ Guild because he wants to protect Baby Yoda from the clutches of the evil Imperial loyalists. He even gives up life as he knows it and goes on the run to ensure that the little one isn’t harmed.
You might not have an adorable little green guy to care for (especially one who strongly resembles a certain green Master Jedi we all know and love), but you probably do have people and things in life that are important to you. Whether those include your family, your community, your business, or your career, be sure to nurture them.
In the long run, identifying and valuing what’s most important can help bring you happiness and fulfillment. This also ensures that you won’t look back with any regrets.
“Star Wars” is a collection of fantasy stories, but like all good stories, many of them call to mind real-life events we experience here on Earth. Take a page from the Mandalorian playbook and apply its lessons to your personal and professional life. Then see what a difference it can make.