Star Words: Episode V, Part 26
Jun. 18th, 2020 02:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilAnd now, straight to the very next line!
"You must unlearn what you have learned."
It's not enough for Luke to learn new principles about the Force. He must dismantle all the pre-conceived notions that are hampering his understanding. He believes that lifting rocks is different from lifting a ship because he has learned that one object is heavier than another. Now he must unlearn that. In the world of the Force, they are the same.
There is a similar line spoken by the wise and ancient High Aldwin in the film Willow: "Forget all you know...or think you know." And this wisdom doesn't just apply to acolytes in the study of mysticism. One thing I realized very quickly when I started going to therapy is that I've developed a lot of learned preconceptions and behaviors without even knowing it, and many of those behaviors are holding me back. We all do that. We develop coping mechanisms, protective strategies created to shield ourselves from perceived pain. There's nothing condemnable about it; it's human nature. But taking a conscious look at those learned behaviors and deliberately unlearning them is a major part of improving one's mental and emotional well-being. Acknowledging those deeply-rooted beliefs and assumptions and knee-jerk reactions, and gently dismantling the ones that prevent us from becoming our best selves. It's a hard, long process, but it can be wonderfully illuminating and freeing.
We're not even halfway through this scene yet! More next time...
"You must unlearn what you have learned."
It's not enough for Luke to learn new principles about the Force. He must dismantle all the pre-conceived notions that are hampering his understanding. He believes that lifting rocks is different from lifting a ship because he has learned that one object is heavier than another. Now he must unlearn that. In the world of the Force, they are the same.
There is a similar line spoken by the wise and ancient High Aldwin in the film Willow: "Forget all you know...or think you know." And this wisdom doesn't just apply to acolytes in the study of mysticism. One thing I realized very quickly when I started going to therapy is that I've developed a lot of learned preconceptions and behaviors without even knowing it, and many of those behaviors are holding me back. We all do that. We develop coping mechanisms, protective strategies created to shield ourselves from perceived pain. There's nothing condemnable about it; it's human nature. But taking a conscious look at those learned behaviors and deliberately unlearning them is a major part of improving one's mental and emotional well-being. Acknowledging those deeply-rooted beliefs and assumptions and knee-jerk reactions, and gently dismantling the ones that prevent us from becoming our best selves. It's a hard, long process, but it can be wonderfully illuminating and freeing.
We're not even halfway through this scene yet! More next time...
