Hope destroyed the Death Star

At the end of Rogue One, Princess Leia Organa is handed a data disk and asked what it is. She utters one word: hope. This leads directly into Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Later in that movie she implores Old Ben Kenobi to help them by pleading that he is their only hope. Clearly hope is an important concept in Star Wars (I can, and in fact plan to, document the use of hope throughout the saga). What is it about hope that nine plus movies can be made based on it?

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness – Desmond Tutu. When working with clients, I believe the most important thing I do is help them embrace hope. When someone starts therapy, it is with the hope that things can change. When someone commits suicide, it is almost always because they have lost all hope. We all have challenges to overcome, and as long as we have the hope that we can overcome them, we can move forward creating the change that we want and need.

Folks come to me to address all sorts of issues. Many come with the hope that they can live their lives authentically in terms of gender or sexuality. Others hope to conquer depression or anxiety. Some struggle with addiction and hope to overcome it. Still others hope to make improvements in their relationships. Hope to move through trauma or abuse form their pasts brings others in. The one thing they all have in common is hope for change.

When things are hard, find hope that they can change. They don’t always change in the ways we want them to, but change will happen. We may have to address additional obstacles to embrace that change, but hope lets lends us the strength we need to keep fighting. Even a glimmer of hope is enough to put us on the path to healing; find hope and you will see the light despite all of the darkness. Then you too will blow up the Death Stars in your own life.