Ten years ago, a few months before the release of The Force Awakens, I made my biggest Amazon Prime Video purchase: a box set of six Star Wars movies. My ten-year-old son and I spent several weekends watching them all, preparing for the seventh film’s debut in theaters. It became a treasured mother-son tradition, and we’ve followed the main movie releases ever since (though we’ve skipped the many TV spinoffs).
What began as a fun family experience gradually entered my professional world. Over the years, I’ve embedded Star Wars metaphors, Jedi, Yoda, and the Force, into career development frameworks I’ve built in corporate settings. I also use them frequently in coaching and mentoring sessions. These references consistently land. There’s something timeless about the image of a Jedi navigating uncertainty with calm, clarity, and intention. It speaks to something we all long for: inner mastery in an ever-changing world.
The Force Isn’t Just Sci-Fi – It’s Within Us
In the Star Wars universe, the Force is a metaphysical energy that connects all living things. It empowers Jedi to do the extraordinary – but only through discipline, self-awareness, and presence.
In real life, we often seek self-validation externally, in titles, tools, or achievements. But I’ve come to believe our most significant power source is internal. And in today’s world, where change is constant and uncertainty is the norm, knowing yourself becomes an anchor. It grounds you, motivates you, guides your decisions, and helps you pivot gracefully and confidently in your personal and professional lives.
Why Self-Awareness Matters More Than Ever
Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Zi said:
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” 知人者智，自知者明；胜人者有力，自胜者强 (Chapter 33 of Dao De Jing)
In the modern workplace, it’s easy to get caught in comparison, either inflating ourselves when we feel ahead or shrinking when we feel behind. However, authentic leadership doesn’t come from outperforming others but from understanding and mastering ourselves.
This truth is echoed in Western psychology. Carl Jung wrote, “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence (EI) also builds on this idea.
Goleman identified four domains of Emotional Intelligence—Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management—supported by 12 competencies such as:
- Emotional self-control
- Adaptability
- Inspirational Leadership
- Conflict management
- Influence
- Teamwork
These aren’t just soft skills. They’re essential leadership skills, power skills.
As artificial intelligence accelerates productivity, streamlines workflows, and makes resource allocation more efficient, our uniquely human capabilities will set us apart. In a world where machines can analyze data, predict trends, and generate content, emotional intelligence will become our most significant differentiator.
Managing emotions, fostering trust, navigating ambiguity, and leading with empathy will separate good leaders from great ones. The future of work demands not just IQ, but EQ. And that “Inner Force” of awareness, connection, and purpose is what will guide us through the unknown.
Three Steps to Awaken Your Inner Force
Here are three small but powerful ways to start your journey:
1. Know Yourself
Block out the noise. Reflect on your core values, purpose, and what truly matters to you, not what’s trending or expected. What do you want? Why?
2. Know Your Strengths
What are you naturally good at? What energizes you? What do others thank you for? Lean into those strengths, and don’t let your weaknesses define you. You can consider taking Gallup CliftonStrengths assessments that more than 30 million people have taken (Disclaimer: I am a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths coach and trainer).
3. Own Your Narrative
Your path may be winding, but it’s yours to shape. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep showing up. The world is waiting – not for perfection or a larger-than-life superhero, but for you. As Yoda said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Final Reflection
We may not live in a galaxy far, far away, but we each face our challenges, missions, and transformations. The Force isn’t just a fantasy; it’s a metaphor for the strength already inside you. As technology evolves, let’s not forget the things that can’t be automated: the power of self-awareness, empathy, human connection, self-agency, and leadership.
May the Force be with you, always.
The views and opinions expressed in this content are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organization I am affiliated with.