How to 'Change Your Stars'
"If he believes enough, a man can do anything."
“A man can change his stars. And I won't spend the rest of my life as nothing."
-William Thatcher (Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale)
One of my favorite movies of all time is, A Knight’s Tale.
It’s a classic Heath Ledger comedy that was not only hilariously funny, but had a few life lessons packed in as well.
One of those life lessons that had always stuck out to me was the one about changing your stars—like the quote above and like the video below.
It’s a compilation of those scenes in one convenient 5-minute clip. Give it a watch if you have no clue what I’m referencing.
So what did you think?
Now you know where I’m going with this.
It’s true, a person can change their stars.
That’s the one great thing about our culture and environment—you can wake up one day and decide that you want different
AND you don’t have to lie to do it.
The only one stopping you from changing your stars is you.
The road is long and the battle is hard. But it’s possible.
I think of the scenes from this movie quite regularly.
Sometimes I wonder if true change is even possible.
It is.
But it’s a battle you’ve gotta fight for you.
A lot of the days will feel like you’re getting knocked off your horse, while life smashes you right in the face.
But if there were no adversity, how would you learn how to overcome it?
When you pray for change, don’t be surprised when the life lessons appear.
You asked for it.
The how?
For me, the how, was figuring out what my vision was. My North Star.
Then I had to decide the things I wanted in my life—along with all the things I didn’t want in my life.
Dan Koe calls that a vision and an anti-vision.
Once you know where you want to enthusiastically run towards—and what you want to run the hell away from— you can create an action plan with specific steps to take so you can…
CHANGE YOUR OWN DAMN STARS TOO!!
I keep those movie clips handy to remind me that change is possible.
Even after being stuck in those mental loops of what seemed like never ending and repeating bullsh*t.
I’ve come to learn when I feel like the bs keeps repeating—that there’s a lesson in there somewhere that I haven’t learned to grow through yet.
-Paul
You know, I write, with ink and parchment. For a penny I'll scribble you anything you want. From summons, decrees, edicts, warrants, patents of nobility. I've even been know to jot down a poem or two if the muse descends.
-Chaucer (A Knight’s Tale)