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Have you ever stopped in the middle of a sentence because you lost your train of thought? That happened to me just the other day, and it was a bit embarrassing. Well, if that has happened to you, don't worry. It was probably a case of too much multitasking.



I've been noticing more and more reports on research on the effects of too much multitasking. Evidently you can develop short-term memory problems, or have difficulty concentrating, or have gaps in your attention. And that's not to mention experiencing stress or even physical symptoms, such as a stomach ache or headache.



And it appears that trying to do two or three things at the same time or in quick succession can actually take longer than simply doing them one at a time! This is because when your attention is split, you have less "brainpower" to do each task, and it takes your brain longer to switch from one thing to another. It's rather like that old Italian proverb, "Often he who does too much does too little."



At any rate, I've developed a little game plan to help me out for those times when I start to feel overwhelmed with the quantity of tasks I need to get done. Maybe it could be helpful for you too. Here it is:



1. Make a list of those things you need to do. Be sure to cross off each one when it is done.



2. Finish what you start. The minute your mind starts drifting off to yet another task, just bring your focus back to what you are doing. If you missed putting that task on your list, write it down, and then get back to the business at hand.



3. Turn off or get away from any distractions – radio, television, phone, computer, pager, etc.



4. Take a break. You'll come back refreshed and better able to devote your full attention to the task at hand.



And remember, the first rule of focus is, "Wherever you are, be there."

(I credit Jediway.org for this)



While the Code is a Straightforward map to mastery of the Force, it can sometimes be frustrating to put into practice. The secret to the Code is considering it thoroughly before acting, however the world often does not afford a Jedi the time to do so, before forcing him/her to act.

Still a Jedi can think through a great many things in advance, so as to better prepare for when the rest of the world is in a hurry. There are Nine Conclusions a Jedi can reach before the situations are thrust upon him/her. A Jedi who understands these Nine things will, when called upon to make a quick decision, already know the will of the Force. Presented below are these Nine Conclusions.



MEDITATION

Every Jedi should spend time meditating each day on the will of the Force. The reason is simple: If one unwittingly acted contrary to the will of the Force, recognizing the mistake soon after might still give one time to make amends. Also by regularly examining one's own motivations, a Jedi could be certain that he/she was not allowing emotion, ignorance, or passion to intrude upon his/her clarity. A Jedi who has no time to meditate may more easily become lost. More to the point, a Jedi who refuses to meditate may already know that his/her motivations are not pure, and is thus lying to his/herself.



TRAINING

A Jedi's training in the Force never ends. A Wise Jedi should strive to remember that there is always something more to learn about the Force. The Force reveals itself to those who have the desire and knowledge to see it, and heeding only the Force's will is much the same as looking at a glass of water and saying "Now I understand water" To continue to grow, a Jedi should train each day.



LOYALTY

Jedi can exist in this world because the Force exists. But a Jedi Order would need more. It would require loyalty. It goes without saying that Jedi should be loyal to one another and not squabble or fight. More importantly, though, each Jedi should be aware that he must act in accordance with the wishes of his Teacher, who in turn would have to act in accordance with the governing body of any such order. This is not a Question of seniority, but rather of understanding the will of the Force, and in this regard the members of the "Council" should be the recognized experts.



INTEGRITY

A Jedi's responsibility to the Force is to be honest with himself. This does not mean that he must be forthright with everyone else, however. There is a misperception that Jedi should be morally superior: "Many feel that a Jedi should be scrupulously honest, never taking advantage, and never withholding information. This is nonsense." From a certain point of view, a Jedi is not being dishonest if he/she allows people to believe what they wish to believe. A Jedi can and should offer advice to those who need it, but it is not incumbent upon the Jedi to convince anyone to follow his advice. In service to the Force, a Jedi may employ deception, subterfuge, misdirection, and even fraud, if he does so with a righteous aim. Although most people have a distaste for such practices, the Force is without such emotions. Do not confuse this with " Moral Flexibility" A Jedi does what needs to be done. But also remember that a Jedi is not above the Law.



MORALITY

The most dangerous words ever uttered by a Jedi are " A Jedi is not a creature of Morals." These words have unfortunately been translated often by Jedi, to mean that Jedi can do no wrong. It actually means that Jedi are not enforcers of morality. While Jedi can bring or restore order and justice, they cannot themselves sit in judgement of others. There are two reasons for this: First, the world is a vast place, full of cultures that no one Jedi can completely understand. The second reason is that judgement leads to vengeance, and vengeance leads to the dark side. This is easy to understand, though not so easy to practice. Should a known murder be allowed to go free? Should a man intent on murder be killed? To answer either question, a Jedi must first know the will of the Force. Neither decision can be made hastily, except where lives are threatened by inaction.



DISCRETION

It is sometimes necessary for a Jedi to practice discretion: "The world will live in tranquility if certain matters are a bit overlooked or left unheard." Some may see this as a sign of Jedi partisanship. Others, Particularly law enforcement agencies, may believe that Jedi ignore small crimes, in order to apprehend greater criminals. Obviously, neither of these is true. The truth is that Jedi Knights stand for order and justice, and these qualities do not begin with the misdeeds of the few. The goal of the Jedi should be to create and preserve an atmosphere in which justice can flourish, rather than try to create justice themselves.



BRAVERY

"To be brave in battle proves nothing. Bravery itself proves nothing. A Jedi should be prepared to put aside fear, regret, and uncertainty and either fight, run, surrender, or die" A common mistake among younger Jedi is that bravery is the opposite of fear, and since fear leads to the dark side, bravery is armor against the dark side. Not so, if a Jedi is mindful of the will of the Force, he will know whether it is best to stand his ground, or flee, or even to offer truce. Remember that bravery itself is an emotion, and a Jedi should be at peace --- even in the midst of war.



FIGHTING

Sadly, we live in a world where conflict is a fact of life for far too many beings for us to remain apart from it. But we need not embrace conflict. "If a Jedi fights he must be ready to take a life. If he is not prepared, he must keep his weapon at his side" Or " If you show a Weapon. 'I am a warrior' is what you are saying. This will cause other warriors to want to know who is better them or you" So to avoid unnecessary fighting, a Jedi should not advertise his/her skill. But when is it necessary to fight? The Force will show a Jedi when he/she has no other options, and a wise Jedi trusts the Force in this regard. When fighting, is it necessary to use a weapon? The answer is no. A Weapon is an intimidating thing --- but it should not be used as a tool for intimidation. Do not use a weapon to create fear in an opponent use it to end the fight quickly and mercifully as possible. If this means destroying the opponent, so be it. But if a Jedi can end a fight without killing an opponent, so much the better. The best Jedi can avert injury altogether, with only a word. Some Jedi may take this to mean they should carry a less deadly weapon. There is no such thing. If a weapon cannot kill, it is not truly a weapon.



DEPENDENCE

Do not come to rely on the Force to the detriment of your other senses and abilities. Jedi students should develop their other talents and abilities, and not rely solely on the Force. To use the Force to accomplish every mundane task is to trivialize it. Using the Force isn't the only solution to every problem; sometimes, it isn't even the best solution. That's where a Jedi's other skills and talents come in. Jedi training should consist of many exercises; mastering the Force is only a part of that training. The student should also learn to run, jump, climb, fight, swim, and think. These exercises could be made easier by using the Force, but this would be to the detriment of the Jedi's overall experience. A Jedi needs to learn his capabilities without the Force so that he can truly know himself and also understand what those without the Force are capable of accomplishing.



Using the Force because it's convenient, even when other methods might be more sensible, falls dangerously close to the dark side. It's only one step removed from using the Force to achieve personal wealth and power, and that's definitely a corruption of the Force.

(I credit JediWay.org for this too - I only put this here so I can read it - I know that no one else reads my journal - meh)



At its most basic level, the Jedi Code is a set of guidelines explaining for a Padawan what virtues to prize, and what flaws to avoid. Instructors ask their students that if they remember nothing else, to always keep these words in mind. The reason is simple: in these four lines lie the instructions for how to become a Jedi Master.

Consider the first rule: "There is no emotion; there is peace." It is plainly a contrast, distinguishing the confusion of emotional considerations from the clear thinking of peaceful meditation--- Obviously, a valuable quality.

But if that peace is rooted in simply being unaware of some factor that would otherwise cause a Jedi to feel an emotional reaction, then it is not so much peace as ignorance. This is why the code contains the second rule: "There is no ignorance; there is knowledge."

This teaches Jedi to strive for understanding of all situations--- particularly before acting --- to better avoid errors in judgement. But, again, knowing a thing well can lead one to become engrossed in it. Engrossment leads to clouding of the mind. Thus, the third rule: "There is no passion; there is serenity." Knowing a thing objectively is knowing it as the Force knows it.

Still, students commonly argue that the only true objectivity is nonexistence --- Death. For does one not affect a thing even by merely observing it? This is why there is the fourth rule: "There is no death: There is the Force." The Force knows all things objectively, it is serene and it is not swayed by emotion.

Thus the Jedi Code teaches that before undertaking any action, The Jedi should consider the will of the Force. "With these other considerations aside, all that remains is the Force" What is meant by this is that if a Jedi can act emotionlessly, knowledgeably, and serenely, then he is acting in accordance with the will of the Force.

Therefore, if a Jedi acts in all things without emotion, ignorance, or passion, then that Jedi is truly a Master of the Force.



At its heart, the Jedi Code provides simple instructions for living in touch with the Force. A Jedi never uses the Force to gain wealth or personal power. Instead, the Jedi uses the Force to find knowledge and enlightenment. Anger, fear, aggression, and other negative emotions lead to the dark side, so Jedi are taught to act only when they are at peace with the Force.