It’s time for the second part of this series of articles. I’ve noticed 15 life lessons hidden within “The Two Towers” from “The Lord of the Rings” series . They revolve around the theme of hardship.
1. Spice things up a bit from time to time
Sam’s box of spices from the Shire is a good analogy for how important it is to do something different when all you see is hardship in your life.
It could be something as small as a new seasoning on your food, visit a place you’ve never seen before, or read a book outside your favorite genres. Take your mind off of the bad things for a while.
2. Find a part of home wherever you are
In the same vein, you might experience hardship away from home. Sam’s box of spices is a powerful reminder of the Shire.
Whenever you find yourself in hardship do think about the good things back at home. Even better! Take something with you on your travels to act as a reminder of home.
3. Don’t let bad things dampen your spirit
Sam is the staple of positivity in the movies. He helped Frodo complete his mission. He never gave in into fear and despair.
We can learn from his state of mind. Sam didn’t let bad things dampen his spirit in face of adversity. Granted, there will be times when we give into temptation or fear. But we should remember that F.E.A.R. means Face Everything And Rise.
4. Beware of empty promises
Saruman never received help from Sauron when the Ents attacked, which ended in the fall of one of the Towers. Yet, the Elves sent help to Helm’s Deep.
Similarly, in our own lives we should see who is by our side and who only spews empty promises. At first, it might be difficult to notice but people always show their true colors in your times of need.
5. Hope hasn’t left this land
The world of men seemed at a sword’s edge. It came to a hair’s breadth of destruction in all of “The Lord of the Rings” series.
Hope prevailed in the end, even if it was hard fought, like the battle of Helm’s Deep.
Life takes unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes you might lose your hope. That is exactly the moment you should hold on to hope, even if it means you have to fight for it with all you’ve got.
6. Your life is not a sad story
You might think that Gollum’s story is a sad one. I’d say he was an important piece on the chess board, despite his plan of getting the ring back. Without him, Frodo and Sam would have never gotten close to Mount Doom.
If you’re going through a rough time, always remember that your life is not a sad story. It has a purpose, much like anyone else’s. It’s your responsibility to find it.
7. Wake up and find your strength
Frodo’s mission, at times, felt to me like it was on autopilot. He didn’t feel all too conscious about his decisions.
The ring of power taking a hold of Frodo’s mind is a great analogy to our moments of hardship. The troubles we have can sap our mental power. But, once you wake up and get your power back, you can get renewed hope and strength in your system.
8. Don’t let illusions sway your heart
The ring of power had the power to sway people’s hearts. It turned them evil and less considerate of others around them. It sold them illusions of power.
What are the illusions you tend to believe? To a certain degree we all believe in some form of illusion in our lives. They don’t get us anywhere. We only walk in circles because of them. An example of illusion: when success equals happiness, and we discard the journey leading up to it.
9. Don’t fear what you might become
Any hardship might seem like a dead end. The mission to destroy the ring might have ended in ruin many times. And not because of external threats at times, rather because of inner disarray.
We shouldn’t fear what the hardship can transform us into. The mind fears change, but it can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. How can you grow as a person while dealing with hardship?
10. Focus on the speed and secrecy of your mission
Frodo and Sam’s mission to destroy the ring banked on speed and secrecy during all the movies in “The Lord of the Rings” series.
These are two attributes we could inject in our lives, especially when dealing with hardship. I’m talking about tackling your problems head on instead of avoiding them. Secondly, not everyone must know of your problems. Some people are waiting to see you fall. Only confide in the people with a good track record of trust.
11. Other people need you at your best
What would’ve happened if Sam or Aragorn would not have been at their best? Or even Merry while he tried to convince the Ents to intervene for the sake of everyone?
Other people need at your best. You need yourself at your best to tackle the hardships. I know it requires a lot of self-control and a positive spirit, but it’s within your reach every day to do so. Greatness is a personal choice, not a product of circumstance.
12. Beware the mental cage, not the hardship
One of the most important life lessons from “The Two Towers” is this one. Fear the mental cage, not the hardship itself. Many of the characters feared the mental cage set up by the temptation to have the ring or actually having it. They didn’t fear the journey to Mordor in particular.
It’s the same for us in real life. Fearing the mental cage is good because it can keep us on our toes and watchful of this sinister influence. The hardship is here to help us grow while the mental cage can block us from acting and hoping for the best.
13. Don’t linger half way
Tackling hardship without breaking a sweat is a fool’s dream. It can make us linger half way, like it happened with Frodo when he almost got captured by that Nazgul in Osgiliath.
As you go through hardship in life, there will be moments when you will linger half way, not knowing how to proceed next. It’s good to have someone to help you in these moments. You could also retrace your steps to see how far you got for renewed motivation.
14. The shadow is temporary
Always remember that the shadow is temporary. The “rainy season” will pass.
There is another saying I like: lights are only visible in the presence of darkness. The hardship you’re going through is there to make you shine, to bring your A-game and be the best version of yourself.
15. Write a great story
I can’t imagine a world where the Lord of the Rings series doesn’t exist. Why? Because it’s a great story about one’s journey in life, tackling hardship, and personal growth.
What is the story you’re writing every day about your life? Is it about motivation, hope, and action, or is it about fear, procrastination, and lack of self-awareness?
These were the 15 life lessons I’ve noticed in the second installment of the series. Have you noticed others? Please write a comment below.
P.S. If you haven’t read the article about the life lessons hidden with the first movie from “The Lord of the Rings”, please find it here.