Iconic, Inspirational Lessons From Lost’s John Locke

Lost was one of the greatest television shows ever created – and Locke was one of the most brilliant characters to ever hit our screens. Here are some wise words that he’s shared over the course of the show that can help you in your own life:

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do.” You shouldn’t let anyone tell you what you’re allowed to do or what you’re capable of achieving. Listen to Locke and remember that you get to carve your own path. You get to choose how you’re going to live your life. Don’t let someone else’s doubts get you down. Don’t let their insecurities rub off on you. Their opinion doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you believe in yourself.

“Michelangelo’s father. He was a wealthy man. He had no understanding of the divinity in his son, so he beat him. No child of his was going to use his hands for a living. So Michelangelo learned not to use his hands. Years later, a visiting Prince came into Michelangelo’s studio and found the master staring at a single 18-foot block of marble. Then he knew the rumors were true that Michelangelo had come in every day for the past four months, stared at the marble, and gone home for his supper. So the Prince asked the obvious, ‘What are you doing?’ And Michelangelo turned around and looked at him and whispered, ‘Sto lavorando – I’m working.’ Three years later, that block of marble was the Statue of David.” Remember, sometimes the most productive things you can do don’t actually look productive. You don’t always have to be on the go, accomplishing something great. Sitting and thinking is important. Resting and relaxing is important. Daydreaming is important. Give yourself permission to slow down every once in a while. You don’t have to rush into projects. You can take your time. You can approach this carefully instead of running full steam ahead.

Locke: “Why do you find it so hard to believe?” Jack: “Why do you find it so easy?” Locke: “It’s never been easy!” Remember, it’s hard to hold onto hope. It’s okay if you feel lost and alone sometimes. It’s okay if you feel down and discouraged. Having faith in yourself–and this world–is never easy. It takes strength to choose kindness, to choose hope, to choose to believe things are going to get better.

“The easiest way isn’t always the best.” Unfortunately, the best thing to do is usually the hardest thing to do. That’s why you can’t be afraid to challenge yourself. You can’t take the easy way out and assume that everything is going to be okay in the end. If you want to live a happy, fulfilling life, then you need to take risks. You need to put in the effort. You don’t want to take shortcuts because the harder you try, the further you’ll go.

“This moth’s just about to emerge. It’s in there right now, struggling. It’s digging its way through the thick hide of the cocoon. Now, I could help it – take my knife, gently widen the opening, and the moth would be free – but it would be too weak to survive. Struggle is nature’s way of strengthening it.” Even though you’ve been through some hard times in the past, that doesn’t make you broken. It makes you whole. It makes you strong. It makes you capable of handling anything else that comes your way. This is a beautiful reminder from John Locke that you are more powerful than you realize. You can do this. You can do anything.  

“A leader can’t lead until he knows where he’s going.”  You can’t spend so much time worrying about others that you forget to focus on yourself. If you want to be there for your loved ones, then you need to take care of yourself. You need to make sure you’re in a healthy state of mind so you have the energy to be there for them when they need you. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s essential if you want to lead a positive, productive life.