Personal journeys are interesting, but I feel like this blog is at risk for taking itself (myself) too seriously. For perspective, I’d like to abstract the discussion to what we can learn from one of my favorite characters in all of cinema: Han Solo.

I’ve maintained for years that the most important character in Star Wars is not Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. It is Han Solo, the lovable rogue.

There’s no question that the Skywalker family is the dynasty and focus of the series. Theirs is a grand, sweeping story; but they aren’t truly mere mortals like the rest of us. Solo’s character shows us a view of ourselves as we truly are and who we want to be.

Like Solo, we’re flawed. We’re stubborn, arrogant, fearful, reckless, prone to acting emotionally. We can also be loyal, determined, courageous, and decisive. The most important quality we share with Han Solo is the capacity for change. His story is about growth, maturation, and redemption. (And not just because the other Star Wars characters are more two-dimensional.)

Han Solo exhibits the most change in character over the course of his time on screen. While he has the best lines in Episode IV (the original Star Wars), no one can seriously argue that he demonstrates behavior worthy of emulation. Even by the end of the film he only decides to go back and help Luke destroy the Death Star because everybody put a guilt-trip on him. In Episode V (Empire), he begins showing more positive traits, especially the aforementioned decisiveness. But he’s still driven by fear. Fear of the bounty on his head. Fear of loneliness, perhaps? I maintain this is true because of his pursuit of Princess Leia despite her continued rejections. Though I will grant that isn’t the whole story between them; there is no discounting Fate in the Star Wars universe.

By the end of the series, Solo becomes an inspirational figure. He no longer puts himself before others. He understands love as an enlightened adult. He’s committed his life to something greater than himself. In essence, he’s become selfless. Becoming selfless didn’t diminish the things we like about him. On the contrary, his positive qualities (humor, loyalty, courage, confidence, determination) are amplified because he’s discovered who he really is. This is the transformation and redemption of Han Solo: a scoundrel who transcends his fears and becomes a true hero.

We have this capacity. Maybe we aren’t walking around with a bounty on our head, but most of us have fears that drive our motivations. Thankfully, like Han Solo, we can confront those fears, understand them, and let them go. When we discover what’s truly important—our selflessness, the recognition of that which is greater than ourselves—everything else falls away. This is genuine transformation.

When we redeem ourselves, we don’t need anyone to tell us we’re a hero because that is what we are.