From a champion in the ring to a champion outside of the ring, a family man, a social activist, a visionary, he goes by many titles. Mohammad Ali is a man with principles and a man who would willingly let go of everything that he earned with his blood and sweat if it meant compromising with his values and beliefs.
9 Life Lessons to Learn From Muhammad Ali
1. Stick to your values
Muhammad Ali represents true honesty by sticking to his beliefs, mission, and purpose no matter what the consequences were. When he declined induction into the army to fight in the Vietnam War he was not allowed to play boxing. As a result, he lost some of the most crucial years (age 25-29) of his life away from the boxing ring. He did so believing in his fundamental belief and what he stood for as a man. Looking back, everyone would agree that Muhammad Ali was right in his decision.
Let your value system run your decision-making. Listen to your guts and what you feel is right to let the results be as it may. At the end of the day, by following your values, you will have no regrets.
2. Have a purpose
Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a a desire, a dream, a vision.
It isn’t your specialty that makes you a boss, it is the reason you do it and how you do it. Muhammad Ali was a champion because his objective was to help people in need. He was the same person in and outside the ring. Remember that you are doing it for a reason, then it will all come together.
3. Be yourself
I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want to be.
You do not need validation from others. Be yourself. Feel comfortable under your skin and improve yourself. No need to apologize if you are a person of character and this is what you need to learn from Mohammad Ali. Be real and confident in your skin and then you’ll attract the right people in your life.
4. Laugh and make others laugh
People like others who can make them laugh. In this world of violence and negativity, humor can diffuse any situation. Laugh things off and make others smile. By smiling, you have the power to be a magician by changing other people’s moods instantly. This is what Muhammad Ali did to people. A genius!
5. Risk hai toh Ishq hai
“Risk hai toh Ishq hai” has become so popular after Scam:1992 the Harshad Mehta Story and inspired us to take risks. Take risks and put yourself out there. Muhammad Ali was always an expressive person. He took a risk even by speaking-not fearing any judgments, but at the end of the day, we can all say he was an influential speaker because of it. If you don’t take the calculated risk, you will not move ahead in life.
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
6. Inspire and give to others
I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to help uplift and inspire people around the world.
Ali was known to help the poor on the streets and be part of multiple NGOs. He has also been rewarded the “lifetime Achievement Award”. Helping others always brings a smile to our faces. You have a gift that the world needs.
“Service to others is the rent we pay for our room in heaven.”
7. Get back up when you fall down
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
We need to learn from Mohammad Ali that when you fall, you need to pick yourself back up. Let the opportunity of failing to be a lesson on how to rise. It is important to learn from our failures in order to grow as a person no pain no gain: “I hated every minute of training, but I said don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
We need to remember that without struggle you can’t achieve your dream. Make it a habit of practicing your craft/skill and you will reap the rewards over time. Focus on the present, one movement at a time. Always enjoy the process, because the real fun lies in the struggles.
8. Never give up
“Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
In training, we go through many different emotions. Pain, suffering, anger, and disappointment; these feelings can disrupt the training process and often make us demotivated. The person who beats all these emotions and makes his willpower strong will succeed. Instead of putting our heads down, we should turn these emotions into fuel for training. We should work as hard as we can and refuse to let our feelings get the worst of us. After all, by giving up, we will never know what it means to become a winner.
9. Be unique
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
Muhammad Ali’s unique boxing style was first seen by the world in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Despite his size, Muhammad Ali dashed and weaved around his Opposition like a lightweight. Rather than changing his style, He stuck to it throughout his career and ruled the ring for many years.
When you do a particular thing in your unique way, don’t worry about what other people think. If they think it’s too different and unique, stick to your guts and prove to others that it is just as effective, if not better. It’s a quality that we all should adopt from Mohammad Ali.
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