The author of the book Admiral William H. McRaven gave the commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. His speech included important life lessons. These lessons were the result of his Navy seal training. He later on published his speech as book entitled “Make your Bed”.
Start Your Day with a Task Completed
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed
Making your bed works as a reminder that at the end of the day you have accomplished a task, no matter how small. It is a task that you should be proud of with a sense of satisfaction.
Completion of one task gives strength to proceed with other tasks also.
You Can’t Go It Alone
If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
Admiral says that you need people in life to deal with difficult times. During his training in the small rubber boat he realized that no man could make it through training alone, and no seal could make it through combat alone.
A team of good people is all you need to reach your destination. For this find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible and never forget that your success depends on others because you cannot paddle the boat alone.
Only the Size of Your Heart Matters
If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart.
He realized that the Seal training was always about proving something. Proving that size didn’t matter, that the color of your skin wasn’t important, that money didn’t make you better. Your determination and grit are always more important than talent.
Life’s not Fair. Drive On.
If you want to change the world, get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
The one thing that defines each and every individual is how they deal with life’s unfairness. Be it a common person or a great person, your dealing ability distinguishes you from others. Don’t blame your misfortune.
Failure Can Make You Stronger
If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
In Navy SEAL training, “The Circus” is another two hours of additional calisthenics, combined with non-stop harassment by SEAL combat veterans who want only the strong to survive the training.
You Must Dare Greatly
If you want to change the world, slide down the obstacle headfirst.
Nobody on this planet is sure about his limits. You need to muster your courage and dare greatly because without pushing your limits you will never know your worth. Staying in the boundaries of failure and embarrassment will never let you achieve your potential.
Stand Up to the Bullies
If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks
On your path to success you will encounter many sharks or personal fears. But if you stand strong enough you will definitely sail through.
Rise to the Occasion
If you want to change the world, be your very best in the darkest moments.
Death is inevitable. No amount of mourning and screaming can bring back the loved ones.
So try to muster courage to deal with the darkest moments in life.
Give People Hope
If you want to change the world, start singing when you are up to your neck in mud.
All it takes is a little appreciation or a pat on the shoulder. Sometimes, singing a song can do wonders.
During the dreaded seven-day endurance test one of the guys was about to quit, when another started singing a song and soon everybody joined him. It was a silver lining in the cold mud at midnight.
Never Ever Quit
If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell
Admiral quotes an instance from his SEAL training and state that during training the drill instructor told everyone that if they quit, they will regret it.
You will always encounter with circumstances wherein quitting would seem an easiest option. So, it depends upon you. Either change the world by not quitting or else regret for the rest of your life.
