3 Powerful Life Lessons from Muhammad Ali
Today, the city of Louisville says goodbye to Muhammad Ali. As a current Louisvillian, the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali has a major impact on our culture. My girls are native Louisvillians, born and raised. As we remember Muhammad Ali today, I am sharing three powerful life lessons I’m teaching my girls.
Don’t allow misfortune to make you bitter.
When Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, was 12 years old his bike was stolen. Had this not happened, he may never have met police Sargeant Joe Martin. Martin, a boxing trainer, encouraged him to learn to fight before deciding to take on the thief in a fight. And so began the training that preceded his legendary boxing career.
There’s not much information on whether or not the bike was found, or if he continued looking for the thief. What we do know, is that he didn’t let the act of misfortune consume him. He took negative energy and channeled into something positive. I always encourage and inspire my girls to not let bitterness consume them.
Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Muhammad Ali
Stand up for what you believe, even if it’s unpopular.
The courage of conviction is a phrase that can be used to describe Muhammad Ali’s character. In 1967 he refused to enter the U.S. Army draft famously stating, “I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong.” He was anti-war and pro-peace. He didn’t believe that he should have to fight on behalf of a country in which he was still discriminated against. It was at the height of his career. He was convicted of draft evasion, fined, stripped of his titles, and banned from boxing for three years.
Having the courage of conviction to stand up for your beliefs is not an easy task. Especially when what you believe is unpopular. Even when I don’t agree, I do my best to provide the support needed to help my girls be courageous in their beliefs.
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Muhammad Ali
Use your influence to help those who can’t help themselves.
Even with his fame and notoriety, Muhammad Ali was a great humanitarian. He believed in helping people who were unable to help themselves. In 2005 the Muhammad Ali Center was opened in downtown Louisville. The center’s mission is to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.
The center is focused around six core principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality. From being a leader in the classroom and on the track to starting the I Can Be Girls Confidence Conference, any one of those principles can be used to inspire my girls. My goal is to nurture and develop the compassion within them so they can share it with others, just like he did.
What life lessons have you learned from The Greatest? Share them with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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I love these quotes. They always keep me going. Thanks .
I love th6ese quotes. They always keep me going. Thanks .
One of the best things I learned from Ali was to stay TRUE yourself. never let anyone degrade you or your choices.
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I also didn’t know about Ali’s refusal to enter the Army. There were actually a lot of things that I didn’t know about him until after he passed. I agree with using your influence to help those who can’t help themselves. I try to do that on my own little platform when it comes to dealing with secondary fertility issues.
I recently learned about Ali’s refusal to enter the U.S. Army draft by way of radio. My jaw dropped and I did a little celebratory dance in my head. He was incredible.
There are many lessons we can learn from Ali’s story. I have learned a lot about him since his passing. His ability to stand up for his beliefs despite the consequences was one of the most notable.
Ali’s story is so inspirational. I love that he wasn’t perfect but he still was able to impact so many lives.
Three of many great lessons Ali left us. I need to get to the museum in your city.
I loved this post and the lessons you are teaching you are teaching your girls. Great job!!
He is the epitome of the definition: don’t go to the grave with anything left inside of you. He left an incredible legacy including these life lessons.
I love this, since his death I’ve read so much about him. Not sure why I waited until now, but I love his style. It is a reminder to keep positive and go after what I want.
He was a great man and role model indeed. I had been going through some of his quotes recently and they are absolutely profound. I love that he wasn’t just an athlete he stood for something and stood up about it too.