Curious title, eh? Granted! But make no mistake, this book is not about how to make our beds. «Make your bed» is based on Admiral William H. McRaven’s commencement speech for the graduating class from the University of Texas at Austin (2014) In this book, the retired Navy Seal talks about ten simple principles, ten small changes we can make in our daily lives. Which ones can help us positively impact other people, change your life for the better... and maybe the world!. He drew inspiration from his years in the SEALs, but these principles are equally important in dealing with the challenges of life and are as simple as making our beds.
1. Start Your Day With a Task Completed
In SEALs and in almost every military environment, making perfectly your beds every single day is a must. I know what I'm talking about 'cos I spent my high school years in a military school and making your bed in the wrong way in the morning could get you a lot of problems. I have kept this habit even after leaving school and I can say that this simple task, which may seem even insignificant, can in reality have a big impact on the rest of the day. The author thought on this is:
If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
Start your day by making off our bed, not only give us a sense of pride but also give us the motivation to accomplish more. And even if you spend a bad day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made —.
If you want to change the world... start off by making your bed.
2. You Can't Go It Alone
True, we're born alone and we will surely pass alone, but in the life journey, we need people by our sides to help us through difficult times. None of us are immune from life's tragic moment, and asking for support doesn't make anyone weak. As Nikki Banas said, there are people around you who want to be there for you, people who want to fight by your side. Allow yourself to lean into them. Together, we're so much stronger. I have no doubt that you can accomplish so much alone too, but you cannot always paddle the boat alone, find trust-worthy people to share your life with.
If you want to change the world... find someone to help you paddle.
3. Only the Size of Your Heart Matters
Have you ever found yourself judging someone, and realize at the end that you were totally wrong? Your answer, like mine, is probably yes. And God knows how embarrassed we feel when it happens. If you want to change your life, don't judge people by their apparencies. Learn to respect everyone no matter their age, gender, weight, height, social class or incomes. Only the size of the heart should matter. So,
If you want to change the world... measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
4. Life's Not Fair -- Drive On!
Being a sugar cookie is a common expression used in the Navy SEALs' training. SEAL trainees are randomly ordered into the surf to get cold and wet, and then to roll around on the beach until they are completely covered in fine white sand—resembling a “sugar cookie.” The goal is to teach trainees that life isn't fair and the sooner they learn that, the better off you will be. In life, too, no matter how you perform well, how hard you try, you will still end up being a sugar cookie. When it happens, don't complain or blame your misfortune. Just roll up your sleeves and drive on!
If you want to change the world... get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
5. Failure Can Make You Stronger
In SEAL parlance, a “circus” is two extra hours of calisthenics at the end of the day for those who failed to meet the day’s minimum standards in all the other physical tests. Circus meant more fatigue, and more fatigue lead to other and other circuses. But at the end of the day, trainees realize that these extra pains strengthened them. We can't avoid life's 'Circuses'. So, we must see failures as opportunity to perform better or become stronger. There is a quote by Dr Prem Jagyasi which says:
The only real failure is failing to learn from failure.
If you want to want the world, don't be afraid of The Circus.
6. You Must Dare Greatly
Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.
If you want to change the world... slide down the obstacle headfirst.
7. Stand Up to the Bullies
When going into the ocean, you have to assume you could encounter a shark regardless of when or where that is. So when being circled by a shark, the worst thing to do is to panic. Instead of it, as the shark swims around you, keep your head up and try to maintain eye contact. If a shark is clearly in attack mode, you need to make yourself as big as possible in the water because the bigger you are in the water, the more respect you'll get. In your life, you will encounter bullies who will want to put obstacles in your way, discourage you, break you down. Don't be afraid of them, face them and prove them wrong.
If you want to change the world... don't back down from the sharks.
8. Rise to the Occasion
At some point in our life, we'll all confront darkest moments. Doubts, failures, losses, illness, heartbreaks or the passing of a loved one. As difficult as it may be, it is often in these moments that we must remain the most calm and composed. I know it's easier said than done, but when coming through these situations, reach deep in your side and hold your own.
If you want to change the world, be your best in the darkest moments.
9. Give People Hope
On one special day in the training, trainees have to spend 15 hours at the Mud Flats trying to survive the freezing cold mud and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors. They told trainees they could leave the mud if only five men would quit — just five men — and they could get out of the oppressive cold. Looking around the mud flat, it was apparent that some of them were about to give up, and it was still over eight hours before the sun came up. Suddenly, one voice echoed through the night, one voice raised in song. One voice became two and two became three and before long, everyone in the class was singing. They all knew that if one man could rise above the misery, then others could as well.
Hope is the most powerful force and sometimes, it's only takes one person to motivate the others and that person can also be you. You too can be that voice who rises above difficulties and lifts your surrounding up. So,
If you want to change the world, start singing when you're up to your neck in mud.
10. Never, Ever Quit!
In SEAL training, there is a bell you ring when you want to give up and quit. Ring the bell, and all the discomfort, pain, and sacrifice ends. Just ring the bell, and the pain stops. Sometimes we feel so much disappointed that we may think quitting must be the right thing to do. But quitting makes nothing easier. Life is difficult, and we will surely face many, many obstacles. But if we throw in the towel at the sight of any difficulty, we will probably achieve nothing.
If you want to change the world... don't ever, ever ring the bell.
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To paraphrase the author, remember to start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when times are the toughest, face down the bullies, lift up when the downtrodden, and never, ever give up — if you do these things, then you can change your life for the better — and maybe the world. Thanks for reading! May God bless you, take care.
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