Considered as a legend in his sport and one of the greatest heavyweights in history, Muhammad Ali was someone who was able to consistently be exceptional. Whether he was in the ring, or out of it he taught many of us to dream big, take risks and fight for what we believe in.
The three-time world heavyweight champion and one of the world’s greatest sporting figures of our time sadly passed away last week and as a tribute I have compiled some of my favourite Muhammad Ali quotes and what they can teach us about life.
1."Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”
Whether it’s in training, in business or on the road of life, it’s inevitable to experience a range of different emotions along the way, we can choose to allow these feelings to disrupt our progress and throw in the towel or we can use them as fuel to power through. When we learn to push past our emotions and refuse to let them get the better of us we move ourselves one step closer to champion status.
2."I am the greatest; I said that even before I knew I was”
Muhammad Ali had a mindset that allowed him to break records and be known as the legend that many of us will remember him by and it was his incredible determination, commitment and self-belief that got him there. When you allow yourself to believe that you have the power to do anything you set your mind to, you unlock your potential to go out there and make things happen, it all starts with your mindset. Are you filling your mind with seeds of empowerment or weeds of doubt?
3."A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life"
Many of us can grow up with a set of beliefs and values that may have been embedded in us and when we allow ourselves to open our minds to new ideas it provides us with the opportunity to challenge the outdated beliefs which no longer serve us, leaving us with more room to align ourselves with ones that create positive changes and stronger results. When we maintain an open mind we're able to evolve into the person we choose to become. Would you rather a mind opened by wonder or a mind closed by belief?
4."It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe”
One thing that most successful athletes share in common is mental toughness. It is this toughness that pushes you to keep going when you may feel like you want to give up. There may be obstacles on your way to reaching your goals but that doesn't need to stop you from achieving them. Resilience is a skill that many of the world’s greatest athletes, entrepreneurs and musicians have learnt how to master and how you choose to overcome your challenges determines whether you'll reach the top of the mountain or be worn out by the pebble in your shoe.
5."The man who has no imagination has no wings"
Some of the greatest inventions in the world such as the internet, the smartphone or the aeroplane were born in the minds of visionaries. Tapping into your imagination gives you the ability to look at situations from different perspectives and explore new ideas before they have come into conception. When we tap into our imagination we open ourselves up to a creative power that allows us to dream big and experience a whole world of possibility inside our minds.
As one of the most iconic and best athletes of our time, Muhammad Ali was an emblem of strength, determination and courage; he is someone whose story continues to inspire many people all over the world, giving us hope that we too can become the greatest, if we try.
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