I have always admired Bruce Lee and to this day, the name Bruce Lee remains synonymous with martial arts and philosophy. As the founder of Jeet Kune Do and a renowned Hollywood actor, he is considered by many to be the most influential martial artist of all time.
Martial artists around the world look to Bruce Lee as a source of inspiration and guidance. From his incredible physique to his tremendous work ethic and deep wisdom, there are many reasons why martial artists use his philosophies as a guide to living life.
Here are some of the key life lessons that Bruce Lee has imparted on us:
1) GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Be happy, but never satisfied.
Being satisfied is tantamount to giving up. It is admitting that you’re alright with just being good, but not great. Yes, we should accept the things that we cannot change, but we should also be striving to improve every day. By being satisfied, we are making an excuse for not working hard to improve.
2) GO WITH THE FLOW
Be like water, my friend.
This is perhaps one of Bruce Lee’s most famous quotes. Water has many attributes. It is fluid and it flows anywhere, changing direction and shape as required. To be like water is to be adaptable to our surroundings. We cannot be too steadfast in our ways because it may hinder us from acquiring new knowledge and experiences.
3) SET YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS
I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.
As human beings, we often strive to please others. We want validation and acceptance from our peers because our ego tells us that this is what we need. Stop listening to your ego and focus on getting validation from the person that matters the most – yourself. Set your own expectations and remember what an amazing human being you are! Not only will this give you an incredible confidence boost, but it will also make you realize that you can do whatever you want in life.
4) BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.
We are all human, and we are all bound to make mistakes at some point in our lives. No matter how big the mistake is, there is always a chance to make it right. We should not be afraid to confess when we have done something wrong and accept the consequences of our actions. We should have the courage to own up to our mistakes and focus our energy on learning from them.
5) BE YOURSELF
Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.
In a time when everyone’s lives are plastered on social media for the world to see, it can be difficult to stay true to yourself and not become a victim of a popularity contest. Thanks to social media, it is just that much easier to emulate celebrities, bloggers, or even people in our social circle. Unfortunately, we end up losing ourselves in the process. Being your true self is so much easier – you won’t have to work so hard trying to be someone that you’re not.
6) LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.
We often decide not to take risks because we are afraid of the outcome. But what if we decided to ignore that little voice inside our head telling us “no” and embraced a leap of faith instead? By doing so, we are living life to the fullest. We are savoring every moment while making life truly memorable. Go on, enjoy!
7) DEDICATE YOURSELF TO ONE TASK, AND YOU WILL BECOME AN EXPERT AT IT
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Practice and patience are everything, especially if you want to become successful in martial arts. To become an expert at anything requires steadfast commitment, laser sharp focus, and countless repetition. Dedicate yourself to becoming the very best at what you do.
8) DON’T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES, CREATE THEM
To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.
Sometimes, we get too caught up with waiting for the perfect moment to start something. The time will NEVER be perfect. Instead of waiting, why not take a chance and make things happen yourself? Even if it is easier to sit around and be reactive, why not be more proactive? Don’t ever be afraid to take chances!
9) BE HONEST
If you don’t want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.
Ever since we were young, our parents have always told us that honesty is the best policy. This is one of the single greatest pieces of advice you will ever receive. Being honest with yourself and others is always the best option. Honesty builds trust, and trust is the foundation of every meaningful relationship.
10) STAY CALM
A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.
Nothing good ever happens when tempers flare. When you lose your temper, you become irrational. You are more likely to act out of impulse. At this point, you probably aren’t even thinking straight, and how you react may turn into something that you will eventually regret. Instead of losing your temper, why not count to three (yes, that actually works) and reflect on the situation before you react.
May the legacy of Bruce Lee and his teachings live on through eternity.
