Celebrating a Life Worth Living – Lessons from the Life of Nelson Mandela

As we say our farewells to Nelson Mandela it is fitting to look at
what we do and what ideals we can take from this modern saint that could
inspire us over this festive season and reflecting on our ideals for
next year.

His was surely a life that was worth living and we are grateful for
the passion, inspiration and transformation that he enabled us all to
have.

While most of us will never have his journey – we can still learn
things about what makes a meaningful contribution.

Do it for others

The first and absolute idea that is personified by Nelson Mandela is
that you do not do it for yourself. Giving selflessly and serving others
must be on the top of your values and must be personified through
everything that you do.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains,
but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
– Nelson Mandela

Make a change

The second idea that comes to mind is when there is an opportunity to
make a change and you decide to take up a cause, you may have to go to
extremes to ensure that it is done right. Absolute and total commitment
to your cause is required.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson
Mandela

Mobilise others

An idea that is close to this is that it is important to mobilise
others, give them structure and ideals and help organise them towards a
just cause. More and more we understand that people work hard for their
passions and surrounding yourself with people that have similar ideals
and ideas seems to be the key to moving ahead. Mandela always involved
others and his most famous speeches and initiatives was the result of
collective effort. Every step in the journey leads to the next.

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are
many more hills to climb.” – Nelson Mandela

Equip yourself

The fourth idea is that you need the correct tools and Mandela surely
made sure that he understood the law, educated himself and others and
that he had the intellectual capacity to chase ideas and bring them to
fulfilment. He was even a boxer in his youth and this helped
understanding the fighting spirit and shaped him in understanding
strategy, how to attack his enemies and how to stand against huge
odds.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Learn about people

He was also brilliant with people and was well known for inspiring,
guiding, listening, rebuking and responding to the needs of individuals
and great crowds and communities. Understanding what you have to say to
make a situation move forward seemed to be one of his talents that we
can all learn from.

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains
unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” – Nelson
Mandela

There is always hope

The sixth idea is that wherever you are – there is always hope and
you can do something about your world. The fact that Nelson Mandela was
in prison seemed only to strengthen his cause and there are many tales
of how he communicated and organised others from within the confines of
cell.

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from
nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping
one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were
many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I
would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat
and death.” – Nelson Mandela

Find the humanity in the situation

The seventh idea is that you must always look at the humanity of the
situation. Nelson Mandela never fought fire with fire, when many times
the opportunity was present. He fought against a bad system but remained
human with the people within the system. He frequently promoted peaceful
means, reconciliation and the quality of all. Many of the people that
was part of the system that he fought commented on how he was a
inspiring man that

“No one is born hating another person because of the
color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn
to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for
love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” –
Nelson Mandela

Use power wisely

The eighth idea is that when you are given the power, use it and use
it for good. Nelson Mandela could easily have been a despot and an
oppressor. When he got the power, he did not steer South Africa into an
abyss but he used the opportunity to create reconciliation, growth and
development and rather steered South Africa to building houses,
empowering people and being a balanced rainbow nation that draws on the
strengths of the people present and that makes the best of the
moment.

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to
work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” – Nelson
Mandela

Give back and give to others

The number of his cell – 46664 – became the most recognised icon for
charitable giving and he created the Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund
that will continue to serve humanity. There are many stories of how he
raised funds and tirelessly assisted individuals and society at large
when he had the chance.

While we will never have the same man walk this earth again – but we
will all carry a little of his legacy in our hearts and can honour that
legacy by learning from some of the actions that marked the life of this
amazing man.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling,
but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela

Be brave

The one quality that will always inspire us from the life of this
great man is that he was brave. He was not only brave himself, putting
his life, reputation and destiny on the line, but he was brave for us
all.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but
the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid,
but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

There is in each of us this greatness and we must seek to find it,
explore it and make the most of it in our lifetimes.