What mark do you want to leave in this world? Have you ever thought about your legacy? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the civil rights movement. He is one of the most influential leaders ever of all time. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by the peaceful teaching of Mahatma Ghandi. Dr. Martin Luther King’s life changed the trajectory of American history. Although he died at 39,  Dr. King’s life is a paragon of the saying: it’s not about how long you live but how well you live. To reach the pinnacle of success in life, you need to pay attention to the most valuable life lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, thousands of buildings, streets and institutions around the world are named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Indeed, His legacy will continue to live for many more generations to come.

Dr. King’s 19 Most Valuable Life Lessons:

There are countless lessons from Dr. King’s life, and here are the 19 most valuable life lessons that will shape your life for good:

1. Continuous Education is Important

At age 15, Dr. King enrolled in Morehouse for his bachelors degree. Afterwards, he attended Crozer Theological Seminary for his Masters degree. And he later attended Boston College for his Doctorate degree. It is important to realize that formal education was not his only form of education. Dr. King was immersed in self education. He traveled to India to learn more about Mahatma Ghandi. Especially, for African- American in those days, Dr. King was highly educated. Always be willing to learn. Surprisingly, research shows that only 25% of people who graduate high school go on to read a book cover to cover. In his life time, he wrote 7 essays and 10 books. Obviously, he accomplished these feats by reading a lot. Continuous education is  very important if you want to live a fulfilled life.

2. Pioneer Transformation 

Leading positive change and transformation is one of the most valuable life lessons we can all learn from Dr. King. He saw the social injustice, segregation and injustice that existed in America but he didn’t sit around and do nothing. Dr. King decided to take the bull by the horn and enact a change movement. With this in mind, step up to challenging situations and be ready to pioneer the change you want to see happen. You can be a change agent and a difference maker. Do you respond to change or are you a catalyst of change? You need to act now. Do not sit around waiting for change to come you. Altogether, you too can transform your life, family, community or organization.

“The time is always right, to do right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

3. Manage Conflict Effectively

Another most valuable life lesson we can learn from Dr. King is managing conflict effectively. Certainly, he was very adept at managing conflict. He achieved this through his confidence in his mission and peaceful approach. Even during periods of war, he never ran away from conflict. Dr. King was very tremendous at handling any trouble and opposition that came his way. He never let conflict control him or his mission.

4. Make Your Voice Heard

Dr. King advocated for economic and social change. With your voice, always take a stand for what is right. His words empowered a nation of diverse people. In essence, when you see something that is unfair, dare yourself to speak up.

5. Never give up

What if Dr. King decided to quit at some point? In his fight for equality, he never gave up despite all the oppositions he faced. Famously, “We shall overcome” speech given by Dr. King embodies one of his most valuable life lessons – never give up. This message recounted how circumstances, agitations and oppression will not stop his mission of racial equality and social transformation. In addition, Dr. King was arrested multiple times and thrown in jail yet he never gave up. Keep fighting for yourself.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”  – Martin Luther King Jr.

6. Be a Source of Inspiration to Others

Who does your life inspire? Notably, Dr. King was a source of inspiration to many during his time. Even till date, his tireless work and effort towards civil rights is still an inspiration to millions of people. Everyone felt the power of his words. Dr. King has inspired the life of millions of people all over the world. In short, being a source of inspiration to others is one of the most valuable life lessons we can all learn from Dr. King.

7. Do Not Let Fear Defeat You

He was a leader of great courage. Dr. King said he gets about 30-40 death threats a day. Many called him the N-word. He was able to overcome those fears and push forward. He was very courageous and willing to stand up to adverse situations. Interestingly, the day before Dr. King was assassinated, he gave a speech where he expressed his fearless approach to life and fight against racial injustice. Indeed, his act of courage depicts one of the most valuable life lessons we need to live by.

8. Never Be Comfortable

When last did you do something that made you uncomfortable? Dr. King was a middle class family that lived a very decent life. However, he stepped out of his comfortable life and went through pain to ensure that African Americans are free segregation. In order to be a difference maker, you have to be willing to leave your comfort zone. Also, you have to do the things that need to be done when nobody is cheering you.

9. Mentors are Inevitable

Without a doubt, we all need a mentor. A mentor will always help you reach your finish line and achieve your goals in life. Among many of  Dr. King’s mentors was Howard Thurman, who is arguably his most influential mentor. In 1935, Thurman met Mahatma Ghandi  and learned so much about effecting change through non-violence. In later years, Thurman influenced Dr. Kings’s philosophy on non-violence.

10. Never Let Your Insecurities Define You 

After his bachelors degree, he moved from a predominantly black Morehouse College to Boston college, a predominantly white college. Dr. King was so concerned about how he looked and how he spoke. He wanted to do everything to fit into the predominantly white college he was in at the time. But, after he tried as much as he could, he realized he was enough and did not need to be like anyone else. No matter what insecurities you have, continue to push forward in all that you do. Never let you insecurities hamper your progress in life.

11. Seek Support

In the darkest times, Dr. King sort support from his wife Coretta Scott King. Unfortunately, a lot of people act like they can do everything themselves. In fact, you need people around you to give you the support and encouragement you need as you move towards your goals. Overall, Dr. King taught us one of the valuable life lessons by seeking support from different people regardless of skin color. Hence, to lead a complete life, you will need to build a very good support system around you.

12. Believe 

Most importantly, Dr. King believed that he had the ability to make a difference. Irrespective of the laws that supported segregation, he believed in equality and fairness. His believe led to him to fighting against racial discrimination. You need to have a deep believe in yourself. In other words, never let other people’s opinion of you become your reality. Dr. King knew his significance lied in his ability to believe in himself and in his abilities to lead the people to the ‘promise land.’

13. Have a Vision 

Dr. King was a master at casting powerful visions. His ‘I have a dream speech’ painted the life that we are living today and will be living in years to come. He had visions that extended into generations. Perhaps you haven’t gotten past where you should be, because you have not cast a strong enough vision. The bible says that: “When there is no vision, the people perish.” For you to make a big impact in life, you must have a crystal clear vision of the life you want.

14. Don’t be Selfish 

Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream for America and the African-American people. He gave up his life for the betterment of all African Americans. He said yes to the calling and changed millions of lives forever. This means that your life should be filled with something that is greater than you. Selflessness is one of the most valuable life lessons Dr. King’s life teaches us. Until you have found something that you are willing to die for, you will never know why you live.

15. Take a Risk 

At 26 years old, Dr. King took up the mantle to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He led marches and protests against racial discrimination in a time when the punishment for doing such a thing was severe. Knowing that he was doing the right thing, he was not afraid to take the risk involved. He gave his entire life to the cause of equality. And he was killed while fighting for racial equality and justice.

16. Become a Great Communicator 

Dr. King was not born as a great communicator. He was a very eminent wordsmith. Just as he was with this pen, he was even more powerful with his words. The value of being a great communicator can never be over emphasized. Also, he was part of his high school’s debate team. Dr. King gave so many oratories on racial inequality and social justice.

17. Strive for Excellence 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about having a determination to put excellence into whatever you have chosen to do in life. Your legacy should be a lasting one that you can take pride in. Dr. King challenged everyone to be the best at whatever they do through the life he lived. Surely, Dr. King exhibited a life excellence through his actions and words. Especially, his quote on being the best you can be illustrated one of his most valuable life lessons.

18. Be Principled 

You need to always understand your core values. Dr. King knew and lived his principles in life. Regardless of what anyone else thought, he always followed his principles. He thrived on discipline and avoided all shortcuts. Dr. King stayed true to his mission and vision despite the rejection he faced from many. He knew what he stood for and persisted regardless of the price he had to pay.

19. Love Wins

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

Love was one of the tools that Dr. King used profoundly. His leadership was an epitome of non-violence. Mistakenly, most people see non-violence as a sign of weakness. We can tackle our deepest problems with a love approach. Likewise, we can conquer our greatest enemies with acts of love. Humanity thrives on love. In sum, aggression, hate and retaliation are always work against a fulfilling life.

Life is more than just surviving and paying your bills. You were born to make a difference.

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