Make Your Bed - Summary

> Summary: Make Your Bed by William  H. McRAVEN

A US Navy retired, Sir William wrote his rituals and discipline of a navy officers in this book which I believe gave the inspiration to all who wants to wake up.  Yes, a wake up call, a wake up ritual, a morning where ones day began and to be precise it is a bed from where one’s morning begin & we all should be grateful to have a bed to start our day cause there’s people over world who cannot afford to lie down on bed.

As sir William said your bed is where you find the peace at the end of the day, it feels so peaceful & calm.

Now coming on to the book, it has Toal of ten chapters each one is based on his experience and the mindset to grow and cultivate the navy discipline which one can implement in daily life according to the environment and goal one wants to achieve.

I’ve read this book a little long time ago, so as to revise and write a review I’ll go with each chapter quickly.

1. Start your day with task completed

“Nothing can replace the strength and comfort of one’s faith, but sometimes the simple act of making your bed can give you the lift you need to start your day and provide you the satisfaction to end it right.”

2. You can’t go it alone

“None of us are immune from life’s tragic moments. Like the small rubber boat we had in basic SEAL training, it takes a team of good people to get you to your destination in life. You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.”

3. Only the size of your heart matters

“Measure a person by the size of their heart.”

4. Life’s not fair - drive on!

“Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”

5. Failures can make you stronger

“I realized that the past failures had strengthened me, taught me that no one is immune from mistakes. True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision.”

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.”

7. Stand up to the bullies

“Bullies are all the same; whether they are in the school yard, in the workplace, or ruling a country through terror. They thrive on fear and intimidation. Bullies gain their strength through the timid and faint of heart. They are like sharks that sense fear in the water. They will circle to see if their prey is struggling. They will probe to see if their victim is weak. If you don’t find the courage to stand your ground, they will strike. In life, to achieve your goals, to complete the night swim, you will have to be men and women of great courage. That courage is within all of us. Dig deep, and you will find it in abundance.”

8. Rise to the occasion

“In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best.”

9. Give people hope

“We will all find ourselves neck deep in mud someday. That is the time to sing loudly, to smile broadly, to lift up those around you and give them hope that tomorrow will be a better day.”

10. Never, ever quit!

“Life is full of difficult times. But someone out there always has it worse than you do. If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard. If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds—then life will be what you make of it—and you can make it great.”

My thoughts on reading this book:

I found myself to be amazed at how this navy officer, no not just a navy officer but all the soldiers, officers & military  people has gone through such a tough training and strict disciplinary rules which leads them to grow in such a beautiful way. I had always admired how the great postures all the soldiers have. Sir William share his journey which begins with making his bed. He share his life lessons learned from his journey - Discipline, Courage, Motivation, Importance of team efforts, Hope & Continuity.

Thought this book I learned that the discipline does not required to be in training like officers or soldiers do but it can be learned and grow in our own way in day to day rituals and habits. Discipline is not about following a strict rule or a straight body posture, it is all about cultivating a mindset to follow your ritual in timely manner.