A few days back, we broke for you the news of
The ceremony took place yesterday, and as promised by the star in a tweet before being awarded the degree, he delivered a lecture on life lessons.
My speech today is about Life Lessons at the Edinburgh University & my biggest learning is Life is the only Miracle. pic.twitter.com/CcIwDDUe9k
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 15, 2015
The speech was telecast live, and would have surely left everyone around him inspired and motivated. We can say this because Shah Rukh’s life in itself has been nothing less than an inspiration. When someone who has seen a lot of ups and downs in life talks about life and success, one is bound to feel inspired.Coming from a humble background in Delhi where his father ran a canteen in the campus of the National School of Drama, the carefree lad grew up to become a man responsible for his mother and sister after his father’s death. From a humble beginning in theatre, he went on to become the most widely known Indian actor ever, along with a smart and shrewd businessman, investing only in businesses with guaranteed returns.
Read more: 5 instances when Shah Rukh proved to be an even better businessman
Apart from his acting, for which he has won numerous awards, Khan is known for his humility, wit and charitable causes, which unlike many celebrities, he doesn’t like talking about.
Coming back to the speech that inspired everyone present in the Edinburgh University yesterday, here are the life lessons that he talked about in his speech.
1. Madness (of the particularly nice/romantic kind) is an absolute prerequisite to a happy and successful life. Don’t ever treat your little insanities as if they are aberrations that ought to be hidden from the rest of the world. Acknowledge them and use them to define your own way of living the only life you have.
2. If you ever find yourself cheated of all your money and sleeping on a grave, do not fear, a miracle is near, either that or a ghost. All you have to do is fall asleep! In other words, no matter how bad it gets, life is the miracle you are searching for.
3. Don’t let your fears become boxes that enclose you. Open them out, feel them and turn them into the greatest courage you are capable of. I promise you, nothing will go wrong.
4. Give of yourself to others. And while you’re at it, make sure you realise that you aren’t doing anyone any favours by being kind. It’s all just to make you feel that sneaky little twinge that comes from being utterly pleased with yourself. After all, the one that gets the most benefit out of any act of kindness or charity that you do will always be you.
5. When life hits you with all the force of its resplendent rage, the Rolls isn’t going to give you comfort. A friend’s grace will, and if you can’t find resolution as easily as you would like to, don’t panic.
6. All the names you give yourself, or those that others call you, are just labels. You are not defined by them no matter how flattering or uncomplimentary they are. What defines you is your heart.
7. Whatever it is that is pulling you back, its not going away unless you stand up and start forging your own path with all your might in the opposite direction. Stop whining and start moving, so to speak.
8. Don’t attach yourself to either (sadness or happiness); they’re both going to change with the same certitude. Take them with the ephemeral spirit of their impermanence and manage them with a healthy dose of good humour. Laugh at yourself when you are despairing, shed a tear or two when one of my movie plots makes you hysterical with laughter.
9. Live from the heart. Dil Se. Love. Love people, love the world around you, love animals and birds, and big cities and mountains, love dreams, love life, love your work, your friends and your enemies even if you feel least like it. Most importantly, my friends; love yourselves.
10. Live now. Live today. You may not see it with your youthful eyes, but NOW is as much time as you will ever get. Because tomorrow we will all be dead. And just in case there is no cycle of rebirth etc…why take a chance. I don’t want to end this on a cynical note by reminding you about the reality of death. I want to let you all know that how important your today…your now is. Study hard. Work hard. Play harder. Don’t be bound by rules…don’t hurt anybody and never ever live somebody else’s dream.
To tell you the truth, all these life lessons were inspired by the title of one or the other movie that Khan has did in his career, which again makes us salute the power this man has with his words.
Here’s the video in which Khan can be seen talking about getting the honor.