#TheGreatest: 8 Lessons Muhammad Ali Taught Us

The iconic boxer left behind a powerful legacy.

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Hail to Ali! - The recent death of the iconic boxer Muhammad Ali underscores the importance of using the time we have on this Earth to really make it count and be the best we can be. Here are eight life lessons the fearless activist and athlete can teach us. By Kellee Terrell(Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

Photo By Photo: Photoshot

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Believing You Are Everything - While some may have believed the icon was arrogant, Ali’s bravado and self-confidence around him being the greatest was really a means of countering what society thought of Black men. Remember: You define you, not other people. (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

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Having Principles Mean Having to Sacrifice - Ali was banned from boxing for three years during his prime because he refused to fight in the Vietnam war, which he vehemently opposed. He lost his title, couldn’t box for three years and lost out on serious income. But when you believe in something, that’s what you do. You sacrifice it all to make a point. (Photo: TALKING SPORT/Photoshot/PacificCoastNews)

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Reject the Notion of Impossible - Ali once said, “Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." He was living proof that you can be what you want, do what you want and that the only obstacle standing in your way is sometimes our own selves. (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

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Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things - Ali stepped outside the world of boxing by trying his hand in acting. In 1979, he tried acting in both the comedy Diff'rent and the TV movie Freedom Road about slavery in Virginia. It’s all about diversifying your resume.  (Photo: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images)

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Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk - Here’s the thing: You can’t go around telling the world you are the ish if you cant back it up. Ali trained hard and worked hard to be at the top of his game and even when he lost, he used that as motivation to be better. Whatever it is that you do, remember you have to continue to cultivate your talent. (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

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Be Black and Proud!     - Ali wasn’t one to pander for white folks’ approval, especially when he converted to the Nation of Islam at 22 years old. He spoke up about racial pride and what it meant to be a Black man in America. And in our #BlackLivesMatter times, loving ourselves and our community is a message that still resonates today. (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

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Don’t Count the Days; Make the Days Count - Ali was about living your life to the fullest and not letting a day go past without making it worth it. Are you doing the same thing? (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)

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Be Open to Change as You Age - Ali once said, "A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” As we get older it’s really important to have self-awareness and to try to work on being better people and learning lessons from life. Yes, this is what it means to be an adult — to the 10th degree. (Photo: Photoshot, PacificCoastNews)