Creed

I have a conspiracy theory. In the UK we went into lockdown on Monday 23 March 2020. The new Disney+ channel was released on Tuesday 24 March 2020. Unlimited Disney movies and Disney series at £5.99 a month. I have 3 young boys, so we were going to get Disney+. Now tell me that is not a strange coincidence. Maybe Disney released the COVID19 virus.  

I sort of Jest, it was brilliant to be able to watch the new Star Wars movie ‘The rise of Skywalker’ when it was released. I was then taken back into the Star Wars world I know and love. My parents tell me I used to watch the VHS tapes of the original trilogy on repeat as a kid. Especially ‘The Empire strikes back’. The idea of finding a teacher and starting training. Setting on a path to fulfilling potential. Carrying a little green mentor on your back. Doing summersaults and lifting rocks with your mind.  

Once I had watched ‘The rise of Skywalker’ movie, I was curious. Curious about the new Star Wars series the ‘Mandalorian’. A baby Yoda ‘look-a-like’ to pique my interest. I pretty much watch all the episodes back-to-back. 

There was a line in one episode that got me thinking. 

Cara Dune says it isn’t surprising that Dyn Jarren isn’t from Mandalore: after all, “Mandalorian isn’t a race. It’s a creed.” 

It was the word ‘creed’ that got me thinking. 

Apart from the Rocky film ‘Creed’, I had come across the term before but I struggled to remember where. I also couldn’t articulate what it meant.  

Definition 

Creed:  

‘a set of beliefs or aims which guide someone’s actions.’ 

Or 

‘a set of beliefs that influences the way you live’ 

A lot of definitions refer to religious beliefs but your beliefs do not need to be religious. 

And the definition of a belief: 

‘an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.’ 

So a creed is a set of rules (or truths) that guide someone’s actions (or the way they live). 

Examples 

There are some fantastic speeches out on the internet. Some of them list life lessons. Life lessons are truths in life. Rules to live your life by. Is that not a creed? A set of rules (lessons or truths) that guide the way we live? 

Some of my favourite examples are: 

• Admiral William H McRaven – University of Texas, Austin commencement speech 2014. He shares 10 life lessons learned from the Navy seals 

• Steve Jobs – Stanford commencement speech 2005. He shares 5 life lessons. 

• Rick Rigsby – Cal Martine Academy commencement speech 2017. He shares 5 life lessons he learnt from his father   

All these speeches. All the life lessons. They all based on personal experiences. Personal stories. 

Why do we share them? 

In the hope that those around us and the next generation won’t make the same mistakes as ourselves. To help others live better lives. 

If you had to write your own creed. Your own lessons, truths, set of rules. What would they be? 

My Creed 

I reflect on my own life. My own stories. My own lessons. What have I learnt so far? If I write these truths out, what might they look like? 

Turn up 

Some of my biggest achievements have happened when I haven’t given up. Or, as I prefer to reframe it: still turning up when most people have given up. Especially in group sessions like public speaking meetings or martial arts classes. The same happens when working out. If you don’t feel like working out, just start by putting on your gym clothes and turn up. The rest will take care of itself. 

It takes time 

Whatever you want to achieve, will never happen overnight. It requires time. It requires planning. It requires regular small amounts of effort. If you want to get fit, you can’t just go to the gym once for eight hours and expect to be fit. You need to work out regularly over a long period of time. 

Be in the arena 

If you turn up, then you need to have a go. There is no point sitting watching everyone else from the stands. You need to be in the arena. You need to make an effort to get in the ring. Find the courage to stand up and the person you want to be. Be in the arena. 

Solve your own problems 

When you come across a problem, the default response is to ask a friend or colleague how to solve it. If they don’t know, you normally give up. You resign to the fact, that there is no solution. Find the strength to figure it out for yourself. At least google it. Read about it. Figure it out. We, humans, are built to solve problems. There is something very empowering about solving your own problems. 

Make up your own mind 

Especially in a class, when you are told something as fact, do not take it as the truth. Think about it for yourself. Make up your own mind. Will it work or not work? Can you make it work? Use logic and reasoning. Someone else may tell you a person is good or bad. Make up your own mind based on your own experiences. 

Listen to your inner voice 

Your inner voice will whisper to you. It will give you little ideas and suggestions. Ideas and suggestions that you need to act on to become your best self. If you don’t, they will keep repeating themselves. They will haunt you. They will drive you nuts. Listen to your inner voice. 

Freedom to choose 

We can go through periods of feeling stuck. Feeling we have no choice. We always have a choice. When all choices are removed, there is still one final choice. We can choose our own attitude in any given situation. 

If you do nothing differently, nothing changes 

We can feel stuck. We can yearn for change. For something different. If you do the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results, that is the first sign of madness. You must do something differently, for things to change. 

Some things are outside your control 

Things in life can be split into two categories. Things we can change and things we can’t change. Things within our control and things outside our control. Don’t moan about the things outside your control, that you can’t change. Work on the things within your control, that you can change. 

Better questions, not better answers 

In becoming our best selves and figuring who we are to become, we go in search of answers. We read books.  Listen to podcasts. Attend courses. Full out tests and questionnaires. Some do spark new ideas and new ways of thinking. However, none give us the answers we seek. The answers are within ourselves. What we need to uncover then, is better questions. Looking for better questions to ask yourself. 

Self-doubt is not a stop sign 

I suffer from self-doubt. But I need to remind myself that self-doubt is not a stop sign, it is a hurdle to overcome. I have to find the courage to move forward. To do what needs to be done. 

 

Takeaways 

A creed is a set of rules (or truths) that guide someone’s actions (or the way they live). 

If we had a set of rules to live by, it would help to keep us along a certain path. It would guide us. 

If we choose the right set of rules, then we can guide ourselves to become the best version of ourselves. 

In life, we win or we learn. What life lessons have you learnt so far? 

Which lessons do you remind yourself of, to keep yourself in the right path? 

If you had to write out your own creed, your own truths to guide you. To guide you in becoming your best self, what would those truths be? 

Footnotes 

• Admiral William H McRaven. 

Speech: University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven 

Speech summary article: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-navy-seal-life-lessons-you-can-use-every-day.html 

 

• Steve Jobs. 

Speech: Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005 

Speech summary article: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/5-profound-life-lessons-from-steve-jobs-iconic-stanford-commencement-speech.html 

 

• Rick Rigsby 

Speech: The Most Inspiring Speech: The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout Will Change Your Life | Rick Rigsby 

Speech background and lessons: http://collegianweb.com/2019/02/22/10598/