The tale of David and Goliath traces its roots to the 4th century. Familiar with the narrative of David facing Goliath, aren’t you? Perhaps you recall how David managed to defeat Goliath despite the giant’s imposing stature and the widespread fear that deterred others from challenging him.
Embedded within the David and Goliath story are five potent life lessons that extend their relevance to nearly any situation, offering valuable insights and wisdom.
1. Be bigger than your fears
For 40 days, twice daily, Goliath issued a challenge to the Israelites, calling for a one-on-one battle. The entire Israelite camp quivered in fear, akin to prey facing an impending threat from a lion. None dared to confront Goliath, reluctant to face the giant’s daunting challenge. However, when David learned about the reward for defeating Goliath, he approached the challenge with a nonchalant attitude, as if it were merely a child’s game.
Facing Goliath, who was clad in armor and armed with a javelin, David possessed nothing more than a staff, a sling, and five stones. Furthermore, he was significantly smaller in stature compared to Goliath, resembling a child in size. Did this deter him? Not at all. In the heat of battle, David, with a stone attached to his sling, let it fly directly into Goliath’s forehead, resulting in Goliath’s demise.
Had any other person been in David’s position, the likely response would have been to flee in the opposite direction, succumbing to their fears. The Israelites, overwhelmed by their fears, appeared smaller than the challenges they faced, while David, undeterred, loomed larger than his fears, ultimately emerging victorious.
But are you?
If you’re not, you’ll end up settling for the things that are LESS than your fears….And you’ll be enslaved by your fears no matter what situation you’re in or what decision you need to make. Look at things logically, look at the facts, get out of your head and take action already!
2. Size doesn’t matter
In the journey of life, you encounter challenges of varying magnitudes – from the substantial to the minute. Yet, the size of these challenges, problems, or obstacles holds no relevance. Why? Because it does not dictate what is possible for you.
The pivotal determinants of your possibilities are you, your mindset, and your beliefs. If David had let the size of the challenge weigh on him, akin to the Israelites, he wouldn’t have found the courage to face Goliath, armed only with a staff, five stones, and a sling.
David’s understanding was clear – size doesn’t dictate outcomes; it’s the heart, courage, and commitment that matter. This principle, this level of thinking, can be applied to your own life and the challenges you confront. Think beyond the dimensions of the challenge, rise above the obstacle, and act with the conviction that failure is not an option. Cultivate self-confidence, hold unwavering conviction, and believe in yourself more than you believe the challenge is too formidable to overcome.
3. Make use of what you already have
Many individuals tend to focus on:
What they lack
Why the absence of certain things poses a problem
Why they believe they need a specific item or condition before starting
How the absence of that item is a hindrance
However, the truth lies in making the most of what you already possess to achieve your goals. In comparison to Goliath’s formidable armor and weapons, David seemed inconspicuous, armed only with a sling, five stones, and a staff (he even turned down offered armor).
Yet, he maximized what he had, and it proved more than sufficient for the task at hand. Despite the disparities in weight, strength, armory, and weaponry, David didn’t lament the differences, unlike the Israelites might have. Instead, he adopted a “so what?” attitude and left everyone astounded by effortlessly defeating Goliath with nothing but a sling and a stone.
Stop making excuses!
You want to start a business? Improvise and use what you already have. Want to start singing? Record through your phone If you’re not ready for the studio. Want to make YouTube videos? Record videos through your phone instead of complaining about needing expensive equipment. Want to be a graphic designer? Watch tutorials on YouTube instead of moaning about not having “Photoshop” yet.
4. Believe it’s possible
The Israelite’s didn’t believe it was possible to defeat Goliath which is why they feared him. If you were to rate their self belief on a scale of 1 – 10, their self belief would have to be less than 5.
But on the other hand, David’s belief would have been at least an 8 or more. That’s why it wasn’t an issue for him to challenge Goliath head on and even take him down. And don’t forget David turned down the offer for armory, which proves he strongly believed it was possible.
Do you believe it’s possible?
Without a strong belief that what you’re pursuing is possible, you’ll fail. You’ll quit on yourself before you even get half way. Think of it like the guy who’s too afraid to approach the girl he likes. How come he won’t approach her? His self belief isn’t strong enough, so he quits on himself without making a move.
If your fears are stronger than your self belief and faith, you’ve shot yourself in the foot without knowing it. Until you believe in yourself more than the fear or the obstacle, you’ll continue to quit on yourself.
“In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.” – Nikos Kazantzakis
5. Don’t underestimate your capabilities
It’s always dangerous to underestimate yourself. When you underestimate yourself and your own capabilities, you end up achieving less. Judging how Goliath looks and appears compared to David, you’d think Goliath was the superior one.
But the outcome of the battle turned out to be a lot different than the Israelite’s expected. David didn’t underestimate his abilities or himself. He had self confidence and lots of it. He was smart enough to know that he was more than capable of succeeding.
Stop underestimating yourself!
It doesn’t matter If: You’re a writer, a pianist, plumber, real estate broker, personal trainer, musician, parent or college student; You’re capable of much more than you believe. You’ve just yet to see it because you haven’t given yourself the chance to.
If anything you should be overestimating, because then you’ll end up giving and doing more than is expected and you’ll end up achieving more and reaching your potential in the process.
“It is always dangerous to underestimate anybody.” – Abdallah II of Jordan
