In 2005, Steve Jobs gave one of the most famous speeches in history. He spoke in front of recently graduated students from Stanford University. Having gone through near-death experiences and all kinds of adversity in his life, he wanted to pass on the valuable lessons he’d learned.

The founder of Apple Inc, Steve Jobs, was known for being a genius in the world of technology. He was also renowned for his lucidity. In fact, before he died, he shared his experiences of life. They proved to be a legacy and will undoubtedly remain engraved in the memory of all those who listened to him.

In his speech, Steve Jobs said that he wanted to talk about three particular episodes in his life. The ones that made him who he was. In these stories, he told of his experiences and the learning that had made him value everything about life that was worth living before he died.

Steve Jobs’ life lessons tell about the meaning of adversity. How each experience you go through is necessary to find yourself.

First story: “Connect the dots”

This story concerns the decisions you make. When you decide to take a step further and be guided by your curiosity and intuition in order to get to do what you really love. However, it takes courage to leave your comfort zone and explore the unknown.

Steve Jobs spoke about breaking with the expectations of your loved ones and finding your own way. If you do this, you’ll be guided by your heart and you’ll try everything that you’re passionate about. Even if, at first you can’t really find a practical reason for doing so.

Everything you do in your life is connected. However, it’s only in the future that you’ll realize how important those things you did simply out of curiosity and what you felt drawn to really were. With this message, Steve Jobs demonstrated the importance of trusting your intuition and your sensations, to do what you want to do.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

-Steve Jobs-

Second story: “Love and loss”

You experience many significant losses in life. They’re extremely painful and you tend to cling to them, refusing to accept them. However, this is how you create suffering for yourself. As a matter of fact, losses aren’t only necessary and unavoidable, but they also help you in your pursuit of what you love.

Loss and failure turn into opportunities. In fact, they give you the chance to do things differently and explore other paths. Furthermore, they spark your creativity. The important thing to do in the face of loss is to continue trusting to do what you love, and not simply settle for what offers you apparent stability and security.

It’s your obligation to rise again and again after what might seem to you like defeat or failure. Only in this way will you be able to give meaning to your life, feeling the passion for what you do and discovering and experiencing love.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

-Steve Jobs-

Third story: “Death”

Steve Jobs considered that you must keep death in mind at all times throughout your life. Because remembering that you’re going to die helps you to live without fear. To not settle into the known and to not be content with thinking that you won’t be able to get where you want to be.

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

-Steve Jobs-

Steve Jobs treated death naturally as an inevitable force that should force you to pay attention to your life. You should become aware, at all times, of what you want and question the way you’re living now. In fact, dare to make those decisions that’ll guide you towards doing what you love.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I ‘ve ever encountered  to help me make the big choices in  life.”

-Steve Jobs-

Steve Jobs explained that time is limited and there’s no point in living someone else’s life. He suggested you ask yourself again and again if you’re doing what you’re truly passionate about. If you’re not, then it means you’re not really living your life and you’re not following your heart.

Do you want to test yourself? Then, ask yourself the following question:

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”

-Steve Jobs-

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