Critical appreciation of the poem "If."

To me, "If" by Rudyard Kipling is giving advice about how
to get the most out of life.

Each stanza is filled with
paradoxes beginning with the word "if".  Each if statement appears to be a contradiction
at first glance, but take each one apart and you will find a proverb or wise saying: 
If you keep your head about you, when all about you are losing theirs and
blaming it on you.  This is not a difficult thing relate to.  Most who have
lived through middle school have experiences that can speak to this.  Each "if"
statement clearly presents a challenging balancing act.  The first stanza really deals
with social challenges, Being nice to others when they aren't being nice
back.

The second stanza really focuses on setting goals and
having plans but not becoming a slave to them.  In this way, if things don't work out as
you hope or dream, you can enjoy the journey.  If you have ever had a dream and been
consumed by it only to have it crash and burn, it is easy to see how that could ruin
your outlook on life. 

The third stanza focuses on taking
risks but not whining about life if it doesn't turn out the way you had hope.  The word
"perseverance" really resonates to me in this stanza.  Sometimes, the only thing one can
do is stay positive and "keep on keepin' on".  If you do this...well he tells you what
happens if you do this in the final two lines.

The last
stanza poses one final set of "if's" that focus on staying true to who you are and not
letting others influence your character.  I especially appreciate the
lines

If you can talk with crowds and keep your
virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common
touch;

They clearly emphasize the importance of
being who you are but appreciating everyone.

Finally,
Kipling provides the result of doing all these things in the final two lines: 
If you do all these things and stay grounded, the world
will be yours as well as everything in it and you will be a mature
person.