It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life

by Tom Rath

Life is not about you. It’s about what you do for others.

The faster you are able to get over yourself, the more you can do for the people who matter most.

The key to creating collective well-being is to start by improving the life of another person, not your own.

He also taught me the best way to fill my own bucket was to spend time filling other people’s.

Your life has an unknown expiration date. Your efforts and contributions to others do not. The time, energy, and resources you invest in people you care for and your community keep growing forever.

When you move past self, life is simpler and less stressful.

We are, to a large degree, the product of what others have contributed to our lives.

Acknowledging that all our stories have an end can be deeply beneficial.

Life is about what you put back into the world, not what you take out of it.

Let go of what’s beyond your control.

When you view your time as finite, you build more life into each day.

Look through the lens of what will outlive you, and you’ll quickly see past self.

You may not get to control how another person initiates your next interaction, but you always get to choose your response.

Even when you’re having a horrible day and someone says something rude to you without reason, you get to decide if you will dig in on the negative tone or try to turn things around.

You always have a choice of how to respond. Start by assuming the other person has positive intent.

The worst thing you can do during a challenging time is to withdraw from relationships and social circles.

Your greatest contributions are what you put into your closest relationships.

hyperdistraction,

Essentially, giving another person your undivided attention is a measure of how much you care.

Invest your time and attention wisely. They are your most precious resources.

The greatest strength is helping another person to uncover a hidden talent.

You do not need to be defined by a family background or chronic condition.

When you see a rare opportunity, take it. Life is too brief for living with regrets.

Tell someone how they have contributed to your life . . . while they are still around to hear it.

Plant a few seeds today that could grow for years to come.

the most meaningful contributions in life start at home.

You have to find work that you know in your heart is making a positive contribution.

You can’t be anything you want to be, but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.

Knowing who you are—and who you are not—is essential.

orienting your efforts outward creates perpetual growth for generations to come.

Contribution starts when you see beyond self.

Real growth is the product of following your contributions more than your passions.

Even small acts of generosity trigger changes in our brains that make us happier.

The work you do should improve your well-being so you can do more for others.

we must find ways to celebrate people’s lives and contributions while they are still alive.

In the end, you are what you contributed to the world.

Tomorrow turns into the next day, but you always have today.

Every morning, wake up and remind yourself: it’s not about me. Then ask yourself: How can I contribute to another person’s life today?