What you did contribute

When you don't contribute in the way you wanted, you stop seeing all the ways you did contribute. You measure what happened against what you imagined would happen. The letdown isn't really about how much you contributed. It's about how far reality differed from the version you'd imagined. The lesson here isn't to stop wanting to make a bigger contribution, but rather to make an honest account of what you did contribute. When you feel like your contribution didn't matter, ask yourself what you're really measuring against.

Where is your energy better spent right now?

If you want a plant to grow, you can fuss over it every day, watering, weeding, and moving it toward the sun. Or you can place it in the right soil and let nature do most of the work. A seed planted in the right spot often thrives on its own. Life is much the same. Progress is not only about how hard you work, but also about where you decide to work. Where is your energy better spent right now: pushing harder or planting yourself in better ground?

A master in the art of living

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between work and play; labor and leisure; mind and body; education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.

Rooting for the people you know

You should always be rooting for the people you know. Not only because you may need their support tomorrow, but also because it feels good to celebrate something. Celebration can rescue your day, even if it is someone else's victory. Envy will ruin your day, even if you're actually winning.

Left unsaid

It’s difficult to ride a bicycle in the pitch darkness. We need to see where we’re going to avoid obstacles. And it’s hard to maintain our balance. When we choose to avoid the conversations that make us uncomfortable, we’re pedaling in the dark. Talk about it. Turn on the lights.

The urgency paradox

The more often we succumb to the urgency of the moment, the more urgency we create. The next minute is probably not the last, but when we treat it this way, it will be soon followed by another last minute.

Everyone has their own feelings,

When in doubt, don’t argue about the facts. Look for the feelings. Everyone has their own feelings, whether you agree with them or not. When we validate feelings, we create a connection that gives us a chance to examine the facts together.