In a World of Eight Billion People, Do You Matter?

It’s likely you’ve heard the name Thomas Aquinas. Few probably know exactly what he did, but it’s quite remarkable that he is even remembered 800 years later. Do you think anyone will know who you were 800 years from now? I think most of us will be lucky to be remembered by a handful of people even 50 years after our death (apart from being listed in someone’s family tree). In fact, it is unlikely that we will be remembered at work for too long after retirement. Whether it’s a few months or a few years, ultimately we become a name of someone who used to work here or a great grandparent that someone never knew. If this is the case, how do you make a difference and become an influence for good? How do you live a life that matters?

In his book, From Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks examines how to move from worldly success early in life to accepting “the gifts of the second half of life with grace, joy, and ever deepening purpose.” In doing so he recounts the story of Thomas Aquinas and why his influence has lasted for centuries (though Aquinas did advocate for the burning of heretics, and pondered for long periods of time the fate of cannibals in the resurrection, I think his example is still worth visiting).

Aquinas achieved lasting greatness by NOT choosing the offered path that would have led him to power and influence amongst his contemporaries. In 1225, Thomas was born into a wealthy family and was in line to inherit a church post of significant social prestige. But Thomas was drawn to the Dominican order, a group of monks dedicated to poverty and teaching. Despite attempts by his family to persuade him otherwise, Thomas was committed to his greater purpose. He shunned the easy path to wealth and worldly power and pursued the life he believed would offer the most meaning.

By choosing a life of introspection and meditation, Thomas Aquinas had the time and opportunity to think deeply and thus become the greatest philosopher of his age. He taught about “four substitutes for God” that never truly satisfy the human craving for happiness – money, power, pleasure, and honor. In the book, Brooks quotes one of Aquinas’ teachings.

In the desire for wealth and whatsoever temporal goods… when we already possess them, we despise them and seek others…. The reason of this is that we realize more their insufficiency when we possess them: and this very fact shows that they are imperfect, and the sovereign good does not consist therein.

While Aquinas speaks specifically of wealth, this teaching applies to the other three substitutes as well. No matter how much money, power, pleasure, and honor we attain it will always be insufficient. If these pursuits are our focus, they will always leave us wanting more. And they will never bring deep meaningful satisfaction and happiness.

Which of these four vices keeps you from the most worthwhile goals in life?

Many people have sacrificed too much on the pursuit of these four distinctions. How many of what should be our closest and most important relationships have suffered because of a need to fill those worldly desires? Brooks argues that no matter how good you are, or successful you have been, your abilities will naturally decline and the successes of today will pale in comparison to the glory of yesterday. If that is all you know how to strive for, it is likely life will become a disappointment.

One exercise Arthur Brooks discusses is his yearly Reverse Bucket List. He looks at what he wants his life to look like in five years – his most important relationships, the things that will make him genuinely happy and fulfilled. With that future vision in mind he chooses the things he can eliminate from his life that distract him from his goals.

What would you eliminate from your life that keeps you from obtaining the meaning you seek? What would you give up to truly matter? When it comes down to it, you will have a significant impact on very few people in the world. The honors of the world are fleeting. Money comes and goes. No matter how important you are today, that will fade and you will be remembered by a chosen few. How will they remember you? If you have invested in your most important relationships and committed to something greater, you will matter. And the impact you leave will inspire them to do something great for someone else. Though future generations may not remember your name, your legacy of kindness and influence can live for hundreds of years in the future.

Arthur Brooks made the following summary about Thomas Aquinas:

“He attained true greatness only by forgoing the world’s definition of greatness, by chipping away the world’s rewards to find his essential self. If Thomas had become a fancy Benedictine abbot, the only record of his life would be on a list of abbots from the Middle Ages, and the only person who knew of him would be approximately one PhD student working on an obscure doctoral dissertation. Instead, he is known as the greatest philosopher of his age, who still casts a long shadow over Western thought and the Catholic Church.”

What decision could you make today that would put you on the path of pursuing your most important goals and dreams?

I’d love to hear your thoughts below….

  • Lins
    2 years ago
    Four vices I was not consciously aware were running my life. Some great eye openers in here! I truly think I’m going to see a difference in my life considering the reverse bucket list more often.
    • Nate
      2 years ago
      Thanks Lins 😊. You're the best! I loved the idea of the reverse bucket list as well
  • Nic
    2 years ago
    Another great post, Nate! One of the difficult realities we all eventually face is the anonymity of our lives long after we are gone. In our own heads we are the most important person so it is difficult to imagine at some point in the future we will be nearly completely forgotten. That’s why I love the movie Coco. We may not matter much to most people, but we can matter a great deal to a few, and that can be enough.
    • Nate
      2 years ago
      Thanks Nic. I think one of the things he tries to get at is that many realize too late that their legacy is meaningless because they have focused on the wrong things and that leads to the mid-life crisis. If we can figure it out early enough we can avoid that crisis and hopefully have a mid-life transition. I loved the movie Coco, too!! 😊
  • Adam
    2 years ago
    I love this. I’m making this my next book. Thanks Nate!
    • Nate
      2 years ago
      Adam, I thought there were some great thoughts in the book for sure - right up you alley!
  • McKay
    2 years ago
    Great thoughts and a much needed reminder! Thanks for the recommendation(s) and inspiring
    • Nate
      2 years ago
      McKay! Thanks for reaching out! I appreciate you taking the time to read and to comment. And I'm happy you have found some value as well 😊
    • McKay
      2 years ago
      …inspiring expression of ideas.
  • Hill
    2 years ago
    Such a great review babe! I’ve never heard you mention this one. I don’t know if I can clearly identify with any of the 4 vices, although I’m sure I lean towards at least one of them. Maybe honor?? I think somewhere within honor lies something to do with cowardice & courage, or not wanting to lose any honor we think we might have by failing at our real goals and dreams so we don’t have the courage to try them in the first place. Anyway, great thoughts!
    • Nate
      2 years ago
      Thanks sweetheart! I appreciate your support 😘