Who Will Cry When You Die? summary

There are few things in life more joyous than birth. When you were born, your first wail probably elicited whoops and rejoicing.

As far as the author is concerned, those emotions are what should guide us as we live our lives as adults too. We should aim to leave this world feeling happy and fulfilled. That way, when others learn that we have died, their tears will be of joy rather than of sadness.

Thankfully, there are some simple life rules you can follow to ensure that you too will lead a life that benefits both you and those around you.

The first principle is maintaining perspective.

The famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking liked to tell people a simple story. We humans live on a small planet, which circles a very ordinary star, somewhere on the edge of a galaxy that is just one galaxy among hundreds of billions.

He’s basically saying that we need to get some perspective: don’t take things so seriously.

Now, don’t go thinking that you need to delve into the depths of your psyche to achieve that. You can begin your new direction in life quite practically.

For instance, say that someone doesn’t hold the doors for you as you approach an elevator. Sometimes, even a minor offense like this is enough to make you fly into a rage about how nobody respects you.

But you needn’t. The best answer is to shift perspective and realize that none of this has anything to do with you. Most likely the elevator user was just absentminded or in a bad mood.

Don’t pay it any mind. Just go about your day with all the optimism you can muster. Instead of stewing in your own fury, let your goodwill toward others shine out.

The next rule to follow is that of self-discipline. If you practice it, that too will help you in achieving a happy and successful life.

You’ll find that if you’re disciplined, your life becomes easier. There’s a good reason for this. Life often means fighting your way through difficulties no matter how tricky they seem.

Imagine what would happen if you gave up on your friends as soon as you had a fight with them. Before long, you’d have no friends, which would make your life even more difficult.

On the other hand, if you’re self-disciplined enough to stick with your friends and talk through difficulties with them, not only will you learn much along the way, but you’ll get to keep the friends, too.