--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You just have to forget whatever you were…" description: "\"“You just have to forget whatever you were taught about “meaningful work” and start noticing whatever has meaning to you.”\" — Barbara Sher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png" --- # You just have to forget whatever you were taught about… ![“You just have to forget whatever you were taught about “meaningful work” and start noticing whatever has meaning to you.” quote by Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png) > ““You just have to forget whatever you were taught about “meaningful work” and start noticing whatever has meaning to you.”” [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The advice urges abandoning preconceived notions of “meaningful work” and instead following personal meaning. **In simple terms:** Find work that feels meaningful to you personally. Key Takeaway Seek personal fulfillment over external definitions. Themes career purpose self-discovery Mood inspirational thoughtful Type self-help motivational When to use this quote - career change - creative projects - life planning Key Concepts meaningful work personal values Questions to Reflect On - What defines meaningful work for you? - How can you align daily tasks with personal values? A Different Perspective Societal expectations may conflict with personal meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-work/) ## Related quotes > [We had pathetically simple dreams: to do meaningful work that we could be proud of, to be together, and to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/we-had-pathetically-simple-dreams-to-do-meaningful-work-that-we-could/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [Find a happy person, and you will find a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/find-a-happy-person-and-you-will-find-a-project/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [“meaningful work and meaningful relationships were and still are my primary goals and everything I did was for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/meaningful-work-and-meaningful-relationships-were-and-still-are-my/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i-see-that-automation/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The folks who go after grand challenges are impatient. They're pissed off. They're sick and tired, but in a passionate way. They're driven by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/the-folks-who-go-after-grand-challenges-are-impatient-they-re-pissed/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [The meaningful work and the meaningful relationships are, to me, comparable rewards. I think being on a mission to do something great is great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/the-meaningful-work-and-the-meaningful-relationships-are-to-me/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [We are the only species on this planet without full employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-are-the-only-species-on-this-planet-without-full-employment/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [As a young boy growing up in Rohtak, India, I had no idea what my life's work would be. But my parents instilled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/as-a-young-boy-growing-up-in-rohtak-india-i-had-no-idea-what-my-life/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) > [In the end, what matters most is that the people you work with share your values, so I've wanted people who value the meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/in-the-end-what-matters-most-is-that-the-people-you-work-with-share/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [To work effectively you need uninterrupted blocks of time in which you can complete meaningful work... I've found that a minimum of 90 minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/to-work-effectively-you-need-uninterrupted-blocks-of-time-in-which/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakuin-ekaku/not-knowing-how-near-the-truth-is-we-seek-it-far-away/) [Hakuin Ekaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakuin-ekaku/) > [Forget what hurt you but never forget what taught you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinijal-perry/forget-what-hurt-you-but-never-forget-what-taught-you/) Tinijal Perry > [Forget what hurt you but not forget what it taught you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imani-david/forget-what-hurt-you-but-not-forget-what-it-taught-you/) Imani David > [Forget what hurt you but nevet forget what it taught you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/forget-what-hurt-you-but-nevet-forget-what-it-taught-you/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Forget what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forget-what-hurt-you-but-never-forget-what-it-taught-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Barbara Sher > [Imaginary obstacles are insurmountable. Real ones aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/imaginary-obstacles-are-insurmountable-real-ones-aren-t/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [A direct statement about yourself is considered objective only if it is negative. If it's positive, it is considered subjective. And 'objective' means it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/a-direct-statement-about-yourself-is-considered-objective-only-if-it/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [We are like violins. We can be used as doorstops, or we can make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/we-are-like-violins-we-can-be-used-as-doorstops-or-we-can-make-music/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [What you love is as unique to you as your fingerprints. You need to know that because nothing will make you really happy but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/what-you-love-is-as-unique-to-you-as-your-fingerprints-you-need-to/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Human beings are not comparable. You can't compare us any more than you can compare roses and oranges, or mountains and the sea. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/human-beings-are-not-comparable-you-can-t-compare-us-any-more-than/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Sometimes life isn't about who you were or are, but it's about who you are becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/sometimes-life-isn-t-about-who-you-were-or-are-but-it-s-about-who-you/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [“Let’s end the notion that ideas have no value unless they turn into a business or have some other practical use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/let-s-end-the-notion-that-ideas-have-no-value-unless-they-turn-into-a/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Find out what you love. Do it because you love it. Stick with it. Start now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/find-out-what-you-love-do-it-because-you-love-it-stick-with-it-start/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [“Scanners can’t choose one direction. It’s like telling a parent to choose one child to feed. It’s just not possible. A parent knows she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/scanners-can-t-choose-one-direction-it-s-like-telling-a-parent-to/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [You must go after your wish. As soon as you start to pursue a dream, your life wakes up and everything has meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-must-go-after-your-wish-as-soon-as-you-start-to-pursue-a-dream/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Change is not only likely, it's inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/change-is-not-only-likely-it-s-inevitable/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Not fulfilling your dreams will be a loss to the world, because the world needs everyone's gift - yours and mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/not-fulfilling-your-dreams-will-be-a-loss-to-the-world-because-the/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [What you want is what you need. Your dearest wish comes straight from your core, loaded with vital information about who you are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/what-you-want-is-what-you-need-your-dearest-wish-comes-straight-from/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [“I imagine there are orderly, well-organized Scanners in the world, but there can't be very many of them. It's far more common to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/i-imagine-there-are-orderly-well-organized-scanners-in-the-world-but/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [Real obstacles don't take you in circles. They can be overcome. Invented ones are like a maze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/real-obstacles-don-t-take-you-in-circles-they-can-be-overcome/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) [Explore all 92 Barbara Sher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) ## More Meaningful quotes > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [It's great when you can write a meaningful song that touches people, but sometimes you just wanna have fun and sing a silly song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/it-s-great-when-you-can-write-a-meaningful-song-that-touches-people/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I don't feel I have to write deep and meaningful songs; they can be light and meaningless. It has to do with the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-write-deep-and-meaningful-songs-they-can-be/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The only thing that I am trying to do is to find stories that I like, stories that are meaningful and that can connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-herrera/the-only-thing-that-i-am-trying-to-do-is-to-find-stories-that-i-like/) [Alfonso Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-herrera/) > [Synchronicity reveals the meaningful connections between the subjective and objective world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/synchronicity-reveals-the-meaningful-connections-between-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The thing about writing or making art is that I'm not thinking about that stuff while I'm doing it. Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/) [Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/) > [Does life have any meaningful purpose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/does-life-have-any-meaningful-purpose/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) [Browse all 1,959 Meaningful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You just have to forget whatever you were taught about “meaningful work” and start noticing whatever has meaning to you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Sher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-were-taught-about-meaningful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Meaningful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-were-taught-about-meaningful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/barbara-sher-7313_meaningful_you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-wer_306586.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You just have to forget whatever you were taught about “meaningful work” and start noticing whatever has…” — Barbara Sher", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Sher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You just have to forget whatever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-were-taught-about-meaningful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-just-have-to-forget-whatever-you-were-taught-about-meaningful/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```