There was a time at my first software job when most of my teammates were working late for their pieces of the project, while I didn't have anything to work late for. This made me pretty insecure. I almost wanted to NEED to work late. How much you are needed often does play a role in how secure your job is. However...
I realized that actually wanting to work extra is BS. My skills are much more established these days, so I don't fear "not being needed". I'd so much rather be lower on the totem pole and have more free time than chasing the ridiculous desire to feel important. It's not that I'm unwilling to work extra when those rare occasions pop up, but I think it's insane there was a time I actually wanted to work more. Society does a good job brainwashing us to seek this; you really have to educate yourself to escape it.
(I don't know if this qualifies as a pearl of wisdom, but it's something I've learned about myself that I suspect will mean something to others, too)