Hey there —

We’ve all said it at least once in our lives.

“I wish I could…” 

Maybe you’d complete that sentence with “go full-time as a freelancer,” “travel across Europe,” or “read 100 books a year.” (We see you, bookworms.📚)

Whatever it is, you feel a longing for an accomplishment, experience, or stage of life that your current limitations of time, finances, or responsibilities don’t allow.

You might think this persistent desire for something more is a flaw you need to overcome. After all, we're supposed to practice contentment, right?

But discontent (along with being yet another normal human emotion) can be a powerful force for positive change.

💡 Being discontent with the quality of your work can push you to hone your skills and experiment with new ideas.

💵 Being discontent with your lack of financial freedom can prompt you to make wiser choices with your money.

🏃 Being discontent with where you are in life can lead you to reevaluate your priorities and make pivotal changes to everything from the relationships you’re in to how you spend your time.

But even when you fill in the blank of “I wish I could ___” and use it as a tool for growth, no goal is accomplished overnight.

And as you clock into your 9-5, day in and day out, or watch your savings increase only a few dollars at a time, discouragement can start to set in.

You begin to think, “I’ll never be able to…”

Not to mention, in this day and age of social media, how easy it is for desire to morph into jealousy as you scroll past images of friends and family — even complete strangers — enjoying and accomplishing the things you want.

So how do you find balance and ensure that your healthy feelings of desire and discontent don't wind up dragging you over to the dark side of envy and despair?

Instead of saying “I wish I could…” flip the script to “I’m excited for when I can…”

“...earn enough income from YouTube to quit my day job.”“...book a flight to London for a week.”“...trade my nightly study sessions for nightly novel reading.”

This small mindset shift helps you envision the future you want, reminds you that you have the power to take action toward your goals, and helps you be more content where you are.

Rather than pitting your current circumstances against a wished-for alternative, your present becomes part of the journey. A place you can fully embrace and enjoy as you move toward an even more fulfilling future.

And focusing on your excitement for this future helps you avoid the toxicity of envy and comparison and instead provides motivation and hopeful optimism for the road ahead.

Because yes, it’s important to be grateful for what you have. But it’s also possible (and good!) to simultaneously want — and work toward — something more. ☺️

Take action toward your goals with Simple Habits 

by Slow Growth

When discontent tells you something’s gotta change, healthy habits are the 🔑 to making it happen. Whether you want to…

😀 Wake up every morning feeling energized instead of depleted
💵 Be financially stable instead of burdened by debt
🧘 Find a greater sense of stillness in the midst of a chaotic world

…or any other goal that leads to a more fulfilling future, Simple Habits is here to help! 🗓️Inside the Simple Habits course, you’ll find the science-backed, step-by-step plan, tools, and accountability to build & stick to your habits for 30 days and beyond. Including… 

• The mindsets you need to succeed (so you can stop being your own worst enemy)

• A personalized habit plan (that aligns with your lifestyle and schedule)

• Actionable strategies to solidify your new routine (and recover quickly from setbacks)

If you want to move closer to the life you want and the ideal person you want to become, Simple Habits can provide the resources and support you need to take action.

And you can start today!

Follow the link to learn more or sign up — enrollment closes March 10th.

Learn more and sign up →

The world’s most hated art style

by Struthless

Chances are you’ve seen it, but didn’t even know it had a name. Corporate Memphis, aka “Alegria,” aka the big tech art style that’s been EVERYWHERE for the past few years. 🎨

But as Cam Walker’s takedown of this popular graphic design style reveals, its complicated origins are much older (despite what some people want you to think).

This fascinating and engaging art history lesson offers a thoughtful discussion on originality, the importance of crediting artists, and the emotions that make art so powerful.

Watch the video →

SuperCook

by AMR Systems

Trying to figure out what’s for dinner tonight? 🧑‍🍳

SuperCook is here to help you whip up your next meal while also cutting down on food waste (and saving you money!).

Just input whatever ingredients you’ve got in your pantry and fridge and SuperCook will serve up an array of recipes from around the internet that use what you’ve got on hand.

Bon appétit!

Try it out →

I've been loving Scamfluencers, a podcast on stories of deception from the online world. From intercontinental con-men to Hollywood ponzi schemes, these episodes have kept me on the edge of my seat (or should I say...earbuds?).
— Alice, Freelance Writer

I'm really liking The Last of Us TV show. It's a well-made apocalyptic story that shows the resilience of people in dire situations. For me it's inspiring to see characters work toward making good choices even in life or death scenarios.
— Zach, Video Editor

Ditto on The Last of Us (I think we’re all still collectively recovering from the emotion of episode 3). I’m also still recovering from a book hangover after reading Margaret Owen’s YA fantasy duology The Merciful Crow and The Faithless Hawk. The characters are engaging, the world-building is incredible, and the way Owen crafts the beginning and ending of each book to make their combined story come full circle is stunningly gorgeous.
— Ashley, Content Writer

Written by Ashley Martin

Edited by Matt D'Avella & Kerstin Sheppard