, and earlier this summer invited me to be the first interviewee for her new series, Behind the Substack. If you missed it back then, where I share some thoughts on my experiences with Substack, writing schedules, and self care, you can check it out here.
Jana likes to reflect on many of the same questions that I do, as you will see below, so dive in for some reads, listens, and questions to reflect on, as together we continue on the journey to figure it all out.
As you ponder this over your Sunday morning cuppa and croissant, I’ll be on a journey of my own… heading to the airport, for an end of summer yoga retreat, where I’ll be sure to journal over these curious questions, and, I hope, much more.
Where in your life are you craving something better?
That question might stop you in your tracks, and make you reflect.
At certain points in life, things can start to feel stagnant, as if you’re not making any progress.
This is normal, but it can also be frustrating, especially if you crave growth and progress.
When I think about areas where I might be craving something better, it usually comes down to wanting a stronger sense of purpose, seeing a bigger picture in what I do, rather than moving through the motions and wishing for the weekend.
It's easy to get caught up in the monotonous routine of daily life, where everything becomes predictable. That predictability, while comfortable, can also lead to feeling trapped stuck.
Any of this sound familiar?
Or perhaps it's something else—maybe you're itching to step one level up in your career, switch to a completely different one, learn something new, or pursue a passion that's been neglected for too long.
Sometimes, the dissatisfaction we feel is a sign that we're ready for the next level, whatever that might look like.
Thomas Edison once said, “Discontent is the first necessity of progress.” Discontent pushes us to question, explore, and ultimately grow. The key is to listen to that feeling and ask ourselves where it's coming from and what it’s trying to tell us.
, one of my favourite Substackers, wrote recently, and I’m going to quote her directly because she writes better than I can think: “But it is not always easy in life to simply reach out and take that which we feel we deserve…”
So, where in your life are you feeling that itch for something better?
And what might you need to do to move towards that?
. It’s less about coffee and more about pausing, reflecting, and reexamining where you are, where you are going, and how I can help you get there through my writing and sharing what I’ve learned (mainly from books).
With that said, I have three recommendations that will support you if, in fact, you feel the itch for something better.
In Everything is Figureoutable, Marie Forleo emphasises the empowering message that no matter the challenge, there is always a solution. It’s no coincidence that this book sits proudly in my work corner as a much-needed reminder when a sense of helplessness may show up on those more challenging days!
Key Takeaways:
Adopt a Growth Mindset: Believing that everything is figureoutable shifts your mindset from feeling helpless to being proactive and solution-focused.
Take Action: Don’t wait for perfect conditions or full knowledge before taking action. Start with what you have and learn along the way. (This applies to your Substack, too, if you have one.)
Perseverance is Key: Overcoming obstacles often requires persistence and resilience. Don’t give up at the first sign of difficulty. (Note: there will be many of those!)
Use Fear as a Guide: Face your fears instead of avoiding them.
Ask the Right Questions: When faced with a challenge, ask empowering questions like "How can I make this work?" instead of focusing on what’s wrong.
Believing in the potential to figure it all out.
🎧 Finding the Key
Next up, an incredible podcast: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown.
However, I am including her in this Cultural Compass issue because of her podcast, Unlocking Us, described as “conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with a whole heart.”
I love listening to Brene's interviews with guests from different industries. They provide valuable tools and perspectives that can help us better understand ourselves and others.
A few of my favourite episodes include two with habits guru, James Clear - part 1 here, part 2 here - and another with a couple of creative powerhouses,
As well as Brene’s podcast, I would wholeheartedly recommend her books. For the restriction of time and length of this post, I cannot delve into each of them (trust me, I wish I could). Yet, I will share with you this passage from Braving the Wilderness:
“There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary, and we’ll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty. Someone, somewhere, will say, ‘Don’t do it. You don’t have what it takes to survive the wilderness.’ This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, ‘I am the wilderness.’”
📑 In the Margins
My final recommendation comes in the form of a newsletter recommendation, The Marginalian, from
In 2006, Maria started a little Friday email newsletter that she would send to seven friends at work. In each issue, she would share five things she had learned that week. Overtime, those seven friends became seven million readers a month, and her website is now included in the US Library of Congress archive of culturally valuable materials!
The Marginalian, originally known as Brain Pickings, is insightful and thought-provoking. In each post, you'll find deep reflections that connect art, science, philosophy, and literature. Maria delves into the lives and works of great thinkers and creators, offering new perspectives on some of the most meaningful topics: love, meaning, creativity, and the pursuit of a good life.
In 2019, she also had a book published, exploring similar themes. The title, Figuring, nicely compliments the work of Marie Forleo.
Figuring (it all out) together.
In a 2012 New York Timesinterview, Maria explains that she views her job as, “helping people become interested in things they didn’t know they were interested in until they are.”
When Brain Pickings turned seven, it gave her reason to reflect on what she had learned over those years of reading, writing, and living. She wrote these notes to herself, sort of values she kept coming back to and that stood out to her as core principles, in the hope that they would serve as an invitation for other people to reflect on their own journeys and what it means for them to have a meaningful life.
1. Allow yourself the uncomfortable luxury of changing your mind. It's so much more rewarding to understand or to seek to understand than to feel right.
2. Do nothing out of guilt or for prestige or status or money or approval alone.
3. Be generous with your time and your resources and with giving credit, and most of all, with your words to understand and be understood these are some of the most wonderful gifts that we can give each other.
4. Build pockets of stillness into your life.
5. Maya Angelo famously said, “When people tell you who they are, believe them.” I think that's true, but at the same time, when people try to tell you who you are, don't believe them.
6. Presence is far more intricate and rewarding in art than productivity.
7. Expect anything worthwhile to take a long time. The myth of overnight success is just that—a myth.
If you’re interested in Maria’s inspiring story of creating her newsletter and have 22 minutes to spare, listen or watch her talk about the experience in this Do Lecture.
for sharing some great recommendations! For anyone in need of some back-to-school energy, or to add some zest to your coffee break, I hope you’ve found it in this issue of Cultural Compass.
If you liked this piece and would like to show some support without a paid subscription, a Ko-fi coffee is always appreciated.☕
I love this interview format - I'm a sucker for anything in the least bookish. And - bonus! - 2 of Jana's 3 picks are already faves of mine, so I'm fairly certain the one I haven't read (Marie Forleo) will also be right up my alley.
I actually own a copy of Figuring, but haven't yet read it. I am taking this post as a sign that I should pull it off the shelf and put it somewhere handy - maybe the kitchen table - so I can start dipping in.
I often use Marie's phrase "everything is figureoutable" in my life! She is certainly a mentor for me - I've taken BSchool and Copy Cure. She's a gift!
I love this interview format - I'm a sucker for anything in the least bookish. And - bonus! - 2 of Jana's 3 picks are already faves of mine, so I'm fairly certain the one I haven't read (Marie Forleo) will also be right up my alley.
I actually own a copy of Figuring, but haven't yet read it. I am taking this post as a sign that I should pull it off the shelf and put it somewhere handy - maybe the kitchen table - so I can start dipping in.
I often use Marie's phrase "everything is figureoutable" in my life! She is certainly a mentor for me - I've taken BSchool and Copy Cure. She's a gift!