The StoWicks Conversations
by
Seth and Carolyn Wicks
Today's Key Points:
- Contentment Without Complacency
- Avoid Comparison
- Short and Long Term Vision
Seth: Think about the following two types of people:
- One is working hard to achieve or attain something, and are unsatisfied until they get it.
- The other isn't working hard because they are satisfied with their current situation.
Most people fall into one of these traps. It's either restless ambition or stagnant contentment. For us, we've found a sweet spot of contentment with ambition. They can coexist, and in our opinion, should coexist.
Carolyn: For me, this tension between ambition and contentment is especially real right now in pregnancy. I still lift, play tennis, walk five miles, and eat the same clean diet I always have—but the reality is that my body is getting bigger every day, no matter how hard I work. Mentally, that’s hard. I’ve spent years building strength, health, and confidence, and it’s strange to feel like all that effort isn’t “showing.” Being a mom isn’t my ultimate purpose, so this part of the journey isn’t filled with joy for me the way it might be for others.
But here’s where ambition and contentment have to coexist: I push myself to keep working out, to fuel my body, to prepare for a strong recovery (that’s ambition). At the same time, I remind myself daily to be grateful and humbled by what my body is capable of—creating a human life (that’s contentment). Holding both truths at once is difficult, but it’s teaching me something: you can strive toward the future and appreciate the present, even when the present doesn’t look or feel how you want it to.
Seth: Carolyn brings up a point that's worth hammering home. Striking a balance between ambition and contentment only works if you stop comparing yourself to others. It's easier than ever to see that one friend traveling every weekend to some new foreign country or another friend eating $300 dinners. Social media is great for keeping in touch and connecting, but you have to stop it there.
We often remind each other that the fastest way to kill something special is to compare it to something else. Your journey is truly your own, and so is everyone else's. Whatever your goals are, focus on building the life you want to live, not the life others expect you to live. Chase your dreams, and enjoy the ride to get there.
Carolyn: For me, journaling daily has been the anchor that keeps me grounded. Each morning, I write down three things I’m grateful for (that’s contentment) and three things I’m working toward (that’s ambition). It’s such a small practice, but it shifts my perspective. Even when life feels messy or hard, it helps me see that I can honor the progress I’m making while still holding space for gratitude.
If you feel stuck in one extreme, always chasing or always settling, try this for a week. You might be surprised at how much calmer and clearer you feel.
Seth: This idea can also be scaled. So much of today’s world is built around instant gratification. Social media, betting, endless shows—there are a million ways designed to keep you stuck where you are. And let’s be honest: Mark Zuckerberg isn’t losing sleep over your personal growth while perfecting his distracting algorithms.
Gratitude lists are a great daily practice. But for your goals, expand them. What are your 5, 10, and 20-year goals? What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime? What would your 80-year-old self look back on and be proud of?
People always say they’ll do something later—when life slows down, when they have more time. For most, later never comes. Don’t let that be you. Define your vision, take the first step today, and enjoy the process of becoming who you want to be.
Carolyn: Here’s what I’m learning: you can be grateful for where you are and still hungry for where you’re going. That tension isn’t a problem to solve, it’s the sweet spot of growth.
Seth: Set aside one hour this week to map out your 5- and 10-year goals. Break them down into concrete steps, right down to the daily actions. Then commit. A goal without execution is just a wish.
Both: Be proud of where you are today, and hungry for where you want to be tomorrow.
See you next week,
Seth & Carolyn
The StoWicks
Quote of the Week:
"Live out of your imagination, not your history."
Stephen Covey
