Pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart fervently believed in the value of experience and in confidence built through action. This quote, drawn from her biography “Soaring Wings,” reflects her conviction that engagement with the world expands not only our abilities but also our sense of possibility. Earhart suggests that doing more strengthens our capacity to act while deepening “one’s appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love and understanding companionship.” By taking risks and embracing new experiences, we build skill and resilience as well as emotional awareness. Exploration — whether physical, intellectual, or emotional — can broaden our worldview and help us identify what matters most.

Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk has long been known for her eccentricity — from the genre-bending nature of her music to the infamous “swan dress” she wore to the 2001 Academy Awards. Her first musical release, at the age of 11, was an album of traditional Icelandic songs; she went on to front several anarchist punk bands before striking out as a solo artist. Björk has continued to shun the mainstream, folding everything from traditional Inuit vocalists to interactive apps into her work. With this lyric, from her 2001 song “It’s Not Up to You,” she helps us reframe setbacks as chances to take back agency. When we encounter adversity, we’re forced to think differently — and that can be a powerful source of possibility.