English writer, actress, and screenwriter Phoebe Waller-Bridge credits her mother with giving her this advice — and it shows up everywhere in her work, from the rule-breaking humor of her TV series “Fleabag” to the sharp, fearless characters she invents. In this context, being “outrageous” means breaking out of the boxes people try to put us in and taking risks that might feel a little scary. In our daily lives, that may look like taking a creative risk, pursuing a dream others may not understand, or simply allowing ourselves to be fully seen. When we dare to be a little more outrageous, we open doors we didn’t realize were waiting for us and step into versions of ourselves we’ve been holding back.

Thomas Edison, the inventor behind the light bulb, phonograph, and more than a thousand other patents, understood something profound about human nature: Comfort can breed stagnation. In his diary, he mused on the nature of restless discontent, and how rather than being inherently negative, it can be a necessary state that makes us question the status quo, seek to improve upon what we have, and perhaps invent something entirely new. While this nagging sensation may be uncomfortable, Edison realized it’s crucial for pushing boundaries and solving problems. “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man,” Edison continued, “and I will show you a failure.” That may sound harsh, but it’s a healthy reminder that a degree of dissatisfaction is often exactly what we need to keep us driving forward.