While we would all undoubtedly prefer to experience perpetual success and abundance, that’s simply unrealistic, as actress Emma Watson points out here. It’s important to remember that to reach the bountiful times, we must first put in the work — without sowing, there can be no reaping or harvesting. Much like nature, life is cyclical, and whether it’s a matter of making difficult choices, delaying instant gratification for better outcomes in the future, or weathering the unpredictable storms that come our way, we must shoulder our way through the harder seasons to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Maintaining a balanced perspective and embracing both the easy and the arduous moments can improve our resilience and help us appreciate those sweet moments of success all the more when they do come. 

Elbert Hubbard was an American writer, philosopher, and publisher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He’s perhaps best known for establishing Roycroft, a community of artisans near Buffalo, New York, which aided in bringing the British Arts and Crafts movement to America. In addition to publishing two magazines of his own, Hubbard freelanced for other publications, often writing short-form pieces on the subjects of work, efficiency, and character. In this excerpt from such a piece, he reminds us that relying on knowledge and the spark of inspiration alone won’t facilitate innovation or acts of brilliance. We have to invest consistent effort in our ideas to bring them to life. 

Best known for her roles in films such as "Still Alice" and "Boogie Nights," Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore has also authored bestselling children’s books about self-acceptance. The eight installments of her "Freckleface Strawberry" series were inspired by her girlhood as a conspicuous redhead. Like many young people, Freckleface Strawberry gets her ideas about who she wants to be and what she wants to do from looking outward. Moore wants to help kids learn a lesson she's realized with the passing decades. As she mentions in this quote, growing older brings clarity, and once you grasp what you like about yourself, determining your priorities becomes easier.