"Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress."

The core idea here is that feeling restless or dissatisfied isn't always a bad thing; in fact, it's often what pushes us to make progress. When you're not happy with the status quo, that's when you’re motivated to change things. Without that itch of dissatisfaction, there wouldn’t be any drive to improve or innovate.

Think about the time this idea was likely relevant: during periods of great change. For example, Thomas Edison, who constantly sought to improve and invent new things, probably felt a lot of restlessness. Imagine him sitting in his lab, frustrated because the current technology wasn’t good enough—he turned that frustration into over a thousand patents. His restlessness was the spark for his relentless pursuit of better solutions.

Let’s look at a real-life example. Consider the story of Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She was selling fax machines door-to-door, a job she didn't enjoy. One day, feeling uncomfortable in a pair of white pants, she cut the feet off her pantyhose to get a smoother look. That small act of dissatisfaction with her appearance led to the creation of Spanx, a billion-dollar company. Her restlessness with her own discomfort turned into an empire that revolutionized an industry.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? First, don't ignore your feelings of discontent. Listen to them. They’re signals that something needs to change. Find the root cause of your restlessness and let it guide you towards making improvements, whether in your personal life, your job, or your community. Second, take action. It’s easy to complain, but progress comes from doing something about it. Start small, like Sara Blakely did—sometimes minor changes can lead to major breakthroughs.

Imagine you’re stuck in a job you don’t love. You’re restless, but that’s a good thing. It’s a signal. Maybe you start by taking a night class in something you’re passionate about. Before you know it, that restlessness might turn into a side hustle, and then—who knows?—maybe even a full-blown career change. Or think about those times you're frustrated with something in your daily routine. Rather than just stewing in it, use that frustration as fuel to find a better way.

There’s this story I love about a guy named Mike. He was always annoyed at how much time he wasted commuting. The trains were always late, the traffic was a nightmare. Instead of just grumbling, he started looking for alternative ways to make his commute productive. He began listening to audiobooks and podcasts, turning his frustration into an opportunity for learning. Over time, what started as restlessness about a wasted commute turned into a rich period of personal development.

In the end, it's all about perspective. Restlessness and discontent aren’t necessarily negative—they’re the first steps toward progress. So next time you feel that itch, that sense of dissatisfaction, don’t just brush it off. It might just be the beginning of something great.