Welcome to Ally’s Newsletter, a weekly publication where I curate the top ideas and experiments to design a creative, focused life.

A life with constraints is a well balanced one, but not if we’re constantly looking over our shoulder to see what we might be missing out on.

In order to take advantage of our constraints, we have to put aside our FOMO and assess what's in front of us. Are these constraints useful in some way or do we want to design those constraints out of our lives?

I've had ample experience thinking to myself "if only I didn't have this constraint, I would __________," only to get rid of the constraint and realize that they afforded me a unique advantage or focus.

The right constraints reduce decision fatigue and improve your expertise in a certain set of circumstances.

My husband recently showed me a photographer who only shoots black and white images with a camera that has a very limited focal length (the camera can't zoom in or out).

Since the photographer could only shoot from a very specific distance from his subject, he got really good at it. He let the limitation narrow his focus.

Within his first year of photography, he landed several high-visibility clients. Within 4 years, he landed an exhibition at a prestigious London gallery.

He designed in a constraint and it became his unique advantage.

Know when to accept a constraint or design around it

If you're facing a problem, ask yourself, is this a gravity problem? Gravity can't be changed, so complaining about it gets you nowhere. You simply have to design around gravity.

Even if a problem can be addressed, if you're not willing to address it, it's a gravity problem and it's best if you acknowledge that quickly.

It’s up to you to decide whether the constraint is helping you or hindering you, and whether it’s enough of a priority to design out.

Recognize when the constraint actually doesn't exist

I spent years in the conventional medical system, complaining every time I had a visit. It was only this year that I realized I could opt out and try more alternative forms of medicine.

I spent years in dreary climate states (Michigan, Maine, Massachusetts) before I realized that I’m fully empowered to move to warm and sunny climates (Denver and Honduras).

Sometimes, the constraint exists only in our minds and how big of a deal we make it to take action.

tl;dr

Endless options are overrated and unrealistic.

You are the designer of your own constraints. The constraints you choose can help you optimize for whatever is most important to you right now.

So I ask you, which constraints in your life today are actually your superpowers?

If this mini-essay resonated with you in some way, hit reply and let your girl know! 🫶 It makes my day.

If you know someone who would enjoy these types of ideas, share it with them! Over 50% of my subscribers are from word-of-mouth referrals, and that’s the best way you can support this lil’ newsletter.

Until next time,

Ally