Hi Reader,

I had a long, challenging conversation the other day. I shared a bunch of stuff I wanted to say but was afraid to say and didn't know how to say. There were tears and awkward pauses and things that didn't go the way I wanted them to, but there was also connection and laughter and cleaning up the mess and the creation of some new possibilities.

None of this was directly related to the stuff I struggle with. None of it went straight at busyness or tiredness or lack of exercise or phone addiction. It wasn't a strategic problem-solving conversation. I just said the things I wanted to say but was afraid to say, then listened, then repeated those two steps.

But despite the fact that the conversation wasn't about any of my struggles, I was surprised to find that every single one of them was significantly easier to handle over the next couple days. Significantly. It was like I was lighter, less encumbered, suddenly more skillful, awake, and aware. I don't know if any of those things were actually true, but they felt real. Even though I stayed up much later than usual having the conversation, I was awake enough to skip napping with the kids and get some great writing done instead.

It was like by handling one thing I'd been avoiding (even if I didn't realize that I was avoiding it), I freed myself up to handle a bunch of other stuff.

I'm curious if the same would turn out to be true for you. So, I invite you to try the following:

Think of a handful of your biggest struggles. The stuff you wrestle with on a regular basis. Got it? Ok, set that aside for now and consider this instead: what's something you want to say to someone important in your life but are afraid to say? Or what's something you want to do but are afraid to do?

Now, find your courage and go say or do exactly that thing.

What do you think? Yes? No? Hell no? Hell yes?

If you take my invitation, no matter how things turn out, I bet your life will feel easier afterwards, whether immediately or down the road.