Want to follow your dreams? Here’s what I’ve learned from an experimental year.

Birds fly in front of a gorgeous sunrise

A lot of people are unsatisfied with their lives. The big question is: can we really change our lives, and will it really be any better if we do? Over the past year, my life has been a grand experiment to answer this question. Here’s what I’ve found.

You are not a dumbass

A man--repeating his mistakes?

Wondering what’s wrong with you? If I learned anything in all the interviews I did for Beyond Fear, it’s that nobody has it all together. Everybody struggles, everybody doubts, nobody knows all the answers.

Stop letting fear hold you back and start doing what you want.

Overcome fear and follow your dreams.

Anything worthwhile that you can do, will likely scare you. You probably woke up today wanting more. But something got in your way, didn’t it? Fear. It’s time to overcome fear and start controlling your own life.

Doing what needs to be done + last call

my cabin in the woods

If anyone else out there is feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain tired, don’t do like I did and wait until you’re so fried you can’t function. Take a few days off. And above all, listen to yourself! What’s the point of giving yourself great advice if you don’t take it?

Big dreams and scary leaps: How I quit my job

triumphant girl

This is a story about dreaming big. This is a story about taking a chance and growing into the person you need to be to make things happen.

Why Denzel Washington told Penn grads to fail (and why we should, too)

graduation

“I had to come exactly because I might make a fool of myself,” said Washington. “I’ve found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Nothing.”

Seven ridiculous fears I had last month and how I kicked all their asses

Our chances of going hungry, being eaten by tigers, or falling off a cliff are vanishingly small. So are we happy? No, we get busy fearing smaller things instead. Even when the things we fear are excruciatingly tiny and ridiculous, the fear can still stop us if we let it.