#491: What Is "Brave?" (Friday, May 27)

"There is no such thing as bravery; only degrees of fear." - John Wainwright

"The ultimate definition of bravery is not being afraid of  who you are." -Chogyam Trungpa

"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid." -Franklin P. Jones

"Bravery and stupidity are the same thing; the outcome determines your label." -Hayden Sixx


Score the internet and you'll find hundreds of definitions of bravery - and each one is different. Bravery means different things to different people. No one can define what bravery is (or should be) for you.

But you'll know when you're being brave and that's all that matters.

#490: Four Needs (Friday, May 20)

Everyone has needs - other than the basics - that need to be met in order to consider themselves as having led a great life.

What are those needs for you? Is it a great career? Making a lot of money? Becoming famous?

And what if those needs aren't met? The fear of discovering the answer to that question should motivate you every day to live your life in such a way that you'll never have to find out.

#489: Miss Understood (Friday, May 13)

In a perfect world, everyone would be able to guess what we're thinking; would clearly communicate their feelings; and you could tell right away when you'd hurt someone's feelings.

But we're not in a perfect world. And many times, things get misconstrued and build up into something disastrous - just from an innocent miscommunication that could have easily been cleared up.

Everyone wants to be understood, to know that people get who they are (especially people who've known them a long time). The best way to avoid misunderstandings is to be willing to be vulnerable and to commit to seeing things from the other person's perspective.

Here's to understanding.

#488: It's Simple Accounting, Really (Friday, May 6)

Every once in a while, you should audit your relationships (friendships, romantic liaisons, professional connections). Take stock of who you are in each of them and ask yourself: "Am I an asset or a liability?"

If you're an asset, is the value you offer to that relationship real or perceived? And by who's perception?

If you're a liability, then what can you do to change that? Is it a relationship worth salvaging, or is it time to move on?

It's simple accounting, really.