THE THOUGHT

Some books enter your life without much effort, and leave you forever changed. For me, one of those books was The Alchemist. It's a story about trusting intuition, embracing risk, and finding the courage to follow your dreams. It's about a call forward that becomes louder than the hesitation holding us back.

As I write this first letter, I'm wondering why it's often so difficult to step toward uncertainty. Why is it hard to follow the call of our dreams? And where, exactly, does courage come from?

THE DEEP DIVE

Why We Stand at the Edge

We hesitate before uncertainty because our minds crave predictability. Instinctively, we favor safety over potential rewards. Psychologists call this loss aversion, the idea that potential losses feel significantly more impactful—roughly twice as much!—as equivalent gains. This instinct keeps us anchored to familiar ground, even when it limits our growth.

Taking a leap often means leaving part of ourselves behind. Perhaps what truly scares us is not the jump itself, but how it might alter our sense of identity. It’s not only about what lies ahead, but also the familiarity we risk losing.

Yet genuine transformation rarely comes from comfort. In fact, meaningful change usually happens when the discomfort of staying still becomes unbearable. At that point, uncertainty stops feeling risky and it becomes an invitation toward something better. From this perspective, courage seems easier to find because it becomes the only path forward.

Courage, then, is the battle where desire outweighs fear. It's a decision to move forward because meaning outweighs comfort. It isn't loud or dramatic and usually goes unnoticed. Courage is deeply tied to clarity about what we value most. It grows each time we prioritize possibility over certainty, curiosity over comfort, and authenticity over approval.

THE PRACTICE

A Invitation Forward

If courage grows quietly, perhaps cultivating it doesn't require dramatic leaps. I’ve always found it helpful to approach uncertainty through small experiments. The idea is simple: transform hesitation from a roadblock into curiosity. Here's something to try:

• Identify something you've wanted to pursue but keep delaying.

• Consider the smallest possible step you can take, one that barely feels risky.

• Reframe this step as a simple exploration rather than a commitment.

• Notice your feelings before and after. Did taking this subtle action shift your perspective?

Launching this newsletter felt overwhelming, this is my third attempt actually. I started by asking myself "What's the smallest, least intimidating action I can take?" Writing just a few paragraphs felt manageable, and from there, well... here we are.

If you're standing at your own edge, I invite you to experiment with me. As The Alchemist reminds us, "People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of." Let’s take one small, courageous step forward. It doesn't need to be perfect, and you don't need absolute clarity.

You may find that the leap isn't about leaving yourself behind, but rather stepping closer to who you're meant to become.