We touched down in the States last week, and it feels so good to be back with family and familiar faces! The roads and stores are definitely bigger than where we've been living for the past year.

It's been nice to be able to communicate with people in English, and even crack a few sarcastic jokes that don't land when we're in Spain because of the language barrier.

We're heading to Coachella tomorrow! Last year was the first year I took off since 2013, so I'm overdue for a boogie on the polo grounds. Let this be your friendly reminder to let yourself dance a little bit. It works wonders.

Thank you for reading this week!

What if you just tried?

If you're anything like me, you're a professional at talking yourself out of chasing your dreams, whether it be a career to pursue, a creative path to explore, a city to live in, or the joy a child brings.

You believe it'll be hard to make happen, and it won't be worth all the effort. You think you're better off staying where you are, especially because you don't know how it'll end.

But what if you just tried?

I think back to when I chased my dream of becoming a professional writer. I was working at a mortgage company and hated my job. I knew I had to make a pivot, but I hesitated making the leap for months.

I kept telling myself that it would be impossible because I had a business finance degree and no previous writing experience.

But then I said f*ck it. What's the worst that happens? It doesn't work out, and then I figure out my next step.

I figured I had nothing to lose, so I just tried. And I didn't make a massive leap either. I just took one small step: learning how to build a writing portfolio.

We all get caught up thinking that chasing a dream means having it figured out from the very beginning. We think we need to know everything and be a professional from day 0. That being a beginner is something to be ashamed of.

This mindset keeps us stuck exactly where we are. It's the root of talking ourselves out of chasing the dreams knocking on our door or pulling at our hearts. We disqualify ourselves before even taking a swing.

I didn't have the skill set to write when I first started. In fact, I had no clue what I was doing. But I figured being a beginner was the best possible thing because that meant my future was filled with growth.

When you think about the dreams you hold, remember that all you need to do is try without knowing how it'll end.

Book recommendation of the week

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

This was the first self-help book I picked up back in college, and it opened my eyes to a really powerful approach to life.

Small actions repeated consistently over time result in greater things.

If that dream is clear in your heart, but you're afraid to answer it because you're afraid to fail, this book will make the process 10x easier. It will show you that you actually don't need to do much to make it your reality. All you need are tiny steps, one after another. They stack up fast.

Thank you for reading. I hope to see you again next week!

Jordan Tarver
Author of ​You Deserve This Sh!t​ and ​Pursuit of Purpose​

p.s. ​Text "INSPO" to 707-289-7047​ to receive free weekly inspirational messages directly from me to your phone. Your data is always secure and kept private. I'll never charge you a penny. I'd love to have you!